Wartburg athletic director Rick Willis has named assistant coach Sara Johnson as the first full-time head coach of the Wartburg women's soccer program.

"This is the next natural step in the continued development and progression of our soccer programs," Willis said. "Sara has made tremendous contributions to the women's program for the past three years and is well prepared to lead our women's team forward.

"We are excited about this significant step for both programs," he added. "We believe it will enable two outstanding teams to become even stronger."

Johnson will lead a program that has become one of the conference's and region's best. In the past three years alone, the Knights have accumulated a 49-9-5 record; an NCAA Division III national tournament berth and Sweet 16 appearance as part of an Iowa Conference tournament title and school-record 18 wins in 2007; an IIAC championship in 2008; and a top 10 national and No. 2 regional ranking in 2009. Wartburg also owns an impressive string of eight 10-or-more win seasons in the last nine years and eight consecutive conference postseason tournament berths.

Prior to arriving in Waverly, Johnson served as head junior varsity coach at Wheaton (Ill.) Academy High School in the spring of 2006 and 2007. Her collegiate playing career was highlighted by being team captain of the 2004 Division III national championship squad at Wheaton (Ill.). She also earned all-region honors in 2003 and 2004, the Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Player of the Year award in 2003, and all-CCIW honors in 2003 and 2004 for the Thunder. Before playing at Wheaton, Johnson was an Ohio Valley Conference all-league honor in 2001 when she attended Eastern Illinois.

"I am extremely excited with the possibilities that this program has," she said. "Wartburg has been able to have some great student-athletes represent its women's soccer program over the past several seasons. We're hoping to continue to see that and also raise the bar on where we have been on conference, regional and national levels."

T.J. Buchholz, who had been handling the dual role as head men's and women's coach, will continue his duties as head coach of the men's program.