Ottumwa -- Indian Hills Community College is searching for a new men's soccer coach with the announcement that Jon Fridal, who turned around the IHCC program in two years, has resigned to take the head coaching job at Eastern New Mexico State University.

Fridal joined an Indian Hills program that had never won more than nine matches in a season in the nine years it had been in existence.  The Warriors won only 19 games in the previous four seasons before Fridal took over prior to the 2016 campaign.

There was immediate success with Fridal's first IHCC squad turning in an 11-7 record.  That set the stage for this past season when the Warriors went 18-3, won the ICCAC regular season and postseason tournament titles and qualified for the NJCAA national tourney.  There, they split their two matchups, defeating Louisburg (N.C.), 1-0, before dropping a heartbreaking 2-1 decision to eventual national champ Tyler (Tex.), losing on a goal in the final minute of the second overtime.

Fridal said he is "tremendously proud of what the men in the Indian Hills men's soccer program have accomplished in the last two years."  He added, "The school has given us a lot of support and the opportunity to work here has been a privilege.  It is not easy to leave such a special place, but I feel that Eastern New Mexico University is a great opportunity for my family and myself.  I want to thank the Indian Hills administration and staff for all their support and everything they have done for us during our time here."

Indian Hills scored 55 goals in Fridal's first season on the sidelines, by far the most they had ever scored, and then obliterated that total with 98 goals last year.

Fridal and his assistant, Derek Faulkner, were named the 2017 United Soccer Coaches North Region Staff of the Year in Junior College Division I.

"Jon's impact on the men's soccer program at Indian Hills has been significant in a very short period of time," said IHCC Athletic Director Brett Monaghan in thanking Fridal for his commitment to Indian Hills over the past two years.  "Beyond the success on the field, Jon's recruiting efforts have increased the roster size, helped create a developmental program, and brought to our campus some terrific young people who have not only impacted the athletic department, but our entire campus community."

Monaghan said an immediate search will begin to find a replacement, and he'll be looking for a coach who he said "will carry the same values our department places on all our programs and continue the success that has taken place on the field the last two years."

Fridal will replace Paul Tate at Eastern New Mexico State, an NCAA Division II program located in Portales, N.M.  The Greyhounds were 4-13-1 last season.