Julie Hanley is in her sixth season as the head coach of Indiana State women's soccer. Hanley was announced as ISU's third head women's soccer coach by Director of Athletics Sherard Clinkscales on July 7, 2016.
During her time at Indiana State, Hanley led the Sycamores to a historic season in the spring 2021 campaign. Sycamore soccer finished with a .600 winning percentage, the highest in school history, in addition to a .583-win percent improvement from the 2019 season. The Sycamores hosted their first MVC Tournament game since 2016 and won a record six conference games.
Academics and community service are a hallmark of the Sycamore program under the direction of Hanley as they have picked up a pair of Sycamore Cup awards which goes to the highest achieving academic team on campus each year. The Sycamore women's soccer program has garnered the highest team grade point average in both years under Hanley's leadership.
Hanley came to Indiana State from Iowa, where she has spent four seasons as an assistant coach. In her four seasons with the Hawkeyes, the program recorded three of the top win totals in school history. In that same timeframe, Iowa amassed 48 victories, advanced to one NCAA Tournament, three Big Ten Tournaments and made two Big Ten Tournament title game appearances.
During the 2015 season, Hanley tutored Hannah Clark as she led the Big Ten in saves (105), saves per game (5.83), and tied for sixth in shutouts (six). Clark, who Hanley recruited and coached for four years, ended her career as the winningest goalkeeper in program history (36 victories) and was tops in the record books in career shutouts (26) and third in career saves (321). Iowa earned the NSCAA Ethics and Sportsmanship Award in 2016 and six student-athletes garnered Academic All-Big Ten recognition.
In 2014, Hanley helped lead Iowa to a 14-7-1 overall and a 7-5-1 Big Ten record to notch the program's third top-five league finish since 2011. The seven Big Ten victories tied the program record for Big Ten wins in a single season and the 14 wins were the second-most in school history.
After entering the Big Ten Tournament as the No. 5 seed, Iowa posted victories over No. 23 Rutgers and Northwestern to advance to the tournament championship game for a second straight season. Two seniors – Cloe Lacasse and Melanie Pickert – capped their Hawkeye careers with first-team All-Big Ten and first-team all-region honors. They were the first pair in school history to earn first-team all-conference honors in the same season and the first two players to garner first-team all-region recognition.
Defensively, the Hawkeyes finished 2014 with a school-record 14 shutouts – its second-straight season breaking the record – in 22 games to rank 20th nationally with a .545 shutout percentage. Iowa's defense was also in the top-35 in the country in saves percentage (31st, .838) and goals against average (35th, .754).
Academically, the Hawkeyes garnered the NSCAA Team Academic Award for an eighth straight season and nine soccer student-athletes garnered Academic All-Big Ten honors. Seniors Caitlin Brown and Emily Scott were also received Scholar All-Region recognition.
In 2013, Hanley helped Iowa to its best season in program history, which culminated with its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes finished the year with a 15-7-1 record, the most victories all-time in school history.
After tying for fifth place in the Big Ten regular season standings, the Hawkeyes posted the first two postseason victories in program history at the Big Ten Tournament as the No. 8 seed. Iowa posted back-to-back shutouts over No. 7 Michigan and No. 20 Penn State before dropping a 1-0 decision to No. 18 Nebraska in the Big Ten Tournament championship game.
The Hawkeyes earned an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament, where it dropped a road game at No. 23 Notre Dame, 4-1. Iowa earned three victories against ranked competition in 2013 – the most such wins in school history. The triumph over No. 7 Michigan was the highest ranked foe a Hawkeye team has defeated all-time.
In Hanley's first season in Iowa City, the Hawkeyes finished with a 12-6-3 record in 2012, tying the then school-record for wins. Iowa went undefeated in nonconference play and qualified for the Big Ten Tournament.
Hanley coached Iowa's goalkeeper rotation that earned four weekly conference awards. Iowa ranked third in the Big Ten in goals allowed, goals against average, saves and shutouts. Both of Iowa's goalkeepers ranked within the top-three of the league in save percentage as well as top-five in goals against average.
Hanley joined the Iowa coaching staff after serving as a graduate assistant at Illinois State for two seasons. She was responsible for training and developing goalkeepers, while also assisting with defenders. Hanley was active in recruiting, organizing team travel and assisted in numerous administrative activities within the soccer program.
In her two seasons at Illinois State, the Redbirds posted a 22-13-2 record, including a Missouri Valley Conference regular season championship, State Farm MVC Tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth in 2011. Hanley was a member of the 2011 MVC Coaching Staff of the Year and mentored the 2011 MVC Defensive Player of the Year, Natalie McCabe. The Redbirds also defeated 10th-ranked Milwaukee, 3-1, in 2011, marking the program's first-ever win over a top-10 opponent.
Hanley was a goalkeeper at the University of Kansas from 2005-09, serving as team captain in her final three seasons. She ranks second in career wins, shutouts and goals against average in KU history. She was a two-time First-Team Academic All-Big 12 selection and earned four weekly conference and TopDrawerSoccer.com awards in her career.
After finishing her eligibility at Kansas, Hanley remained in the program as an intern. She maintained and updated recruiting programs while organizing practices and game files. Hanley was a member of the Dynamo F.C. club prior to her collegiate career, leading the team to a pair of Indiana state championships.
Hanley, an Indianapolis native, earned her Bachelor of Arts in sports management and a minor in business from Kansas in May, 2010. She earned her Master of Science degree in kinesiology and recreation and recreation administration from Illinois State in May, 2012.
