Dr. John Bratcher begins his sixth year as the head coach of the IWU Women's Soccer Team and his 27th year of collegiate coaching. Coach Bratcher has brought a wealth of soccer experience as he has developed the IWU program into a force to be reckoned with in the NAIA.
In four seasons at IWU, Bratcher has compiled an impressive 86-18-8 record, and has led the Wildcats to their 9th consecutive MCC crown.
In 2006, Coach Bratcher was awarded the NISOA National Merit award recognizing his contributions to intercollegiate soccer and his vocal sportsmanship and professionalism. Coach Bratcher is a 3-time Mid-Central College Conference Coach of the Year and a 2-time Region VIII Coach of the Year. Prior to his move to IWU, Coach Bratcher had served as the Men's Head Soccer Coach at Lee University (Cleveland, Tenn.). At Lee, Bratcher's men teams posted a 170-102-17 record and his women's teams posted a 36-21-2 record (he coached both men's and women's team for several years). His teams have repeatedly earned conference and regional recognition.
Coach Bratcher's men's and women's teams have combined for 12 appearances at the NCCAA National tournaments. He was named Coach-of-the-Year in the old TVAC conference in 1995, 1996 and also was named 2002 Co-Coach-of-the-Year in the Trans-South Conference. Bratcher was the NCCAA Regional/District Coach-of-the-Year on eight different occasions while at Lee. He was also named the NSCAA Regional Coach-of-the-Year in 1996.
Prior to Lee University Dr. Bratcher served at Grand Rapids Baptist College (Cornerstone University) where he compiled a 119-34-10 record. While in Grand Rapids, Michigan he was named Coach-of-the-Year several times at the district/regional level and was named NCCAA National Coach-of-the-Year in 1982 and 1985.
In addition to coaching Dr. Bratcher has been a Division Chair, Athletic Director, and has also served on several professional committees throughout his career in academics, the community, and athletics. Coach Bratcher has taken many of his teams on several mission trips as well throughout his coaching career.
Coach Bratcher earned a B.A. degree in Health and Physical Education from Grace College in 1973, a M.S. in Education and Physical Education from the University of St. Francis in 1974, and graduate credit from Michigan State in 1979-1980 and from Western Michigan in 1982. He attended Middle Tennessee State University on a Doctoral Fellowship in 1983 and completed his Doctor of Arts Degree in Physical Education there in 1984.
In the late 1990?s, Dr. Bratcher was inducted into the NCCAA Hall of Fame.
Coach Bratcher and his wife, Vanetta, have two sons, J.P., 21, is a senior, and Michael, 19, is a sophomore with both playing on the men?s soccer team at IWU. Vanetta is the Director of Indiana Wesleyan University?s Aldersgate Center.
