ELSAH, IL – Director of Athletics, Ann Pierson, is pleased to announce, after an exhaustive search which included alumni involvement, the hire of Markus Bathelt as Principia's new head men's soccer coach.

After two seasons as an assistant men's soccer coach under Jess Semnacher, Bathelt had been serving as the program's interim head coach since Semnacher stepped down earlier this year.

Bathelt came to Principia after 11 seasons as the head women's soccer coach at Chabot College in Hayward, California. He had previously attended Chabot College as a junior college student and went on to receive his Masters degree in Kinesiology from California State University, East Bay in 2007.

After a short high school coaching stint in Hawaii where he led his team to their first-ever Maui Championship, Bathelt moved back to his native country of Germany in 2009 for a few years to work as a scout, recruiter, and strength and conditioning coach for professional soccer players. Since then, he has continuously mentored and coached several former US youth national and professional soccer players. Bathelt also played competitively in the German football system while growing up in his hometown of Frankfurt.

Pierson says: "I am delighted to have Markus on board. He will be a great addition to our department as he is a team player with a diversity of college coaching experience, a desire to support all programming and the expertise to move our soccer program forward."

Markus says: "I want to thank Ann and the entire search committee for giving me their trust in taking over the leadership of the Principia men's soccer program in the pursuit of enhancing our student-athletes with the best experience possible, on and off the playing field. I am excited to become a permanent part of this supportive, tight-knit department and community, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work with an exceptional and promising group of players in our program. Lastly, I would like to thank Jess Semnacher for inviting me into the Principia community in 2022 and giving me the chance to assist the team while always supporting me along my journey."

Markus lives in Edwardsville with his wife Polymnia.