The pioneer woman: Oswego’s Julianne Sitch makes history at University of Chicago: ‘It brings a lot of tears to my eyes.’

Julianne Sitch has spent the past week doing interviews with a long list of national media outlets.

That’s what happens when you’re a pioneer who has reached unprecedented heights.

Sitch, who grew up in Oswego, became the first female head coach to guide a college men’s soccer team to a national championship Saturday when the University of Chicago knocked off Williams College 2-0 in Salem, Virginia.

The Maroons captured their first NCAA Division III national title, and the media requests have been rolling in ever since.

“WGN Radio, WBEZ Radio, NBC-5, WTTW and a bunch of soccer outlets and podcasts, plus CNN and CBS did some stuff,” Sitch said. “‘Good Morning America’ put out one of our videos, so that was pretty cool.

“It’s a special honor. I know the guys are enjoying it as well, and I think it’s great they’re having the opportunity to speak in these interviews. It’s really fun.”

As a player, Sitch starred at Oswego, DePaul and with the Chicago Red Stars. Since that part of her career ended in 2014, she had been an assistant coach for the U. of C. women’s program and an assistant coach with the Red Stars.

Athletic director Angie Torain hired Sitch on April 20 to coach the men’s team, which reached the national semifinals in 2021. It was an opportunity Sitch couldn’t pass up.

“I really loved Chicago’s athletics outside of the fact that it’s just a phenomenal university,” Sitch said. “A big shout out to Angie Torain, who took a chance on hiring me. That was a potential risk, right?”

It actually proved to be a safe bet. The Maroons (22-0-1) thrived under Sitch, who is one of only two women currently coaching a Division III men’s team, and set a program record for wins.

Junior forward Ryan Yetishefsky, the team’s leading scorer who converted the final goal of the season with 16 seconds left in the championship game, said the transition to Sitch was seamless.

“First of all, Sitch is an amazing person in general,” Yetishefsky said. “She’s really easy to talk to, gets along with all the players on a personal level, but also she has a fantastic knowledge of the game.

“Her skills with managing different personalities on the team, giving the team a clear identity to follow during the season and tactics during the game, are all incredible. It’s been a pleasure getting to learn from her.”

Sitch, 39, returns the praise.

“A lot of credit goes to the team and my assistant, Michael Mauro, who was on the previous staff,” Sitch said. “They developed a great culture with these guys.

“This is the first time they’ve been coached by a woman or worked with a woman on staff. They embraced me from day one and made this journey extremely special.”

Sitch’s soccer journey began when she was 5, but she never expected to become a pioneer.

“No, I didn’t, and it is just in these past couple days where things have really soaked in and hit me,” Sitch said. “Those moments when I’m kind of just by myself or sitting in silence, when I think about what just happened.

“It brings a lot of tears to my eyes. I feel honored and humbled by everything.”

Sitch was in high school when she attended the 1999 Women’s World Cup matches with her father at Soldier Field. That was a watershed moment for her and a generation of girls.

“I grew up playing with boys all the time,” Sitch said. “I was the only girl on the team.

“I told my dad I wanted to be a professional soccer player, and the people I got to look up to were men’s soccer players. My bedroom wall was covered with men’s soccer players, and it wasn’t really until 1999 where I could fill my bedroom wall with Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain and Kristine Lilly.”

Now, little girls can dream not only of playing professionally but coaching teams regardless of gender.

“At least from the perspective of the players, it’s never been something we’ve been all that concerned with,” Yetishefsky said. “We trusted the hiring staff that coach Sitch was going to come in and be awesome, and that’s exactly what happened.

“I think that sets a great precedent for other sports teams and just society in general looking at female leadership. It’s obviously not the most common thing, but hopefully people can see this and view it as a strong precedent going forward and people will take after it.”

That is Sitch’s hope, too.

“Moving forward, whether it’s in the sports world or the corporate world, having young girls see women in leadership roles gives them something to continue to believe in,” Sitch said. “They can dream it because they can see it.

“They have something to aspire to be. But as much as this is super important for young girls, it’s important for young boys and young men as well because it gives them an opportunity to dream big and go after the things they want.”

Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.