After doubling the size of the men’s soccer roster at Illinois College over the past three seasons, head coach Shane Taylor (right) will take on additional duties this fall as head coach of the women’s soccer team.

In announcing the dual appointment, Illinois College Athletic Director Gale Vaughn said Taylor’s enthusiasm for the sport, coupled with his successful recruiting efforts, made him the clear choice for the job.

Under Taylor’s guidance the Blueboy men’s soccer team added 12 new freshmen in 2007 and 13 more in 2006. There were 14 players on the roster when he inherited the program prior to the start of the 2005 season, and he completed the 2007 campaign with a 29-member roster.

The IC soccer coach earned the B.A. degree in organizational management at Ashford University and played soccer at the semi pro level in Las Vegas after completing his intercollegiate career at Bethany ( Kan.) College and East Stroudsburg ( Pa.) University.

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Grinnell women’s soccer coach Heather Benning (right) has been named the new women’s chair of the NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Committee.

Benning served as the Central Region chair since 2006 and prior to that was on the Regional Advisory Committee from 2001-04. She takes the place of Jeff Parker of Stevens Institute of Technology, who has rotated off the committee.

Benning has been the Pioneers’ head coach for 10 seasons. Under her direction, Grinnell has compiled a 112-49-10 record and qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 1999, 2004, 2005, and 2006. Benning holds a 67-14-5 mark in Midwest Conference play, while guiding the Pioneers to four MWC titles (1999, 2003, 2005, and 2006).