Completed Event: Men's Soccer versus Iona on September 23, 2025 , Win , 2, to, 0
MSOC
Final
James Madison
2
vs Iona
0
James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
JMU Athletics Mourns Passing of Coach Bob Vanderwarker
11/20/2025 11:38:00 AM | Men's Soccer
HARRISONBURG, Va. – Robert "Bob" Vanderwarker, Jr., former head coach of the James Madison University men's soccer program, passed away Monday, Nov. 17 in Harrisonburg. He was 89.
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Vanderwarker took over the reins in 1970, the program's third season of existence, and laid the groundwork for the school's accomplishments in men's athletics. Across 16 seasons as head coach, his teams compiled a record of 127-102-19 as they brought the JMU men's athletic program its first championship trophy, its first All-America player and its first NCAA postseason tournament bid. Soccer was the first JMU sport to move to the Division I level of the NCAA, doing so in Vanderwarker's fourth season in 1973.
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After compiling a 1-8-1 record in his first season at JMU, he guided the Dukes to an 8-4-1 record the following season and a bid to the NCAA College Division Southern Regional. A year later his team set a school record with 13 wins, won the Virginia Intercollegiate Soccer Association (VISA) championship, tied for the Virginia College Athletic Association (VCAA) championship and again advanced to the NCAA tournament.
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At one point his teams held a 32-match unbeaten streak against Virginia teams, as they did not lose a VCAA match during JMU's three years in the VCAA (1972-74) and won or shared three VCAA soccer championships and four VISA championships from 1972-75. In the first year of Division I competition, the 1973 team compiled a 13-2-1 record and earned a berth into the NCAA Southern Regional Tournament, one of four NCAA tournament his teams were invited to (1971-73, 1976).
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During the span of 1978-84, the Dukes competed in the Virginia Intercollegiate League (VIL). The association was comprised of the 10 Division I programs in the state, and JMU won five VIL Western Division crowns. Vanderwarker's teams earned invitations to two Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) tournament as well in 1977 and 1979.
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Vanderwarker was inducted into the JMU Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2002. He was the third men's soccer inductee, following his former student-athletes Alan Mayer (Class of 1988) and Ray Laroche (Class of 1993).
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"Coach Vanderwarker was a staple of JMU men's soccer," said current Head Coach Paul Zazenski. "He paved the way for the success for many years and also led the program into the Division I era. He did so many great things at the helm of the program. We are saddened to hear of his passing and our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time."
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Read the full obituary of Robert Vanderwarker, Jr. from the McMullen Funeral Home.
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Vanderwarker took over the reins in 1970, the program's third season of existence, and laid the groundwork for the school's accomplishments in men's athletics. Across 16 seasons as head coach, his teams compiled a record of 127-102-19 as they brought the JMU men's athletic program its first championship trophy, its first All-America player and its first NCAA postseason tournament bid. Soccer was the first JMU sport to move to the Division I level of the NCAA, doing so in Vanderwarker's fourth season in 1973.
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After compiling a 1-8-1 record in his first season at JMU, he guided the Dukes to an 8-4-1 record the following season and a bid to the NCAA College Division Southern Regional. A year later his team set a school record with 13 wins, won the Virginia Intercollegiate Soccer Association (VISA) championship, tied for the Virginia College Athletic Association (VCAA) championship and again advanced to the NCAA tournament.
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At one point his teams held a 32-match unbeaten streak against Virginia teams, as they did not lose a VCAA match during JMU's three years in the VCAA (1972-74) and won or shared three VCAA soccer championships and four VISA championships from 1972-75. In the first year of Division I competition, the 1973 team compiled a 13-2-1 record and earned a berth into the NCAA Southern Regional Tournament, one of four NCAA tournament his teams were invited to (1971-73, 1976).
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During the span of 1978-84, the Dukes competed in the Virginia Intercollegiate League (VIL). The association was comprised of the 10 Division I programs in the state, and JMU won five VIL Western Division crowns. Vanderwarker's teams earned invitations to two Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) tournament as well in 1977 and 1979.
Â
Vanderwarker was inducted into the JMU Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2002. He was the third men's soccer inductee, following his former student-athletes Alan Mayer (Class of 1988) and Ray Laroche (Class of 1993).
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"Coach Vanderwarker was a staple of JMU men's soccer," said current Head Coach Paul Zazenski. "He paved the way for the success for many years and also led the program into the Division I era. He did so many great things at the helm of the program. We are saddened to hear of his passing and our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time."
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Read the full obituary of Robert Vanderwarker, Jr. from the McMullen Funeral Home.
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