Upcoming Event: Women's Soccer versus Northern Colorado on September 14, 2025 at 1 p.m.
/
1 p.m.
Women's Soccer
vs Northern Colorado
South Dakota State University Athletics
Women's Soccer
Wedemeyer, Lang
Lang Wedemeyer
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- Lang.Wedemeyer@sdstate.edu
- Phone:
- (605) 688-4070
Lang Wedemeyer has become synonymous with women’s soccer at South Dakota State. Entering his 17th year at the helm of the program he built, Wedemeyer will try to guide his talented, veteran team to a third-straight Summit League Tournament championship.
Last season, the Jackrabbits collected nine shutouts en route to their third consecutive winning season. Along the way they captured their second-straight Summit League Tournament title and appearance in the NCAA College Cup. Finishing the regular season 12-6-3 overall and 5-1-2 in the league, SDSU entered the tournament as the No. 3 seed, but proceeded to knock out Oral Roberts and shut out top-seeded North Dakota State for the title. Wedemeyer earned his 150th career win in the semifinal match.
In 2014, SDSU captured its second Summit League Tournament crown in dramatic fashion, topping Denver, 5-4, in penalty kicks. Tori Poole, who became the first freshman to be named Tournament MVP in Summit League history, sealed the victory for the Jackrabbits, sending them to their second NCAA College Cup. South Dakota State also won its fourth regular-season title, posting a 5-2-1 record. Against Oral Roberts Oct. 12, Wedemeyer secured his 100th career Division I victory as the Jackrabbits blanked the Golden Eagles, 3-0.
Building a Winning Tradition
SDSU did not have to wait long for its women’s soccer team to start racking up wins, titles and honors under Wedemeyer’s watch.
In just 17 years, Wedemeyer built a soccer program from scratch and led his team through its transition to Division I play. In their fifth season at the DI level, the Jackrabbits earned their first trip to the NCAA College Cup. There, they recorded their first NCAA postseason victory, a 1-0 win over then-No. 14 Colorado. SDSU has since reached double digits in wins seven of the past eight seasons and missed the postseason just once.
From The Ground Up
In 2000, Wedemeyer launched a Division II women’s soccer program at SDSU with a roster of 19 players, just 6 of whom had previous collegiate experience. The roster also included six freshmen and four women who had played club soccer at SDSU in 1999. The roster was put together in just six months. SDSU posted a 5-12-0 record in its inaugural season. The team went 1-8-0 in the North Central Conference.
Youth Lead SDSU to Postseason Berth
The following season, Wedemeyer welcomed a freshman class of 14 to SDSU. Even though they were young and relatively inexperienced, the Jackrabbits posted their first winning season en route to earning their first berth in the NCC’s four-team tournament. For his efforts, Wedemeyer was named the 2001 NCC Coach of the Year.
In 2003, Wedemeyer had his first player earn all-American honors. Senior Erin Miller posted a .915 save percentage and a 0.51 goals-against average, program records that still stand to this day. For her efforts, Miller was named the NCC Player of the Year and was honored as a second-team all-American.
SDSU Makes Transition to Division I
When South Dakota State decided to move its athletic department to the Division I level, Wedemeyer was left with the unenviable task of recruiting players into a program that was not eligible for the NCAA postseason and did not have a conference affiliation.
Wedemeyer accepted the challenge even though it came with low points. The program returned to where it was three years earlier, posting a 5-11-1 record during its first season at the DI level in 2004. That season, the Jackrabbits faced 11 DI opponents. On Sept. 12, they earned their first DI win, defeating Western Illinois, 2-0, at the Diadora Classic in Omaha, Neb. In 2005, the Jackrabbits endured another five-win season but made positive strides, recording wins over DI foes Northern Iowa, Montana and Murray State and holding Big Ten member Minnesota scoreless Sept. 11.
Wedemeyer Leads Jacks to First Title
SDSU joined the United Soccer Conference for its 2006 campaign. Through their first five matches, the Jackrabbits posted a 3-1-1 record. But the team went 0-7-1 in its next eight matches, scoring just one goal over that stretch. Four of those losses were by scores of 1-0. The Jackrabbits did not lose confidence in themselves and ran off a 5-1-1 record to close the season. In the USC tournament, goalkeepers Nicole Lograsso and Jenn Davis combined for three-straight shutouts to lead the Jackrabbits to their first conference tournament title at any level.
NCAA College Cup Contender
The 2007 season marked the first year for SDSU as a member of The Summit League. In 2008, the Jackrabbits became a full Division I member, meaning they were finally eligible for NCAA postseason competition.
And, in its first season of eligibility, Wedemeyer put his team in position to earn its first NCAA Tournament berth. After winning The Summit League regular-season title with a 7-1-0 record, the Jackrabbits won the conference tournament, earning a trip to the NCAA College Cup.
In the first round, Wedemeyer’s team pulled off its biggest upset in program history, taking down then-No. 14, fourth-seeded Colorado, 1-0. The win generated national attention and buzz throughout South Dakota, culminating in Wedemeyer being tabbed as the Soccerbuzz.com runner-up coach of the year and the South Dakota Sportswriters Women’s College Coach of the Year.
That season, Wedemeyer coached six Summit League all-conference selections, two all-newcomer team members, the Summit League’s Defensive Player of the Year and a CoSIDA Academic All-American.
Outside of South Dakota State
Wedemeyer’s involvement in soccer is not limited to SDSU. He serves as a National Soccer Coaches Association of America National Staff Coach and has traveled the country conducting coaching certification and running clinics over the past 20 years.
Wedemeyer added another title to his list of coaching credentials. He served as a coach for the Olympic Development Program Region II teams in the 1987, 1990 and 1993 age groups, taking them on trips to Germany and Holland. In March 2010, he took the 1993 team to the Women’s International Algarve Tournament in Portugal. The team beat Ireland’s U17 National team, Sevilla’s women’s professional team and the women’s professional team from Benfica, Portugal. This team also beat Costa Rica’s U20 National team, which played in the U20 2010 World Cup in Germany.
Before SDSU
Before taking his current post, Wedemeyer was the director of coaching and women’s coordinator for the Roanoke Valley Youth Soccer Club. During his three-year tenure as the club’s assistant executive director, he oversaw all 28 teams and their coaches.
One of the youngest coaches in America to obtain all levels of coaching certification, he holds nine professional soccer coaching licenses, including a United States Soccer Federation ‘A’ license and the NSCAA Premier diploma.
While working on his master’s degree at Old Dominion, he served as an assistant coach for the men’s soccer team.
Playing Career
Wedemeyer began his collegiate career at Virginia Tech University, where he was voted as the Hokies’ best defensive player for two years in a row. He later transferred to Old Dominion, where he captained the team and earned second-team CoSIDA Academic All-America honors in 1994.
Wedemeyer also has extensive professional experience in the United Soccer League. He played three years for his hometown Roanoke Wrath before joining the Sioux Falls Spitfire at the beginning of the team’s first season in 2001.
Last season, the Jackrabbits collected nine shutouts en route to their third consecutive winning season. Along the way they captured their second-straight Summit League Tournament title and appearance in the NCAA College Cup. Finishing the regular season 12-6-3 overall and 5-1-2 in the league, SDSU entered the tournament as the No. 3 seed, but proceeded to knock out Oral Roberts and shut out top-seeded North Dakota State for the title. Wedemeyer earned his 150th career win in the semifinal match.
In 2014, SDSU captured its second Summit League Tournament crown in dramatic fashion, topping Denver, 5-4, in penalty kicks. Tori Poole, who became the first freshman to be named Tournament MVP in Summit League history, sealed the victory for the Jackrabbits, sending them to their second NCAA College Cup. South Dakota State also won its fourth regular-season title, posting a 5-2-1 record. Against Oral Roberts Oct. 12, Wedemeyer secured his 100th career Division I victory as the Jackrabbits blanked the Golden Eagles, 3-0.
Building a Winning Tradition
SDSU did not have to wait long for its women’s soccer team to start racking up wins, titles and honors under Wedemeyer’s watch.
In just 17 years, Wedemeyer built a soccer program from scratch and led his team through its transition to Division I play. In their fifth season at the DI level, the Jackrabbits earned their first trip to the NCAA College Cup. There, they recorded their first NCAA postseason victory, a 1-0 win over then-No. 14 Colorado. SDSU has since reached double digits in wins seven of the past eight seasons and missed the postseason just once.
From The Ground Up
In 2000, Wedemeyer launched a Division II women’s soccer program at SDSU with a roster of 19 players, just 6 of whom had previous collegiate experience. The roster also included six freshmen and four women who had played club soccer at SDSU in 1999. The roster was put together in just six months. SDSU posted a 5-12-0 record in its inaugural season. The team went 1-8-0 in the North Central Conference.
Youth Lead SDSU to Postseason Berth
The following season, Wedemeyer welcomed a freshman class of 14 to SDSU. Even though they were young and relatively inexperienced, the Jackrabbits posted their first winning season en route to earning their first berth in the NCC’s four-team tournament. For his efforts, Wedemeyer was named the 2001 NCC Coach of the Year.
In 2003, Wedemeyer had his first player earn all-American honors. Senior Erin Miller posted a .915 save percentage and a 0.51 goals-against average, program records that still stand to this day. For her efforts, Miller was named the NCC Player of the Year and was honored as a second-team all-American.
SDSU Makes Transition to Division I
When South Dakota State decided to move its athletic department to the Division I level, Wedemeyer was left with the unenviable task of recruiting players into a program that was not eligible for the NCAA postseason and did not have a conference affiliation.
Wedemeyer accepted the challenge even though it came with low points. The program returned to where it was three years earlier, posting a 5-11-1 record during its first season at the DI level in 2004. That season, the Jackrabbits faced 11 DI opponents. On Sept. 12, they earned their first DI win, defeating Western Illinois, 2-0, at the Diadora Classic in Omaha, Neb. In 2005, the Jackrabbits endured another five-win season but made positive strides, recording wins over DI foes Northern Iowa, Montana and Murray State and holding Big Ten member Minnesota scoreless Sept. 11.
Wedemeyer Leads Jacks to First Title
SDSU joined the United Soccer Conference for its 2006 campaign. Through their first five matches, the Jackrabbits posted a 3-1-1 record. But the team went 0-7-1 in its next eight matches, scoring just one goal over that stretch. Four of those losses were by scores of 1-0. The Jackrabbits did not lose confidence in themselves and ran off a 5-1-1 record to close the season. In the USC tournament, goalkeepers Nicole Lograsso and Jenn Davis combined for three-straight shutouts to lead the Jackrabbits to their first conference tournament title at any level.
NCAA College Cup Contender
The 2007 season marked the first year for SDSU as a member of The Summit League. In 2008, the Jackrabbits became a full Division I member, meaning they were finally eligible for NCAA postseason competition.
And, in its first season of eligibility, Wedemeyer put his team in position to earn its first NCAA Tournament berth. After winning The Summit League regular-season title with a 7-1-0 record, the Jackrabbits won the conference tournament, earning a trip to the NCAA College Cup.
In the first round, Wedemeyer’s team pulled off its biggest upset in program history, taking down then-No. 14, fourth-seeded Colorado, 1-0. The win generated national attention and buzz throughout South Dakota, culminating in Wedemeyer being tabbed as the Soccerbuzz.com runner-up coach of the year and the South Dakota Sportswriters Women’s College Coach of the Year.
That season, Wedemeyer coached six Summit League all-conference selections, two all-newcomer team members, the Summit League’s Defensive Player of the Year and a CoSIDA Academic All-American.
Outside of South Dakota State
Wedemeyer’s involvement in soccer is not limited to SDSU. He serves as a National Soccer Coaches Association of America National Staff Coach and has traveled the country conducting coaching certification and running clinics over the past 20 years.
Wedemeyer added another title to his list of coaching credentials. He served as a coach for the Olympic Development Program Region II teams in the 1987, 1990 and 1993 age groups, taking them on trips to Germany and Holland. In March 2010, he took the 1993 team to the Women’s International Algarve Tournament in Portugal. The team beat Ireland’s U17 National team, Sevilla’s women’s professional team and the women’s professional team from Benfica, Portugal. This team also beat Costa Rica’s U20 National team, which played in the U20 2010 World Cup in Germany.
Before SDSU
Before taking his current post, Wedemeyer was the director of coaching and women’s coordinator for the Roanoke Valley Youth Soccer Club. During his three-year tenure as the club’s assistant executive director, he oversaw all 28 teams and their coaches.
One of the youngest coaches in America to obtain all levels of coaching certification, he holds nine professional soccer coaching licenses, including a United States Soccer Federation ‘A’ license and the NSCAA Premier diploma.
While working on his master’s degree at Old Dominion, he served as an assistant coach for the men’s soccer team.
Playing Career
Wedemeyer began his collegiate career at Virginia Tech University, where he was voted as the Hokies’ best defensive player for two years in a row. He later transferred to Old Dominion, where he captained the team and earned second-team CoSIDA Academic All-America honors in 1994.
Wedemeyer also has extensive professional experience in the United Soccer League. He played three years for his hometown Roanoke Wrath before joining the Sioux Falls Spitfire at the beginning of the team’s first season in 2001.
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