Tudor Flintham completed his second season in charge of the Prairie Wolves in 2016 after quickly turning the men’s and women’s soccer teams back to winning ways. In his first two seasons Flintham has helped NWU soccer to 32 total wins and taken both programs back to post season play for the first time since 1999. Flintham’s squad’s, which have primarily been built around first and second year players, now head into 2017 with upper-class experience for the first time and are looking to continue the positive momentum built through 2015 and 2016.
In 2016
In 2016 Flintham guided the NWU soccer programs in the transition to NCAA III and the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) as full members of NCAA Division III. The women’s team ranked #4 nationally for NSCAA accumulated team GPA with a program record 3.63. They also led the IIAC in Academic All-Conference awards with 11 selections. They finished the year with a 7-11-1 overall record as the season ended with an overtime loss in the IIAC Postseason Tournament. NWU had a young squad playing 17 underclass women, dropping four close OT decisions. Four members of the 2016 women’s team earned All-IIAC honors.
The NWU women began the season with dominant preseason wins against NCAA II Sioux Falls (2-0) and local rival Doane (4-0). They went on to again make the post season where a young team, which played 17 underclass women, narrowly lost in over time to end their tournament run. The same group of youngsters will expect big things in 2017, as they draw from their experience and turn the four 2016 OT decisions in their favor. Four members of the 2016 women’s team earned All-IIAC honors.
The NWU men again came flying out of the blocks and began the season undefeated through the first six games of the season. However, injuries quickly derailed the momentum and with key performers missing NWU couldn’t capitalize on their huge potential. NWU finished the year with a 7-7-3 overall record. Four members of the 2016 men’s team earned All-IIAC honors, including former AD3I Defender of the Year Will Weber, who recently signed a professional playing contract in Sweden. The NWU men have the highest male team GPA on campus and rank second in the IIAC for Academic All-Conference selections.
In 2015
The Prairie Wolves women finished 9-9 overall with six losses coming to teams who were nationally-ranked or receiving votes. They qualified for the GPAC Postseason Tournament for the first time since 1999 and posted eight shutouts. Coach Flintham had three players earn All-Conference honors and one CoSIDA Academic All-District winner. The team also included the AD3I Goalkeeper of the Year.
His 2015 men’s team had a winning record of 9-8-1 overall and got off to the best start to a season since 2001. The Prairie Wolves also made their first postseason tournament appearance since 1999 by qualifying for the GPAC Tournament. He coached three players that earned All-GPAC and one player earn CoSIDA Academic All-America.
Before NWU:
Flintham came to NWU from Minnesota where he served as the associate head soccer coach at Saint John's University and an assistant coach at the College of Saint Benedict. He served as an assistant men's coach at Saint John’s for three years before being promoted to associate head coach for two seasons. Flintham led the Johnnies to back-to-back MIAC runner-up finishes in each of those campaigns. The year prior to Flintham's arrival the Johnnies had won only one MIAC game and sat at the bottom of the conference. Their 2014 record was 13-7.
He was also an assistant women's soccer coach at Saint Benedict for two seasons. The year before Flintham's arrival the Blazers won seven games. The following year he helped the Blazers to a 16-win season, the 2013 MIAC championship and a trip to the NCAA III tournament. The Blazers tallied an unprecedented 13 shutouts in his final year and 21 in total. They also added 17 to their goal output in his first season. Since being made associate head coach Flintham's record with the two programs was 52-21-5.
During his time at CSB/SJU Flintham also coached the 2011 USA Division III All-Star teams, which included Division III National Players of the Year Erica Suter and Jake Urbaniak, on a professional tour of Rio de Janeiro and Jundiai.
Flintham was a captain of the Saint John's men's soccer team as a player where he guided the Johnnies to a MIAC Conference championship. As a player, he led the conference in both goals and assists and earned All-MIAC, Academic All-MIAC and All-Region honors in 2005. After growing up in the English academy system, Flintham came to the United States for the first time with The Saints F.C. where, as a player and coach, he won three consecutive USA Cups.
Prior to coaching at CSB/SJU, he spent the previous years working for the nationally-recognized FC Portland Academy in Portland, Ore., as a program director and head coach. He also served as head girls' soccer coach for Valley Catholic High School in Beaverton, Oregon where he became the most successful coach in school history in 2008. He was the 2008 and 2009 Oregon District One Coach of the Year, the NSCAA 2008 Oregon High School State Coach of the Year, as well as a finalist for NSCAA National Coach of the Year.
Flintham holds a USSF National C License and FA coaching qualifications. He also has a master's degree in sports management from St. Cloud State University.
