Jeff Hosler has spent the first five seasons of his tenure establishing new standards of success for the Michigan State women’s soccer program, and each season he has challenged his players not only to meet but to exceed those standards while rewriting program history.
In five years as the MSU mentor, Hosler has guided the Spartans to a 70-20-20 overall record (.727), with success building every season. Whether Big Ten regular-season titles (2022, 2023), back -to-back NCAA Sweet 16’s (2023, 2024), or the program’s first-ever NCAA Elite Eight appearance (2025), Hosler has positioned the Michigan State program to work for – and achieve – increasing success.
With 20 seasons of head coaching experience at all levels of collegiate soccer, Hosler owns a 303-87-38 career record (.752), which is the second-highest career winning percentage of all active NCAA Division I head coaches (with at least 5 years in Division I). Hired by Michigan State in June 2021, Hosler succeeded 30-year coaching veteran Tom Saxton as just the third head coach in program history.
Hosler has elevated Michigan State to the top of the national conversation. He secured the eighth-best recruiting class in advance of the 2026 season, captured two Big Ten regular-season titles (2022, 2023), and has guided MSU to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances (including the national quarterfinals in 2025). He has also landed program-record numbers of All-Americans, All-Conference selections, and academic standouts, and has sent alumni off to play professionally in the United States and abroad.
SPARTAN TEAM SUCCESSES
In 2021, Hosler guided his first Spartan squad to a 10-5-3 overall record, and with a 5-4-1 mark, and finished fourth in the Big Ten – tying its third-best finish in the Conference standings since winning the regular season in 1994, the first season of competition in the Big Ten. In 2022, the Spartans captured their first-ever Big Ten regular-season title, going undefeated in league play, and advanced to their first-ever Big Ten Tournament championship game while winning a program-record 17 games. The Spartans repeated as Big Ten champions in 2023 and advanced to their first-ever Sweet 16 behind a 14-5-3 mark. In 2024, MSU returned to the Sweet 16 after a fourth-place Big Ten finish and, during the season, secured the program’s first-ever No. 1 ranking in the national survey, appearing in the poll every week.
Most recently, the Spartans finished second in the Big Ten and advanced to the Big Ten Tournament championship game in 2025 (falling in PKs to No. 1 seed Washington). They also earned their highest-ever NCAA Tournament seed (No. 2), hosted three rounds of the NCAA Tournament at DeMartin Stadium in front of record crowds, and advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals for the first time. Under Hosler, the Spartans have gone a remarkable 35-7-10 in Big Ten play, winning more conference games than any other Big Ten school during that span. In Hosler’s tenure, MSU is 8-4 in NCAA Tournament play in four seasons (6-0 at home).
SPARTAN INDIVIDUAL ACCOLADES:
A total of 23 selections to the Big Ten First, Second, or Third teams is highlighted by Conference individual awards for the best players at their positions: Forward of the Year (Lauren DeBeau, 2022 and Kennedy Bell, 2025), Midfielder of the Year (Justina Gaynor, 2023), Defender of the Year (Ruby Diodati, 2022), Freshman of the Year (Bella Najera, 2023) and Goalkeeper of the Year (Lauren Kozal, 2021 and 2022). Three Spartans have earned spots on the All-Freshman Team, and Hosler was named the 2022 Big Ten Coach of the Year, and along with assistant coaches Gabe Romo and Megan Link was selected as the United Soccer Coaches All-Region Staff of the Year.
In five seasons, there have been a total of 17 selections to the United Soccer Coaches (USC) All-North Region teams and six played to All-American honors, including a program record three in 2025.
Under Hosler, The Missouri Athletic Club has named five Spartans to their annual Hermann Trophy Watch List, with a program-best three earning the honor in 2025: Kennedy Bell, Maggie Illig, and Bella Najera. Lauren Kozal was a semifinalist in 2022, and Justina Gaynor earned a spot on the Watch List in 2024. MSU Hall of Famer Laura Heyboer was the only other player in program history to land on the Hermann watch list, in both 2009 and 2010.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Michigan State has routinely been a top 10 attendance draw in the nation during Hosler’s tenure. By tying the program's best with 13 home games in 2025, MSU welcomed the fourth-most fans in the country (23,893) to DeMartin Stadium, averaging 1,838 per game – good for eighth among Division I soccer programs. Over the last five seasons, MSU has welcomed more than 105,000 fans to DeMartin.
The program's single-game attendance record was broken twice during the 2024 season: first against Arkansas on Aug. 22 with 3,180 fans, before smashing the record with 5,145 fans on Oct. 5 against Michigan, making it the ninth-most attended NCAA women's soccer game in 2024.
PROFESSIONAL SPARTANS
Michigan State had at least one player selected in the NWSL Draft during the first three seasons of Hosler's tenure at MSU, with Ava Cook (2022) and Celia Gaynor (2024) selected by the Chicago Stars, and Lauren Kozal and Lauren DeBeau selected by the Portland Thorns FC in 2023. After the elimination of the NWSL draft in 2025, Justina Gaynor became the fifth player under Hosler to either be drafted or to sign with an NWSL team, inking a contract with the Chicago Stars.
Through the formation of America’s second FIFA-recognized top designation, a pair of players have also shone in the Gainbridge Super League (USL), including Kaitlyn Parks and Meg Hughes of Sporting Jax. 2025 graduate Maggie Illig also signed on to play in Jacksonville at the conclusion of her senior campaign.
In addition to Spartans playing domestically during Hosler’s tenure, Ruby Diodati played three seasons in various leagues abroad; Ranya Senhaji in Morocco; Lauren Kozal in Switzerland; and Mackenzie Anthony was the runner-up for the Golden Boot in her first season with Shelbourne FC in Ireland’s top division. Most recently, Remini Tillotson inked her first contract with Galway United FC in Ireland.
ACADEMIC STANDOUTS
Over five seasons, Spartans have earned a total of 91 Academic All-Big Ten distinctions, including 19 in 2025. Over four years, 45 women’s soccer Distinguished Scholar have come out of the women’s soccer program, acknowledging a 3.75 GPA or better over the course of the academic year (two semesters).
In addition, a total of 25 Michigan State players have earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District distinction, with a limit of six per school per year. Of those, Academic All-America honors have been earned by Ruby Diodati (2022), Justina Gaynor (2023, 2024) and Maggie Illig in 2025. The United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America honors have been earned by Lauren Kozal (2023) and both Illig and Emerson Sargeant in 2025.
AT GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
Hosler guided Grand Valley State University for seven seasons (2014-Spring 2021) and posted the highest winning percentage of any coach in any sport in Laker history. He led GVSU to three NCAA Championships, five NCAA title game appearances, and reached at least the Elite Eight in six seasons (there was no Division II NCAA Tournament in 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic). He left GVSU with an overall record of 142-12-6, the best winning percentage in all of NCAA Soccer during that span, and a 63-2-2 mark in GLIAC play.
With Hosler at the helm, 32 Lakers captured All-America honors, and 43 earned All-Region accolades. Twelve different Lakers were honored as CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, and 56 Lakers garnered All-GLIAC honors. He coached three Lakers to National Player of the Year honors and Marti Corby to the U-23 U.S. Women's National Team camp in 2016.
Under Hosler's leadership, the Lakers dominated GLIAC play, winning six conference regular-season titles and seven GLIAC Tournament championships, including the 2019 season in which they did not allow a single goal. The Lakers also claimed the Midwest Regional title and reached the NCAA Elite Eight in all six seasons under Hosler.
AT ALMA COLLEGE
Hosler spent eight seasons coaching at his alma mater, Alma College (2006-13). During his time with Alma, the Scots posted a 91-55-12 overall record, winning their only Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) regular-season title in 2010. Alma also claimed the 2011 MIAA Tournament title, making its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. Outside of his first season in Alma, the Scots never finished outside of fourth place in the MIAA. Prior to his arrival, the program had just three winning seasons in its first 16 years.
COACHING ROOTS
Shortly after his playing career ended, Hosler began his coaching career as the freshman coach and assistant for the varsity boy's and girls’ soccer programs at East Lansing High School in September 2003. He helped ELHS to four Capital Area Activities Conference (CAAC) Blue Division titles, three state semifinal appearances and an MHSAA Division 2 State Championship. He also coached with the boys’ basketball program all four seasons. In addition to his time with ELHS, he was heavily involved in coaching club soccer, the Olympic Development Program for MSYSA and USYS Region II, and AAU basketball.
AS A COLLEGIATE ATHLETE
As a two-sport student-athlete at Alma, Hosler was a four-time soccer All-MIAA honoree, earning All-Mideast Region and All-NCAA Tournament honors during the Scots' first trip to the Final Four in 1999. Hosler left Alma as the all-time leader in assists and is also ranked inside the top five in career points. On the court, he graduated with the single-game and season steals records as a three-year starter and retired following his junior season. Hosler earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business in 2002.
PERSONAL
Hosler holds a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) National "B" License and USYSA National "Youth" License. The East Lansing native and his wife, Rochelle, are the parents of two daughters (Charlie and Kennedy), and a son, Steven. Hosler was inducted into the East Lansing High School Athletics Hall of Fame in August of 2025.
With 20 seasons of head coaching experience at all levels of collegiate soccer, Hosler owns a 303-87-38 career record (.752), which is the second-highest career winning percentage of all active NCAA Division I head coaches (with at least 5 years in Division I). Hired by Michigan State in June 2021, Hosler succeeded 30-year coaching veteran Tom Saxton as just the third head coach in program history. 
SPARTAN INDIVIDUAL ACCOLADES:
PROFESSIONAL SPARTANS
