Joe Bean, a towering figure in collegiate soccer who transformed Wheaton College’s soccer program into a powerhouse, left an indelible mark on the sport and countless lives through his 45-season career.
Highlights
- He exemplified holistic leadership by serving in multiple roles at Wheaton College (including professor, admissions director, and golf coach) while using soccer as a platform to impact people’s personal and spiritual lives.
- He became the winningest men’s soccer coach in collegiate history at the time of his retirement, with 607 wins and a 74.7% winning percentage over 45 seasons, demonstrating remarkable consistency and excellence.
- His legacy extends beyond statistics – as evidenced by the personal tributes after his death, particularly in how he remembered everyone’s names, mentored people in their personal lives, and had the conference’s Coach of the Year award and Wheaton’s stadium named in his honor, showing his lasting impact on both the institution and individuals.
Bean’s journey in collegiate soccer began with stints at Quinnipiac and Bridgeport before finding his true home at Wheaton College, where he served as head men’s soccer coach for 37 remarkable seasons from 1969 to 2006.
Bean’s coaching prowess translated into unprecedented success on the field.
He amassed an extraordinary 607 wins against 185 losses and 61 ties, achieving a remarkable 74.7% winning percentage.
His win total stood as the highest in collegiate soccer history upon his retirement in 2006.
Today, it remains the second-highest in Division III men’s soccer and third across all collegiate men’s soccer divisions.
At Wheaton, Bean’s teams dominated the pitch with 32 postseason appearances.
His squads captured two NCAA Division III National Championships in 1984 and 1997, reached two national runner-up positions in 1999 and 2006, and made it to the National Semifinals in 1990.
Under his leadership, Wheaton secured 14 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Championships, alongside multiple championships in various soccer conferences.
Bean’s influence extended far beyond the soccer field. He wore multiple hats at Wheaton College, serving as Professor of Physical Education, director of admissions, head men’s golf coach, and assistant baseball coach.
His commitment to combining athletic excellence with spiritual growth embodied Wheaton College’s vision for its athletics program.
Joe Bean’s Death Sparks an Outpouring of Tributes and Memories
The soccer community lost a beloved figure when Joe Bean passed away on Thursday, February 13, 2025.
The news of his death prompted an outpouring of tributes and memories across social media platforms, highlighting his profound impact on generations of players, coaches, and colleagues.
Wheaton College Athletics announced his passing on Facebook, inviting the community to share their memories of Coach Bean.
The Wheaton Athletics community is saddened by the passing of Joe Bean on Thursday. Coach Bean retired as Wheaton’s men’s soccer coach at the conclusion of Wheaton’s 2006 NCAA Division III Runner-Up season. He served as Wheaton’s head men’s soccer coach for 37 seasons (1969-2006) and spent 45 seasons as a collegiate head men’s soccer coach. In his time at Wheaton, he served in many roles, including Professor of Physical Education, director of admissions, head men’s golf coach, assistant baseball coach, and others.
Facebook
As we celebrate his life, we invite you to share any memories or stories of Coach Bean in the comments of this post.
The post emphasized his multifaceted contributions to the institution and his enduring legacy in collegiate soccer.
Likewise, Chris Aleen’s Facebook tribute highlighted Bean’s personal impact.
Sharing intimate memories of Bean’s involvement in his life, from double dates with Bean and his wife Shirley to Bean’s presence at significant life events, Aleen wrote,
“Well done, good and faithful servant!”
Facebook
Aleen’s post highlighted Bean’s remarkable ability to remember every person’s name and his motto of being “#alwaysaboutpeople.”
Current Wheaton head men’s soccer coach Steve McCrath, a close friend of the Bean family, expressed his grief, noting,
“My heart has a gaping hole today.”
Daily Herald
McCrath emphasized Bean’s impact on both the soccer community and Christian soccer community, highlighting his commitment to integrity and faith.
Wheaton College President Philip Ryken and Athletic Director Mike Schauer joined in honoring Bean’s memory.
Schauer praised him as “one of the all-time great college soccer coaches” while emphasizing his exceptional character.
The institution had previously recognized Bean’s contributions by naming their soccer facility Joe Bean Stadium in 2006.
Joe Bean is survived by his wife Shirley, their four children – Laurie (Narup), Pam (Thonn), JT, and TJ – along with numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
His legacy lives on through the countless lives he touched, the Joe Bean Coach of the Year Award that bears his name, and the enduring impact he made on collegiate soccer.
Additional Information
- Bean led numerous international sports ministry trips with the Wheaton men’s soccer program, taking teams to diverse locations including Romania, Poland, Brazil, and Northern Ireland between 1974 and 2006.
- He made history on October 25, 2006, by becoming the first men’s coach in collegiate soccer to achieve 600 career wins.
- He was a pioneer in receiving the National Soccer Coaches Association/National Intercollegiate Soccer Official Association’s first-ever “Merit Award for Sportsmanship and Integrity.”
