In July, Leslie Wray?s life changed. She and her husband, Sean, welcomed twins to the world. With the newfound responsibilities of motherhood, it?s understandable that Wray felt the pull between her career and family.
After eight seasons at the helm of the Towson University women?s soccer team, Wray announced her resignation Wednesday.
“That?s a lot of the reason. … Having the addition of two infants, I realized I can?t put the time into the program that I have in the past,” Wray said. “Right now, where women?s soccer is, you have to dedicate a lot of time, not only in season, but also out of season.”
With newborn twins, time is short.
It wasn?t an easy decision for Wray, who played high school soccer at Parkville before graduating from Maryland in 1995.
“The hardest part of the decision is that I knew when I got out of it that it would be difficult to get back in,” Wray said.
Wray hopes to stay “in the loop” by volunteering at a smaller local college or community college.
“I would not be me if I didn?t stay involved at the college level,” said Wray, who also served as an assistant at Towson in 1996 and at Missouri for the next two seasons.
Her eight years at the Towson post were the most in program history, and she led the Tigers to 55 wins in those seasons.
“We appreciate Leslie?s contributions to women?s soccer at Towson University,” Towson athletic director Mike Hermann said in a release. “She became our head coach in 1999 and gave much-needed stability to our program. We feel that she is leaving the program in good shape as we try to move forward in the very tough Colonial Athletic Association.”
Wray missed part of the 2006 season on maternity leave, leaving assistant coach Tina Steck to fill in. Towson went 5-11-2 last season.
“It just seemed the right time, and I wish the program well,” Wray said. “I hope they get someone in there that can continue the program.”
