Joel DeLass begins his third season with the Nighthawks in the 2018-19 academic year after leading NNU to a 8-6-3 record in his second season and a third-place finish in the GNAC. He is now 17-11-7 in his two seasons with the Nighthawks.
Before coming to NNU, DeLass served as the first assistant coach at his alma mater Wheaton College (Ill.), where he helped lead the Thunder to a 72-17-8 record, an appearance in the 2014 NCAA D-III National Championship game, three Elite-Eight appearances, four NCAA Tournament appearances and four CCIW regular season conference titles.
While at Wheaton, DeLass helped develop five All-American, seven All-Region and 13 All-Conference players. Four former Thunder players who played under DeLass went on to sign professional contracts, including Marshall Hollingsworth, who was selected by the Columbus Crew in the second round of the 2016 Major League Soccer (MLS) Superdraft.
Prior to his time at Wheaton, DeLass spent the 2010-11 season as an assistant coach at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Mich. where he helped lead the Golden Eagles to a 19-15-2 record and a WHAC regular season championship in 2011. He helped develop seven All-Conference players and two players who went on to sign professional contracts.
DeLass is a 2008 graduate of Wheaton, earning his Bachelor’s degree in Business/Economics in three and half years. He was a four-year letter winner for the Wheaton men’s soccer program from 2005-08. He was a member of the 2006 team that made it to the NCAA Division III national championship match, and he scored the lone goal in the semifinal match to send the Thunder onto the finals. DeLass was a three-time All-CCIW honoree at Wheaton, earning NSCAA first team All-American, first team All-Region and CCIW Player of the Year accolades in 2008.
Following his collegiate playing career at Wheaton, DeLass went on to play professionally for five years in the USL PRO. He spent his rookie season with the Charlotte Eagles before signing and playing for the Dayton Dutch Lions for the next four seasons. During his time in the USL, DeLass captained the Dutch Lions for three seasons, leading them to the quarterfinals of the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup where they lost to eventual champions Sporting KC. DeLass also helped guide the Dutch Lions to the club’s only playoff appearance in 2013. He was named to the USL All-League team in 2012, started and played in over 100 career matches, and was named to the USL team-of-the-week 15 times throughout his career.
DeLass holds a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) “B” license.
Joel his wife Betty and their daughter Evelyn reside in Nampa with their dogs, Charlie and Henry.
