Champion assistant coach becomes new women's soccer head coach
Central Michigan University hires Western Michigan assistant coach James DeCosemo as the next women’s soccer head coach
Central Michigan freshman midfielder Kylee Weed kicks the ball into play during the game at the CMU Soccer/Lacrosse Complex, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (CMLife | Alivia Cranick)
Central Michigan University athletic director Amy Folan announced the newest head coach for the women’s soccer team on the CMU Athletics website on Dec. 10 . After the firing of previous head coach, Jeremy Groves just over a month ago, CMU announced it has hired James DeCosemo to lead the team in the near future.
DeCosemo was an assistant coach for the Western Michigan women’s soccer team in the previous season, when the Broncos won both the regular-season and tournament portions of the Mid-American Conference.
Before he coached in the Mid-American Conference, he spent six years at Aquinas College. His first three years, he was an assistant coach for the men’s team.
In 2022, he switched to the women’s soccer team as head coach, where he had a 55-5-7 overall record, including five Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Championships.
DeCosemo, who graduated from Northwood University in 2016, said in a press release how his prior connections in the area will help him on his path to success.
"My connection to the local market should mean that we can bring in impactful players immediately. Our goal is to build Central Michigan into a destination for Michigan players that want to play high-level soccer,” he told CMU Athletics. “I am lucky enough to know a lot of people in youth soccer and will use those connections to help build a high-level soccer program here at Central Michigan."
He also said he decided to come to Central Michigan because of the unbelievable soccer facility that would attract high-level players.
“The university is moving in an exciting direction, the athletic department is full of supportive people, and Mount Pleasant is a great community,” DeCosemo told CMU Athletics.
“There are many factors that make it easy to attract good soccer players to CMU: the school, league, support, and facilities, it's all here.”
Folan also stated that she believes DeCosemo could lead CMU soccer to success in the Mid-American Conference.
"He is a players' coach who has had success everywhere he's been. He has operated at many levels to give him the skills and ability to lead our program. He understands our footprint and has worked in the soccer community within the state of Michigan from being a student-athlete to a head coach."
DeCosemo will be introduced to the campus community at a later date, according to CMU athletics.
