Willy Roy, NIU’s winningest men’s soccer coach, will not have his contract renewed next season.

A former World Cup performer, Roy, 60, has been the head coach for the Huskies the past 16 seasons, accumulating a record of 142-131-22.

“Late last week we let him know that we were not going to renew his contract as men’s head coach for next year,” Groth said. “That’s the way he was comfortable with that. Some coaches would ask to resign — we gave him the option to resign and he didn’t want to.”

Groth said there was not one particular reason for the decision, but focused on the team’s lack of production in recent years.

“We feel the Mid-American Conference is a very competitive league and our program can be more competitive,” Groth said.

Roy’s last two seasons at NIU both were under .500 and the team lost in the first round of the MAC Tournament both years.

Groth said they will begin a national search for a replacement some time this spring, probably in March. Groth hoped that NIU assistant, Willy’s son, Karsten, would apply for the job, but he told her Tuesday that he was not interested.

“I told Karsten [Monday] when I met with him that I knew it was a difficult time for him, but I wanted him to know that he would be given a fair opportunity if he chose to apply for the job,” Groth said. “And his decision was not to apply.”

Groth said she talked to all four recruits that the Huskies signed and they all confirmed they still plan on coming to NIU.

Willy and Karsten both were unavailable for comment.

“We were all informed yesterday by Cary Groth,” said Bernhard Hagevik, a sophomore forward. “I know too little right now. For me, the only coach that I know in the U.S. of A. is Willy Roy. He was an important part in the decision of me coming to NIU.”

Originally from Norway, Hagevik said that he has no thoughts of transferring and has not heard anyone else entertaining the idea.

Senior Rasih Pala did not comment on the situation. Groth asked the players to not comment until a Friday morning meeting where questions would be answered, such as who the interim coach will be and what will happen with the fall season.

NIU men’s soccer’s sixth head coach, Willy is the former boss of the North American Soccer League champion Chicago Sting. In 1994 he became NIU’s all-time winningest kick coach. In 1999, Willy led the Huskies to the MAC Tournament championship game and was one match from making the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1973.

Originally from Treu-burg, (East) Germany, he came to the United States at age 13 and attended Burbank Reavis High School and the University of Illinois.

After college he played on the Club Junior Team in Chicago, then went on to play with National Soccer League championship units for the Wanderers, Hansa, Lions and Maroons. From 1965-’74 he played with the U.S. National Team.