Northern Michigan University

Jon Sandoval was named the sixth head coach in women's soccer program history in February 2020 after serving as the men's assistant coach since 2018. Sandoval accepted a head coaching position at DI Loyola University in Chicago in December, 2024. 

Sandoval is a two-time GLIAC Coach of the Year recipient, with each of those coming in seasons where he led the Wildcats to a GLIAC regular season title, a conference tournament title, and an NCAA Tournament appearance. The regular season and postseason conference championships under Sandoval in 2023 and 2024 were the first in program history. Sandoval brought the best out of his student-athletes both on the field and in the classroom, as he coached five All-Americans and six Academic All-Americans, 22 All-Region selections, and seven All-Conference Players of the Year. In five seasons at Northern Michigan, Sandoval set program records in overall winning percentage (70.3%), conference winning percentage (73.8%), and single-season winning percentage (81.8%, 2023). Sandoval closes his tenure as a Wildcats with a 62-21-15 overall record, a 40-12-13 conference record, and a remarkable 35-3-7 record at home.

In the 2024 season, Sandoval was named GLIAC Coach of the Year for the second-consecutive season, leading the Wildcats to back-to-back GLIAC regular season and postseason championships and a third straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Sandoval oversaw his team accumulate a 14-4-4 overall record with a 9-2-3 conference mark, while producing five All-Americans, 10 All-Region selections, and three conference players of the year. 

In the 2023 season, Sandoval was named GLIAC Coach of the Year after guiding the Wildcats to a program-first GLIAC regular season title with a 14-1-4 overall record, surpassing his mark of 13 wins last season while also recording the most wins in a season since 2006. The Wildcats' conference record of nine wins, one loss, and four ties is also the most conference wins since 2011, surpassing the eight-win mark he reached in both 2022 and 2021. Under Sandoval, Northern was ranked in the national poll for nine consecutive weeks, moving up three spots from 11th to 8th to end the season in the United Soccer Coaches D2 Women's Soccer Poll. Under Sandoval in 2023, the Wildcats were regular season and post-season conference champions, made a second consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, saw two athletes named All-American and three earn Scholar All-American, two athletes earn GLIAC Commissioners Awards, five land on All-District teams, the GLIAC Offensive and Defensive players of the year, and eight earn spots on All-GLIAC teams

In the 2022 season, Sandoval coached the Wildcats to a 13-4-5 record, posting the second-most wins in program history. The Wildcats defeated the Parkside Rangers in the GLIAC Quarterfinals and the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals in the GLIAC Semifinals and appeared in the second GLIAC Championship game in the last three years. The Wildcats also made an NCAA Tournament appearance, the second in program history and the first since 2010. Sandoval coached six Wildcats to GLIAC honors, including the Freshman of the Year Molly Pistorius, two First-Team All-GLIAC selections, three Second-Team All-GLIAC honorees, and one honorable mention. Under Sandoval, Brooke Pietila and Isabelle Brusilow made first and second team D2CCA Midwest All-Region Teams, along with Pietila, Brusilow, and Molly Pistorius earning United Soccer Coached All-Region Team accolades. The team excelled in the classroom, with 21 total student-athletes earning spots on the 2022-23 GLIAC All-Academic Team.

In 2021, Sandoval's Wildcats finished 11-8-1 overall and advanced to the GLIAC semifinals. Northern defeated rival Michigan Tech 2-0 in the regular season finale in Marquette and proceeded to once again defeat the Huskies 2-1 at Michigan Tech two days later to open up the GLIAC Tournament. Sandoval guided Caroline Halonen, who earned First Team All-Region, All-GLIAC, and All-Tournament honors as well as Isabela Cardoso, who claimed Second Team All-Region, All-GLIAC Honarable Mention, and All-Tournament honors. 

In 2020-21, his first full season as head coach, Sandoval led his team to an 8-3-1 overall record, the best for the program since 2011. The Wildcats advanced to the GLIAC Tournament Championship match for the first time in program history. Sandoval also coached junior Caroline Halonen to the 2020-21 GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year award and an All-GLIAC First Team appearance while another student-athlete was named All-GLIAC Honorable Mention.

Over the past two seasons with the Wildcat men's program, Sandoval was an integral part of the young team's development. This past season he helped coach the Wildcat men to their highest victory total in a single season, eight, including seven conference wins, and saw freshman Ryan Palmbaum earn Rookie of the Year honors from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. 

"Jon is a genuine, thoughtful, and organized person and his many qualities showed throughout the search process," said Northern Michigan Director of Athletics Forrest Karr. "Jon prioritizes academics and helping student-athletes perform to their highest level. We have been fortunate to witness his exceptional work ethic and positive influence on others over the last two seasons. Jon has the right plan to move our women's soccer program forward."

Prior to NMU, he served as an assistant coach at St. Ambrose University where he helped guide the Fighting Bees to a berth in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference semifinals (2016). He was also the Head Boys Soccer Coach at Davenport West High School in Davenport, Iowa. There he led the team to their first high school tournament win as well as winning the NS Tournament Invite title, a first for West High. 

A 2012 graduate of Western Illinois University, Sandoval spent three seasons on staff at his alma mater as both an assistant coach and director of operations. As a student-athlete for four years with the Fighting Leathernecks, he helped guide Western Illinois to the 2010 NCAA Tournament. Serving as team captain in his senior season, Sandoval led the team in points and was also the recipient of an award given annually to the player who exhibits a strong work ethic and character. 

Following graduation, he also spent four years in the NPSL with the Quad City Eagles.

Sandoval earned his bachelor's degree in Psychology in 2012 before attaining two master's degrees from Western Illinois University (M.A.) and St. Ambrose University (M.B.A.). He is a native of East Moline, Ill.