Yeagley's successor announced

"I'm honored, humbled and excited to be the second head coach of IU," Freitag said. "It is a dream come true to take over a college program that I hold so dear to my heart."\nFreitag said he understands the challenges of following in the footsteps of a coaching legend. But after the time spent under Yeagley as a player, graduate assistant and now full-time assistant, Freitag said the 18 years have left an ever-lasting impression strong enough to carry on IU's winning tradition.\n"Since I came to IU as a freshman in 1976, besides for being a great coach, (Yeagley) has been a big bro, my mentor and probably most of all he has been my best friend," Freitag said. "I plan on continuing the tradition of excellence that he has established here. I will do it with the same class, competitiveness and dedication that he has showed since he started off in the club days."\nWith Freitag on the staff, IU won back-to-back national championships in 1998 and 1999. Yeagley said he retires knowing the program is headed in the right direction under Freitag.\n"I've had a lot of great players and been fond of a lot of them and Michael is one of my favorites. He is one of the hardest-working players that I've had. He has worked as hard as anyone and he has the integrity and honesty to do things right all the time," Yeagley said. "I would not have left had I felt that Michael was not the right person, the very best person, for the job. This program is my baby; it's part of my life and it is important to me that it was in the proper hands."\nJunior midfielder Danny O' Rourke, after playing under Yeagley for three years, said he is eager for the opportunity to play under Freitag for a year.\n"We can reiterate the fact that we are sad coach is leaving, but coach Freitag knows more about the actual game of soccer then anyone who has ever coached me before," O' Rourke said. "He will continue all the greatness that coach brought to the game. He will bring different aspects to the program that will benefit the program even more."\nAfter IU's comeback victory Saturday against Penn State to win the Big Ten regular season title, earning them the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten tournament, Yeagley told athletics director Terry Clapacs the time was right to make the announcement -- even before the season concluded. \n"There has been a lot of speculation about it. I've been getting so many calls and a lot of interest from other coaches in the country," Clapacs said. "I said, 'Jerry, you decide when you think it's the right time' and he said that the right time was at the end of the regular season before the tournament. So that's how we ended up doing this today."\nFreitag said he welcomes the continued support from the athletics department, alumni and fans.\n"I look forward to the challenges and success that IU soccer will bring," Freitag said. "My parents always kept on asking me when I was going to get a real job. Well I think this is a real job -- one I will take with great pride and do the best job I can." \nThe Hoosiers begin the Big Ten tournament 5 p.m. Friday against the winner of Ohio State and Wisconsin.