Angela Widlacki is in her first season as an assistant coach with the Redbird soccer program after having served as their graduate assistant during the 2017 season.

Throughout Illinois State’s 2017 season, Widlacki was primarily responsible for long-term planning including organizing and managing all team travel arrangements, coordinating events, developing itineraries and schedules as well as assisting in daily operations. Her vast and diverse experience in all aspects of collegiate soccer has made her a vital part of the Redbird soccer program.

Widlacki played soccer at Penn State and was a member of the 2015 NCAA National Championship team. She also tallied three consecutive regular season conference championships and a conference tournament championship during her time in State College, Pennsylvania. She was also two-time recipient of Academic All-Big Ten honors.

Even through multiple season-ending injuries, Widlacki continued to serve as a beacon of positivity and leadership. Between her rehabilitation and training, she studied coaching under Penn State women’s soccer head coach Erica Dambach (Walsh) and assisted her in halftime discussions. Dambach has had an illustrious coaching career, including past stops with U.S. Soccer as assistant coach for the 2008 Olympic gold medalist U.S. Women’s National Team and 2011 World Cup champions. 

Widlacki graduated from Penn State in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and will continue pursuing her master’s degree in sport management at Illinois State, while serving as an assistant coach.

A native of Naperville, Illinois, Widlacki attended Naperville North High School and helped lead her team to two state championships and one second place finish. Both her parents, Stan and Ann, are Illinois State alumni.