Indiana University has announced that three of its programs will have new head coaches at the helm next season.

IU announced on Tuesday that Joe Kelley (women’s soccer), Kris Kirchner (men’s swimming) and Diane Stephenson (softball) would not be back next fall.

Kelley served as the head coach of the IU women’s program since its inception in 1993. He compiled a 85-78-11 career record, including 8-7-2 last fall. After a 6-2-1 start to the 2001 season, IU failed to qualify for this year’s Big Ten tournament after losing its last five conference games. Kelley’s ten-year stint included one Big Ten postseason tournament title (1996) and two trips to the NCAA Tournament (1996 and 1998).

Kirchner compiled a 72-46 dual record during his 12-year Indiana coaching career, including a 5-3 mark this past season. But Kirchner’s team struggled to a seventh place showing at the Big Ten Championship meet, which was held in Bloomington. Indiana failed to finish higher than third in any Big Ten meet during his tenure, including sixth and seventh place finishes the last two seasons.

Stephenson was let go after 14 years as IU’s softball coach. The Hoosiers recently completed its 2002 season 13-31-1 overall, including 0-17 in the Big Ten. During the past four seasons, Indiana was just 12-67 in Big Ten play.

The searches for new coaches will begin immediately.

"After reviewing the progress of these sports teams, we have determined that we are not achieving the high level of success in these programs that we should and do expect," said IU Athletic Director Michael McNeely in a prepared statement. "Further there are not sufficient factors to indicate that the current directon of these programs will yield higher levels of competitive success.

"We wish to thank coach Kelley, Coach Kirchner and Coach Stephenson and their staffs for their dedication and commitment to the IU program. These are very difficult decisions. We wish them the very best as all three have represented IU very well."