WINONA, Minn. — The search is over.

Through the program's first 22 seasons, the Saint Mary's University women's soccer team had been under the guidance of one coach, Dan Blank.

Blank stepped down following the 2003 season, and the torch was officially passed on to Tony Guinn, it was announced Wednesday.

"I am very excited about this opportunity," said Guinn, a native of Belfast, Northern Ireland, who is currently among the top three winningest high school coaches in Wisconsin, having compiled a 273-86-19 record in 10 years as the head boys and girls soccer coach at St. Catherine High School in Racine, Wis. "Obviously, there is a great tradition in women's soccer at Saint Mary's. This program had had a great deal of success in the past, and Coach Blank deserves a great deal of credit, he did a wonderful job.

"I'm looking to come in and hopefully make a positive impact."

"We're very excited to have Tony join our department," said SMU athletic directory Chris Kendall. "He brings a lot of soccer experience, enthusiasm and energy to our women's program."

Guinn, a three-sport athlete during his collegiate days — playing soccer, football and tennis at UW-Platteville — takes over an SMU team that went 3-14-1 a year ago and finished 10th in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference standings.

That, he promises, is going to change — and fast.

"Losing can be very contagious — I've never had that disease before, and I don't plan on getting it at Saint Mary's," said Guinn, who, while at St. Catherine H.S., won 10 conference titles and guided teams to four state championship games. "Winning can be contagious, too, and that's the mentality I hope to instill."

Guinn has more than 17 years experience with premier club and high school soccer, and has coached more than 70 players who went on to play college or professional soccer — including SMU sophomores Patrick Tollackson, Brady Knudsen and Tyler Nelson.

"I'm used to coaching at a very high level, and I don't expect that to change at Saint Mary's," said Guinn, the 2003 Wisconsin Coach of the Year. "I've been coaching for a long time, and I feel I know what it takes to develop a successful program. I expect a lot of myself — and I expect a lot of the players who play for me.

"The toughest part is going to be the first year — getting everyone on the same page, raising those standards and expectations to a different level," continued Guinn. "My job is to find people who going to be as committed to this program as I am."

Guinn earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science from Carthage (Wis.) College in 1989 and finished his Master of Science in Sports Science from the University of Alabama-Mobile in 1992. He holds an NSCAA National License and is also the founder of Foundations Soccer Camp, a youth soccer camp in Racine, Wis., for boys and girls ages 6-14.

"Community support is important," said Guinn, who also coaches in the Racine Area Soccer Associaiton. "But it works both ways — if you want the community to support your program, you have to support your community.

"I want the Winona community's support, and I want to support the Winona community."