Bill Wardle was named head coach of the Harford Community College men's soccer program on June 2, 2020, after serving as the Fighting Owls' interim head coach in 2019 and spending two seasons as an assistant coach.
Since taking over the program, Wardle has guided Harford through one of the most successful stretches in program history. During his tenure, the Fighting Owls have captured the program's first East District Championship, earned their first appearance in the NJCAA Division I National Tournament, won their first Region 20 Division I Championship, and consistently ranked among the nation's top offensive teams.
During the 2025 season, the Fighting Owls finished 11-7-2 (.600) and were the Region 20 Division I runner-up. The squad played tough, tying No. 19 Howard Community College 1-1 and battling No. 8 CCBC Essex, losing 1-0 on a goal scored in the 85th minute of play. Wardle also guided Cristian Lopez-Contreras and Joshua Bell to become NJCAA Division I Men's Soccer All-America honorees.
In 2024, Wardle led Harford to its first Region 20 Division I Championship, adding another milestone to an already historic run for the program. Harford defeated No. 11 nationally ranked Montgomery College on penalty kicks to take the title. The team ended the season 13-5-3 and Rex Pearce was an NJCAA Division I Men's Soccer honoree.Â
The 2023 season was an 11-3-4 campaign that culminated with Harford finishing as Region 20 Division I runner-up. That season, the Fighting Owls outscored their opponents 64-28, averaging 3.2 goals per game and only allowing 1.4 goals. Nearly 58 percent of Harford’s 385 shots landed on goal.
Wardle's 2022 squad finished 13-5, posting the second-highest winning percentage in program history. Six players earned All-Maryland JUCO Conference honors, five were named All-Region 20 selections, and Kye Williams earned NJCAA All-America recognition. Following the season, Wardle was named NJCAA East District Coach of the Year.
The Fighting Owls enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in 2021, setting a program record with 16 victories and advancing to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament for the first time in school history. Harford secured the East District Championship with upset victories over nationally ranked Harcum and Montgomery and earned the No. 1 seed in the Region 20 Division I Tournament after posting a perfect 3-0 record against region opponents. The team finished 8-0 on the road and 10-2 against Maryland JUCO Conference competition. Williams earned NJCAA All-America honors, while four Fighting Owls received All-Region recognition.
When the COVID-19 pandemic moved the 2020 season to the spring of 2021, Wardle led the Fighting Owls to a 6-5 record that included an 8-0 victory over Hagerstown and four shutout wins. Michael Gisriel, Kye Williams and Danny Eckert were named All-Maryland JUCO Conference selections.
As interim head coach in 2019, Wardle doubled the program's win total from the previous season, guiding Harford to an 8-11 record and a Region 20 Division I Tournament victory over Hagerstown. Under his leadership, goalkeeper Mason Mullaney finished his career ranked second in program history with 148 saves, while Travis Bouthet, Ilario Ercole and Kevin Dietrich earned All-Region honors.
Wardle has coached more than 30 Harford student-athletes who have continued their careers at four-year institutions across NCAA Divisions I, II and III, as well as the NAIA. He has also coached four NJCAA All-Americans and more than 30 All-Region performers during his collegiate coaching career.
A longtime educator and coach in Harford County, Wardle has more than 25 years of coaching experience at the youth, high school and collegiate levels. He spent 25 years as a boys' soccer coach at Aberdeen and North Harford high schools, earning NFHS Maryland High School Boys Soccer Coach of the Year honors in 2012. He also coached with the Baltimore Bays and Harford Football Club and has served as a camp coach, trainer and instructor throughout the region.
Wardle holds a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from Penn State University and a Master of Education in Secondary Education from Towson University. He has been a mathematics teacher with Harford County Public Schools since 1996 and holds multiple coaching certifications, including the United Soccer Coaches College Coach Certification and NSCAA Level 6 Regional Certification.
