ASC 09 Dortmund was planning to part ways with its coaching staff, led by Marco Stiepermann, next summer anyway. Now it’s happening sooner.

In late October 2025, ASC 09 Dortmund announced that head coach Marco Stiepermann and assistant coach Justin Martin would be leaving the team next summer.

“We had already agreed last year that we would sit down during the season and decide together how to proceed,” explained Dennis Hübner, sporting director of ASC 09 Dortmund, at the time.

He continued: “Marco and his team not only do a great job on the field, but they also fit very well into the ASC family on a personal level. Our goal was to give Marco the opportunity to gain important experience and develop further in his still-young coaching career. Now it’s time for him to take the next step after this season.”

Now the separation has been brought forward. As the club announced on Thursday evening, January 22, the duo is leaving effective immediately. They were actually supposed to hand over to successor Magnus Niemöller this coming summer.

According to the club, the duo requested the early termination of their contracts. “Marco and Justin approached us with the request to terminate their contracts effective immediately,” said Hübner. “Despite the impending separation this summer, we would have liked to finish the season together with the two of them. Unfortunately, that was not what they wanted.”

ASC 09 Dortmund is currently fourth in the Oberliga Westfalen standings. Next summer, Niemöller will take the helm. “With Magnus, we’re gaining a coach who, in Westphalian amateur soccer, stands for continuity, development, and success like no other. His experience in the Oberliga and beyond is impressive. During our discussions, he showed us that he is passionate about the role and the ASC. We are convinced that he is an excellent fit for our club both on and off the field and will bring new energy to our squad,“ Hübner said upon announcing the decision.

Niemöller added: ”Taking on the head coaching role at ASC 09 is both a labor of love and a challenge for me. I am aware of the magnitude of the task and will approach it starting this summer with full conviction, but also with the necessary humility. As a coach in Erkenschwick and Haltern, we often faced off in heated matches. Even back then, I had enormous respect for the ASC.”