BANNOCKBURN, Ill. --- Just before the Christmas holidays, head women's soccer coach
Patrick Gilliam announced his pending resignation from head coach of women's soccer after 26 years of service to Trinity International University.
Gilliam took over as the fourth coach in program history in 1997 and has been one of the most successful coaches in the history of women's soccer in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics . During his tenure as head Coach Gilliam has amassed a record 342-168-28 and as of his resignation is ranked the 3rd winningest coach of all-time in the NAIA.
In his quarter of a century leading TIU Women's Soccer, Gilliam has compiled an impressive list of achievements. He led the program to two NCCAA National Championships (1998, 2004), eight NCCAA Tournaments, four NCCAA Regional Championships, six NAIA Tournaments, three NAIA Regional Championships, three CCAC regular season titles, and five CCAC Tournament titles. Trinity has qualified for the CCAC Women's Soccer Tournament every season except for one under Gilliam.
One season to note, in 2013 Gilliam led the Trojans to their fourth CCAC Tournament championship after upsetting three higher ranked teams on the road. They later returned to the NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship for the first time since 2001 and completed that season ranked No. 25 in the final NAIA Coaches Poll.
Over the years, Gilliam's roster included three NCCAA national, three CCAC, two NCCAA region, and one NCCAA freshman of the year players, as well as 25 NAIA All-American, 22 NCCAA All-American, 54 CCAC All-Conference, 24 NCCAA All-Region, and 15 NAIA All-Region players. In the classroom, the Trojans under Gilliam found equal success as he coached 62 NAIA and 43 NCCAA Scholar-Athletes as well as 61 CCAC All-Academic members.
As a program, the women's soccer team has also received the CCAC's Karl Boeck Champions of Character Award six times for best sportsmanship in the conference and have a streak of 13 consecutive seasons without earning a single red card.
Gilliam has also received numerous individual honors as coach throughout his career. Most recently, he was named the 2019 USC Faith-Based Jewel Award recipient. Gilliam was inducted into the NCCAA Hall of Fame in 2016, and has also earned the 2014 NCCAA Frank Jewel Award, a pair of NCCAA Women's Soccer Coach of the Year Awards (1998, 2004), both the NSCAA Midwest and CCAC Coach of the Year awards in 1999, and three NCCAA Regional Coach of the Year honors.
During his time at Trinity, Gilliam also served in a variety of other roles including: Associate Director of Athletics (2018-current), Director of Athletics (2000-2008), and head men's soccer coach (1996-1999 and 2008-2017). At the helm of men's soccer Gilliam earned 95 total victories, three NCCAA regional champsnhips, four NCCAA Tournament appearances, and the program's most recent regular season conference championship in 1997. He also had brief stints as head women's basketball coach, softball coach and tennis coach.
Prior to his tenure at Trinity, Gilliam taught at Aurora Christian Schools and led their soccer team. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education from Judson College where he also was a member of the men's soccer team. He played on two NCCAA National Tournament qualifying teams and earned all-conference honors as a junior.
Gilliam and his wife, Holly, raised their family on the Bannockburn campus. His two children were young when he started his career and now both Ian ('17) and Emma ('21) have graduated from Trinity.
While all of these statistics and achievements are undeniably outstanding, none of them compare to the impact Gilliam has had on the multitude of young women who have been under his leadership in the last 26 years. That impact cannot be measured by statistics, but can be expressed in words as a few alumni listed below have done…
Natalie Zierten Bierne ('07-08)
"Always learning, growing and setting a model for us all. Coach, thank you for having the greatest impact on my life. We will always be Coach Gilliam fans wherever you go. What an honor to have been coached by such an impactful leader!"
Dana Larmour ('04-07)
"Billy Graham said that a coach will impact more people in one year than the average person will in an entire lifetime. It's true. Coach Gilliam single handedly changed the trajectory of my life. His wisdom, standards and unconditional love gave me a fighting chance as he always pointed me to God's word."
Michelle Pesce (Pelland, '04-06)
"My first year [at Trinity] he gave us the name of "Princess Warriors" — Princess of the Most High God and warriors to not only keep our focus on maintaining our race marked out as women of Christ but to kick butt out on that soccer field. This phrase has always stayed with me and when I began my coaching journey of young girls I immediately dubbed them that name. To this day, they are now on their way to completing their first year of college and to the few that went on to play college ball, informed me of their always remembering to be that princess warrior on the field; knowing who they play for on the field and represent always! It is such an amazing feeling and part of Coach's legacy that will carry on with me forever!"
Isabelle Danner ('15-19)
Coach Gilliam has impacted and transformed the lives of student-athletes over the past twenty-seven years. He faithfully served the Trinity community and laid a foundation of what it looks like to glorify God through sports and pursue excellence on and off the field.
Coach Gilliam is leaving an incredible and transformative legacy as he moves on to the next step in God's plan for him and his family. As a result of his legacy and the foundation he has laid, the women's soccer program will continue to holistically grow and develop student-athletes and use the sport as an opportunity to glorify God in and through our own team and community.
It was a true honor to have been a player and then a coach alongside Coach Gilliam.
Valerie Hayes (Tom, '05-07)
Coach Gilliam is the reason I came to TIU. He embodies everything I wanted to be. He's a man who not only talks the talk, but walks the walk! He trained us to "do hard things" and live life with "no reserves, no retreats, no regrets." And he also modeled how to live life that way too!!! Everything he spoke to us… he lived. He was the easiest leader to follow because of his integrity & character! I'm so grateful to have been part of the privileged group of ladies who were under his care! To this day… I count him in the top 3 leaders I've had in my life! And if he's still coaching in 12 years… I hope to send my own daughter to play for him at Wheaton!!! ❤️
Jeanne Nielson (Schambach,'01-04)
"The impact that Coach Gilliam had on my life went far beyond the field as the soccer field became a much broader training ground for godly preparation for every area of life. Not a day goes by that I am not thankful for the way that lessons learned through a soccer program have transferred to the rest of my life. There are very few coaches out there that believe in the "both/ and"—both excellence on the field AND investment into players off the field. While I loved all the success we had on the field during my years as a player, nearly twenty years removed from TIU, I am just as grateful that I left TIU Soccer better prepared to be a godly wife, mom, employee, church member, etc. Thanks, Coach!"
Megan Schaeffer (Pelland, '04-08)
"There are not enough words to put together the impact the TIU Women's Soccer program and Coach Gilliam have and still do continue to have on me. I had the blessing of being a part of the 2004 NCCAA Championship team but also the life experiences that being a part of this program has been the highlight in my life. When we did various sprinting/endurance training drills, the expression "Five Yards past the line" was always a mentality to not let up even when you reach the "finish line". To run that race just as hard and see it past the finish line. In motherhood and the workforce, there's a different endurance you need and one that I use that same symbolism. Give all that I got and not let up as I'm approaching completion. The way he would tie that into our spiritual lives is the same as Paul would say in our "race" in life to live to glorify God is all that we do - persevere past the finish line. Thank you Coach for that and many other life lessons and growth in my time with TIU Women's Soccer."
Athletic Director of TIU, Heather Logue, also added her thoughts on Gilliam's legacy stating that, "Patrick Gilliam's impact at Trinity is far reaching, not only to his student-athletes, but also to our coaching staff. He has influenced in some way every athletic program at TIU. We are thankful for all he has given to TIU athletics."
Following his resignation from Trinity International, Gilliam will be taking on the role of head women's soccer coach at Wheaton College.
Gilliam, in his final words to Trinity…
"I am incredibly grateful to Trinity for all it has meant to me for the last 26 years. We have literally raised a family on this campus, and the impact that TIU has had on me, personally; and in the lives of my wife and children is immeasurable. I was trusted as a young leader, mentored and discipled as a growing follower of Christ, and ultimately encouraged to coach and lead in a way that truly integrates faith and sport.
To name everyone who has invested in me and helped me grow as a Christian leader and man is impossible...That is the level of influence that this unique and very special institution has had on my life.
I would like to express my appreciation for every student-athlete I've had the privilege to coach over my time at TIU...whatever the sport. Your hard work, dedication, trust, and buy-in to the type of "counter-cultural culture" we sought to develop is something I never took for granted and deeply valued.
My prayer as I depart is that every faculty/staff member and student will understand and appreciate the Kingdom-focus and relational/community priority that exists at Trinity. It truly is an extraordinary place."
As further testament to Gilliam's contributions over the years, please consider viewing this tribute video created for his 20th anniversary at Trinity just a few years ago.
