Patrick Gilliam is entering his eleventh season has head coach of the TIU men’s soccer program, having patrolled the Trojan sideline during two stints, from 1996-1999, and again from 2009 to 2015. Gilliam has compiled a career record of 66-103-15 (.399). Gilliam’s squads have proven to be successful in the classroom as well as on the pitch, producing a total of 26 NAIA Scholar-Athlete Award winners, and another 27 NCCAA Scholar-Athletes.
Last season, the Trojans matched their win total from a year ago, as sophomore Zach Reget broke out as the team's most threatening attacker. Reget scored eight goals on the year, most by a Trojan in four years, and was named to the NCCAA All-North Central Region Team. The team was also recognized with the CCAC Karl Boeck Champions of Character Award, their second such honor in as many years, and their third in the last four seasons. The Trojans ranked last in the conference in yellow cards, and are currently on a six-year run with no player earning a single red card.
In 2014, Gilliam helped the program to earn its first All-American honor in five years, as defender Greg Navitsky earned NCCAA All-American Honorable Mention. The Trojans finished the season strong, winning three of their last five, while eight players earned CCAC All-Academic honors.
Gilliam coached a pair of his starting midfielders to successful campaigns in 2012; both Greg Navitsky and Ike Akubullo earned NCCAA All-North Central Team honors, while Akubullo also led the team in scoring. Four players earned NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors, four earned NCCAA Scholar-Athlete awards, and six were named to the CCAC All-Academic Team.
In 2011, under Gilliam’s leadership the Trojans were awarded the Karl Boeck Conference Champions of Character Award, for their outstanding conduct on the field of play. A school-record six athletes earned NCCAA Scholar-Athlete awards, while another four earned the same award from the NAIA.
The Trojans earned a berth into the NCCAA North Central Regional in 2010, falling to the eventual third-place finishers. Another pair of athletes earned NCCAA Scholar-Athlete and NAIA Scholar-Athlete awards, while defender Vasily Giannakopoulos earned All-CCAC Second Team honors.
In his return to the sidelines for the men’s team, Gilliam mentored a pair of NAIA and NCCAA Scholar-Athletes, and led Giannakopoulos to an All-CCAC Honorable Mention award. Two Trojans also earned spots on the CCAC All-Academic Team.
During his first stint as head coach, Gilliam recorded a record of 44-30-5 over four seasons. During that time, Gilliam led the Trojans to a pair of NAIA regional appearances, and one trip to the NCCAA regional tournament.
Along with his duties as men’s soccer coach, Gilliam is also currently the head coach of the women’s program, where he is entering his 18th season with a record of 262-109-16 (.698).
Gilliam is a 1991 graduate of Judson College, where he was a four-year member of the Judson men's soccer team, earning all-conference honors as a junior, and playing on two NCCAA National Tournament qualifiers. Originally a native of St. Louis, Missouri, Gilliam now resides in Wheeling with his wife, Holly and their two children: Ian, who is a sophomore on the Trojans’ baseball team this season, and Emma (15).
