Trinity International University

Patrick Gilliam was named the third head coach of the Trinity International University women’s soccer team in 1997, and has been one of the most successful coaches in the sport.

With a career record of 335-159-27 record in 24 seasons, Gilliam is currently the third winningest NAIA women’s soccer coach in history, as well as the second winningest active NAIA women’s soccer coach. 

In 25 years at the helm of the women’s program, Gilliam has compiled an impressive list of achievements as coach, leading TIU 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 under Gilliam except one.

In 2015, the Trojans claimed their fifth CCAC Tournament crown of the Gilliam era, which culminated in a 1-0 victory over No. 17 Olivet Nazarene on their home field in the final.

The Trojans earned their fourth CCAC Tournament championship in 2013, as Trinity upset three teams with better records on their home fields to claim the title. That season, TIU returned to the NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship for the first time since 2001, and finished the season ranked No. 25 in the final NAIA Coaches Poll.

The Trinity women's soccer program has now tallied 12 consecutive seasons without earning a single red card.

A number of Trojan athletes have found success under Gilliam. 2016 graduate Morgan Elzinga was named an NAIA All-American as well as the NCCAA North Central Region Player of the Year, while a total of five Trojans earned All-CCAC honors. In 2018, Heather Ortiz was honored on the national stage being named All-CCAC 2nd Team, NCCAA North Central All-Region, as well as NCCAA 1st Team All-American. 

Striker Samantha Yasatan-Miller became the first player to be named an NAIA All-American since 1999, after setting the TIU single-season record for goals with 29 in 2014. Missy Loretto was also honored that season as the first Trojan student-athlete to be named to the CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-America Team for her successes both athletically and academically. 

Collectively, Gilliam has coached 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. Academically, 62 NAIA and 43 NCCAA Scholar-Athletes have been honored, as well as 61 CCAC All-Academic members.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.

Gilliam has also earned a collection of individual honors as a coach. 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.

Gilliam currently serves as Associate Director of Athletics at TIU, a position he’s held since 2018. He also held previous positions at Trinity including two stints as head men’s soccer coach from 1996-1999 and again from 2008-2017, with 95 total victories, three NCCAA regional championships, four NCCAA Tournament appearances, and the program's most recent regular season conference championship in 1997. Gilliam also served as TIU's Director of Athletics from 2000-2008.

An alum of Judson College, Gilliam earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education in 1991. He played as 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 qualifying teams.

Patrick currently resides in Wheeling, Illinois with wife Holly, and has two children, Ian, a 2017 TIU graduate, and Emma, a current TIU student.

 

The Gilliam File (Women's Soccer)

* The 2020 season was played in the winter/spring of 2021 and shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic