Coaches

Matt Fannon

Matt Fannon, entering his fourth season at the helm of the Iowa State soccer program, has proven he can build a winning program in Ames. The Cyclones have shown remarkable progress under Fannon's guidance, the Cyclones finished the 2021 season with the most wins since 2016 and ended the season by taking #8 TCU to PK's. In 2022, Iowa State recorded its first win over a ranked opponent since 2016 and its first victory over in-state rival Iowa since 2018.


The 2022 season also marked the first season in Ames that Fannon was able to recruit the incoming freshman and transfer class in-person and play a full schedule. Fannon’s 2022 squad dropped just ten games, which, other than the COVID-shortened season, was the fewest since 2016.


In 2020, the Cyclones battled perhaps the toughest schedule the Cyclones had ever faced. Iowa State played four opponents ranked in the top 15 nationally by the United Soccer Coaches poll - the most in program history. The team ending the 2020-21 season on a five-match unbeaten streak - the program’s longest since 2010.


Prior to Iowa State, Fannon was the three-time reigning Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year when he was named the sixth Head Women’s Soccer Coach in Iowa State history on Dec. 17, 2019.


“We are thrilled to announce that Matt will be joining the Cyclone family to lead our soccer program,” Sanders said. “He is a proven program builder at the Division 1 level and has a passion for coaching soccer and developing student-athletes. Matt’s vision for bringing competitive and academic excellence along with cultivating leadership and service in his program aligns perfectly with our goals. His knowledge of soccer is elite and his charisma, leadership and desire positions us for future excellence.”


Fannon guided Bowling Green State to a 41-18-7 mark (26-6-1 in the MAC) in his three seasons there, winning league Coach-of-the-Year honors each season. He won more games at BGSU than the school won in the eight prior years combined. In his rookie season, the Falcons won 13 games, the second-most in school history. He tied the university’s season win mark (14) his final two years.


“Julie and I are thrilled to be bringing our family to Ames,” Fannon said. “In the short time we have had to get to know our new home, it’s clear that the championship culture is founded on a wonderfully welcoming family environment. Being trusted with the chance to build the Iowa State soccer team into a strong and competitive program is an opportunity I am excited to accept. We know the potential of the team and with the support of the clearly passionate and loyal fans, we believe we can turn it into a power within the Big 12. I am excited to work in an incredible athletics environment, and work for Calli and Jamie, who I cannot thank enough for the belief they are showing in me and the opportunity to become a Cyclone.”


Bowling Green won both the MAC regular-season and tournament championships in 2018 and 2019. The Falcons advanced to the NCAA Championship in both of those campaigns.


Fannon’s teams have adopted an aggressive, attacking style throughout his career which leads to many scoring opportunities as well as limiting scoring chances for the opponent.


The 2017 team scored 43 goals, and the 2019 team scored 46 to rank as the two highest-scoring seasons in school history. The 2018 squad had the second-best defensive scoring average in Bowling Green annals.


In 2018, BGSU dropped an early season match to 15th-ranked Northwestern and then went on to play the next 1,008 minutes (nearly 17 hours of match time) without trailing. Fannon’s 2018 team led the MAC in goals scored as well as fewest goals allowed.


The 2019 Falcons again led the conference in scoring offense and defense. BGSU was the only school to average more than two goals per league game (2.545) and was one of two schools to allow fewer than a goal per game (0.73). Falcon student-athletes took home MAC Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2017, 2018 and 2019, as well as MAC Defensive Player of the Year recognition in 2018 and 2019.


Off the pitch, BGSU had record numbers of MAC academic honorees and had four MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes in his first two seasons at the helm. BGSU also had one CoSIDA Academic All-American, a Senior CLASS All-American and maintained a team GPA above 3.5 during his tenure.


Fannon, a native of York, England, has made a rapid climb on the college coaching ladder. He was an assistant at Regis University and the University of Wyoming before assuming the head coaching responsibilities at Wittenberg (2013-16) and Bowling Green State (2017-19).


In his four seasons as head coach, the Tigers were 40-26-10. Wittenberg made the NCAA Division III Tournament his final year. He was named NCAC Coach of the Year that season.


Fannon has his NSCAA Premier diploma and earned his Football Association Coaching Certificate in England. He also has a United States Soccer Federation Goalkeeping License.


Fannon earned his B.S. degree in physical education from Davis and Elkins College (2008) and added a Master’s degree in Soccer Coaching Education from Ohio University (2015).


He was a two-time first-team all-region and first-team all-conference player for the Senators. Fannon also played a year at Dutchess Community College before attending Davis and Elkins.


Fannon and his wife, Julie, have two daughters: Rowen and Mason.

CC McGrath

CC McGrath is entering her second season as an assistant coach for Iowa State soccer.


In her first year with the Cyclones, she was responsible for a multitude of roles. McGrath's main task is as the recruiting coordinator for the Cyclones. When it comes to practices, McGrath is in charge of implementing the scouting report and she also is in charge of all player off-field development.


McGrath came to Iowa State from Albany, where she served as an assistant coach for two seasons and helped her student-athletes to 11 All-American East Conference honors. In spring 2021, McGrath helped coach America East Striker of the Year Jasmine Colbert.


McGrath was also head coach of the WPSL’s New York Shockers in the summer of 2021 for the club’s inaugural season. McGrath coached four All-Conference players as the Shockers were named the East Region Franchise of the Year.


Prior to Albany, McGrath spent two seasons at Marist College. With the Red Foxes, McGrath assisted in leading her team to back-to-back 9-8-2 records culminating in MAAC semifinal appearances.


McGrath began her coaching career at Wagner College in 2015 as an assistant. She spent three years at Wagner, overseeing one NEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, one NEC All-Rookie Goalkeeper, and one NEC All-Conference Second Team selection.


McGrath was a midfielder at Tennessee from 2012-14, where she played for a Volunteer team that ranked in the top 20 in 2012 and the top 50 in 2013. She was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll each season as a Vol and won the Scholar-Athlete Award in 2014.


Before attending Tennessee, McGrath spent two seasons at Florida State, where she won the ACC title in 2011 and helped the Seminoles to a Final Four. Academically, McGrath was named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll in both of her seasons in Tallahassee.


A native of Boca Raton, Fla., McGrath graduated magna cum laude from Tennessee in 2014 with a degree in Psychology, after spending two years at Florida State studying Business Management. She earned her MBA from Wagner in 2016.

No Men's Soccer Program