Notre Dame College

Notre Dame College Department of Athletics
4545 College Road South Euclid, OH 44121

Division 2 Ohio Midwest

Private Small Competitive team

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Mike Shiels

Mike Shiels took command of the Notre Dame women’s soccer program in 2003. He will be entering his 21st season as the head coach at NDC in 2023.

Since joining the Mountain East Conference in 2013, Shiels' teams have advanced to the MEC Tournament every year, and won the Tournament in the 2014, 2016 and 2020 seasons, punching their ticket to the NCAA Division II National Tournament in 2014, 2016 and 2017. He has been named MEC Coach of the Year four times, in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2020. The NDC coaching staff was named Atlantic Region Coaching Staff of the Year in 2020.

Notre Dame earned its first at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament in 2017 and won their first-round game 2-1 against Kutztown. It was the first NCAA postseason win for the Falcons.

While head coach, Shiels has led players to six All-American and 34 All-Region honors. In the MEC, a Falcon has won Offensive Player of the Year three times, Defensive Player of the Year once and Freshman of the Year twice. Twenty-seven athletes have been named first team All-MEC while 21 have been named second team All-MEC and nine have been an All-MEC honorable mention. 12 NDC players have also made the MEC All-Freshman team.

In 2013 Mike Shiels led the Falcons to their most successful season in program history. The team was crowned the Mountain East Conference regular season champions after compiling a regular season record of 15-1, which included a eleven game win streak to start the season. The Falcons would finish the season with a 16-2 record which was a program record for both wins in a season and best single-season record.

In addition to the team’s success that year, the Falcons swept the individual Mountain East Conference honors winning Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year as well as Freshman and Coach of the Year. The team also received the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Ethics & Sportsmanship Award and NSCAA Team Academic Award during the 2013 season.

Under Shiels, Notre Dame has completed two feats with an undefeated road record in 2016 and an undefeated home record in 2017.

Players have also seen much success in the classroom under Shiels. Emily Balodis (2013) and Norah Barnes (2017 & 2018) were named to CoSIDA Academic All-American teams. Balodis (2013), Norah Barnes (2016, 2017, 2018) and Alexis Manoa (2016) all have been named to an Academic All-District Team by CoSIDA.

Before joining the MEC, he had eight players named to the All-Ohio team, eight All-AMC first team, three named All-AMC second team, two named to the All-AMC third team and four All-AMC honorable mention. In the Independents' Collegiate Athletic Association, one athlete was named to the first team ICAA and two were named to the second team ICAA. One athlete was given an All-GLIAC honorable mention, as well.

During Mike Shiels' tenure, the Falcons have had four alumni go on to earn their doctorate degrees and 22 alumni have progressed to earn their masters degrees.

The Falcons currently train and play on their new on campus facilities; Mueller & Normandy Fields. The $2.3 Million facility features two turf fields and stadium.

Coach Shiels has been named the Coach of the Year in three different conferences and by the Ohio Coaches Soccer Association (OCSA); the American Mid-East Conference, Ohio Independent Conference and the Mountain East Conference. In 2013 Shiels was named Mountain East Conference and Ohio Coaches Soccer Association Division II Coach of the Year. He was named MEC Coach of the Year again in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2020.

As a collegiate player, Shiels attended Mercyhurst College and was a four-year starter for the Lakers from 1994-1998. He earned first-team All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) honors and was an Academic All-American selection. While a member of the Laker soccer program, the team made two NCAA Division II Final Four appearances and were nationally ranked all four seasons of play. He earned a bachelor of arts degree from Mercyhurst in anthropology and archeology and is currently working towards a master’s degree in education.

In addition, Shiels also played one season abroad with the National University of Ireland-Galway where the team competed in the All-Ireland National Championships. The Mentor, Ohio, native also has been a coach for the Cleveland Soccer Academy since 2003.

Shiels resides in Mentor with his wife, Liz, and their son, Aidan and daughter, Maryn.