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Wheaton College (IL)

Wheaton College (IL) Athletics
 501 College Ave Wheaton, IL 60187
Division 3 Illinois Midwest
Private Small Developing team
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Coaches

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Steve McCrath

Steve McCrath was announced as the head coach of the Wheaton men's soccer team in February of 2022. McCrath arrived at Wheaton from Barry University, where he served as the head men's soccer coach from 1998-2021. He is the 18th head men's soccer coach in 85 seasons of the Wheaton program.


The 2023 season will mark McCrath's second campaign in charge of the Thunder. In his first season at the helm, he guided Wheaton to eight wins and a second-placed finish in the CCIW regular season standings, the team's highest conference finish since 2015.


Former Athletic Director Julie Davis said of McCrath at the time of his hire, "Steve comes with demonstrated excellence and experience as a successful soccer coach. His desire and passion to integrate Christian faith with competitive soccer was apparent throughout the interview process. I am thrilled to be able to welcome him to the Wheaton community!"


McCrath began his tenure as the head men's soccer coach at Barry in Miami Shores, Florida in 1998. He compiled a 241-135-39 (62.8%) record in 23 seasons with the Buccaneers. His teams made nine NCAA Division II Tournament appearances, including the 2018 season that ended with a Division II National Championship and a 2000 National Runner-Up finish. McCrath coached 25 Division II All-Americans in his tenure at Barry.


Prior to his appointment as Barry's head coach, McCrath served as an assistant coach to his father Cliff McCrath at Seattle Pacific University. Cliff is a 1958 graduate of Wheaton and served as its head men's soccer coach in 1958. Steve was a four-year letterwinner as a player at Seattle Pacific (1986-89), helping guide the Falcons to the 1986 Division II Championship and as a team captain in 1989 he earned NCAA Division II All-Region honors. He earned his bachelor's degree from Seattle Pacific in communications in 1990 and received a master's degree in physical education with a concentration in sports administration from SPU in 1993.


Steve played professionally with the Seattle Storm of the Western Soccer League and later with the Milwaukee Wave of the National Professional Soccer League. He finished his professional career with the Everett Bigfoot in the U.S.I.S.L. Division III and toured with Athletes-in-Action to South Africa in 1996.


McCrath says of what Wheaton soccer fans have to look forward to under his leadership, "I would pray and hope that the students and fans of Wheaton soccer will recognize a vibrant program and it would create a buzz. I want our team to realize there is something special about our program and make that connection with our Thunder supporters."

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Dylan Milkent

Dylan Milkent joined the Thunder men's soccer staff as an assistant coach in the summer of 2019. He is involved in all aspects of the men’s program.


During Milkent’s tenure as an assistant coach, the team has made the CCIW conference championship and has been honored with numerous team and individual awards. The Thunder earned the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award in 2021-22. Individual awards have included Silas Galvao receiving CCIW Newcomer of the Year in 2019. Other awards include CCIW All-Conference awards to Silas Galvao (2019, 2021), AJ Moyes (2019, 2021), Justin Hill (2019, 2021), Hasten Biddlecome (2021) and Joey Sopikiotis (2021). Under Milkent's direction as the Goalkeeper Coach, Biddlecome would go on to break Wheaton’s all-time career shut-out record in the 2021 season with 29 career shutouts.


Milkent, a Wheaton native, is a graduate of Glenbard South High School, where he was an All-Region and All-Conference player. He went on to play collegiately at Loras College. Milkent was a two-time IIAC All-Conference goalkeeper and earned a 42-4-4 overall record during his time there, while recording 24 career shutouts. Milkent led Loras to back-to-back NCAA Final Four appearances in 2012 and 2013 as the starting goalkeeper. He also made NCAA Tournament appearances in 2010 and 2011 and was an Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) champion in 2010, 2012, and 2013, and regular season IIAC champion from 2010-2013. In 2012, he broke the IIAC regular season record for shutouts (7), fewest goals allowed (0), save percentage (100%) and goals against in conference play (0), and was also ranked ninth nationally in save percentage. Along with his playing accomplishments, Milkent holds a National Soccer Coaches of America (NSCAA) National Diploma and Goalkeeper License. Milkent graduated from Loras with a major in public relations and a minor in general business. He graduated from North Central in 2016 with a master's degree in Leadership Studies specifying in Sports Leadership.


Milkent and his wife, Amanda, reside in Wheaton with their dog, Leo.

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