Xavier University

Xavier University Athletics
3800 Victory Parkway Cincinnati, OH 45207

Division 1 Ohio Midwest

Private Medium National competitor

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Coaches

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John Higgins

John Higgins was named the seventh men's soccer head coach in program history on March 28, 2022. Higgins joined the Musketeers from the University of Indianapolis where he compiled a 150-56-29 overall record in 12 seasons with the Greyhounds.

Higgins finished the 2021 fall season ranked fourth in the United Soccer Coaches (USC) Top-25 Poll after posting an 18-1-3 record and advancing to the semifinals of the NCAA Championships. All told, he posted a 31-1-7 record over two seasons in 2021 (spring season due to COVID-19 pandemic).

The three-time Great Lakes Valley Conference 'Coach of the Year' owns a 7-3-1 (.625) record in NCAA Tournament action and finished GLVC Tournament play with an 18-3-5 (.750) mark. He finished his coaching career at UIndy as the program's all-time leader in wins (150) and winning percentage (.700).

Higgins led the Greyhounds to a total of six conference championships from 2010-21, including three regular-season titles and three tournament championships. All told, he has made five NCAA Tournaments with two national semifinal appearances.

The Dunfermline, United Kingdom, native coached 54 All-GLVC selections at UIndy along with seven All-Midwest Region honorees and two All-Americans. Academically, the Greyhounds have earned the USC Team Academic Award in each season under Higgins.

Higgins played collegiately for the Greyhounds from 2004-08, earning all-conference and all-region honors as a senior. He was named to the 2007 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 5 Team and earned Academic All-GLVC honors four times.

Higgins earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from UIndy in May of 2008 and a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from UIndy in 2010.

Higgins and his wife, Amber, have two daughters: Emily (9) and Jane (5).

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Shaun Mahoney

Shaun Mahoney was named associate head coach in May of 2022. He was previously the associate head coach at the University of Indianapolis from 2017-22.

Mahoney helped the Greyhounds post a 72-17-11 (.775) record in five seasons on the bench. UIndy also won two conference titles and advanced to three NCAA Tournaments, including two NCAA National Semifinal Appearances.

Mahoney also helped coach 35 all-conference players, including four “Player of the Year” honorees (1 Freshman of the Year, 2 Offensive Players’ of the Year, 2 Defensive Players’ of the Year).

Prior to UIndy, Mahoney was the head men’s soccer coach at his alma mater, Franklin College, from 2006-16. He finished his career as the program’s leader in wins. He advanced to the Heartland Conference Championship Semifinals on three occasions.

The Columbus, Ind., native hold’s a bachelor’s degree from Franklin College (’97) and a master’s degree from Indiana Wesleyan (’07).

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Ian Vicars

Ian Vicars was hired as assistant coach in May of 2022.

Vicars played in 21 matches for the Musketeers from 2014-17, recording one goal and one assist in 485 minutes of action. The Musketeers posted a 46-26-9 record with Vicars on the team and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament in 2014.

Vicars finished his playing career at UIndy (2018-19) and played for two seasons under John Higgins. During the 2019 season, he served as a player/coach.

Vicars played in 32 matches, recording one goal and one assist. The Greyhounds posted a 28-10-3 record with Vicars on the bench and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Semifinals in 2019.

After graduation, Vicars worked in the financial sector – most recently serving as senior portfolio acquisitions analyst for Tiber Capital Group (2022).

The Liverpool, England, native, holds a bachelor’s degree from Xavier (’18) and a master’s degree from UIndy (’20).

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Alex Kamphaus

Alex Kamphaus joined the Xavier men's soccer program ahead of the 2021 season as the director of goalkeeping. He was promoted to assistant coach in March of 2023.

In 2022, he coached Cole Jensen to one of the best single-season performances in program history. He was named a United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Men's All-American, becoming the first goalkeeper in school history to earn the honors (second overall honoree from Xavier).

Jensen was also named BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year and participated in the adidas MLS College Showcase.

Jensen led the BIG EAST in shutouts (8), while ranking second in goals against average (0.89). He ranked tied for 10th in the NCAA in shutouts and tied for 34th in goals against average.

Jensen also finished the year ranked tied for fourth in single-season school history in goals against average (0.89), tied for fifth in total wins (9) and third in shutouts (8).

In 2021, he coached All-BIG EAST performer Matthew Rosenberg who finished the season with five shutouts and 41 saves. He posted a 1.04 goals against average and a .695 saves percentage. Rosenberg ranked 53rd in the NCAA in goals against average.

Kamphaus also works at FX Athletic Performance as a FX Trainer and is the Head of Goalkeeping.

The Cincinnati, Ohio, native played collegiately at Otterbein from 2008-11. He holds the United Soccer Coaches Level 1 Goalkeeping License.