Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Women's Soccer

McIlhatton is no stranger to Embry-Riddle as he played four seasons with the mens team from 2003-06.   McIlhatton's impact on the men's lineup was immediate as he earned a spot in the first 11 as a freshman and kept his job as a starting defensive midfielder throughout his career. He played in every match in his first three seasons with the Blue and Gold and was on his way to doing the same as a senior, but was sidelined by a season-ending injury against Lindsey-Wilson in early October. The Scotland native helped the Eagles to four conference regular season and four regional tournament titles and totaled 28 points on eight goals and 12 assists in 67 career appearances. He received All-Conference recognition twice and was named to the All-Region and honorable mention All-America rosters as a junior.   After leaving Embry-Riddle, McIlhatton played semi-pro soccer for St. Anthony's FC in Scotland. He then went on to combine his knowledge of the sport and his experience playing in the United States as a Senior International Sports Consultant for Firstpoint USA. While at Firstpoint, his primary responsibility was finding opportunities for athletes in the United Kingdom to get an education while playing their sport at an American institution of higher learning.   In addition to his responsibilities with the ERAU womens team, McIlhatton was a girls coach with the Ormond Beach Soccer Club from 2010-13 and was also a member of the coaching staff for West Ham United International Academy in Palm Coast from 2011-13. In 2013-14, he was the coach of the U14 and U18 girls PDA teams and was named the coach of the U18 boys PDA team in 2014-15. In 2015-16, he was the PDA U-15 boys' coach and will move to the U-11 squad in 2016-17.   McIlhatton completed his undergraduate degree in Communications in 2007 and his Master of Science in Aeronautics in 2013. He earned his National Diploma from the NSCAA in January 2013 and completed his Advanced National Diploma in January 2014. Assistant Coach Alma Mater:

Maddie Cunningham was named the assistant coach of the Embry-Riddle women's soccer program in August 2022.   A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Cunningham played collegiate soccer for the University of Mississippi. She was a four-year defender for the Rebels and helped Ole Miss to the second round of the 2013 NCAA National Tournament.   After graduating from Ole Miss in 2015, Cunningham moved back to her home state after accepting the position of Director of Operations for women's soccer at the University of Kentucky. In addition to handling logistics for team travel, scheduling and planning and running camps and clinics, she managed the Wildcats' sports science technologies, including breakdown of game film and management of their Polar technology.   Cunningham also spent four years as an administrator and coach in the Olympic Development Program.   Cunningham earned her bachelor's degree in Exercise Science from Ole Miss where she was a four-year member of the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll, as well as the university's Academic Dean's List  

After a 12-year hiatus, Mike Cole returned to the Embry-Riddle women’s soccer program as the Eagles’ goalkeeper coach in 2017. Cole began his work with ERAU goalkeepers when the program started in 1998 and during his first nine seasons with the Blue and Gold, Eagle goalkeepers enjoyed great success between the pipes, including two-time NAIA All-American Julie Greenlee.   In addition to working with ERAU Women’s Soccer, Cole also coaches the boys' soccer team at nearby Mainland High School, where he is the Health & Physical Education Dept. Chair. In 1998, he guided Mainland to the state tournament, where they finished in the top 16 for the first time in school history.   Cole also spent five summers as a staff coach for nationally recognized "Soccer Plus Goalkeeping Academy," run by former US Women's National Team coach Tony DiCicco. He has also directed the Florida Soccer Goalkeeper Training Centers at the University of Central Florida and was the Director of Goalkeeping for the Ormond Beach Soccer Club for many years.   For the last three seasons, Cole has coached the U-14, U-16 and U-17 teams at the Players Development Academy in Palm Coast. He guided his teams to the Labor Day Showcase title in Tampa Bay in 2015, as well as the Global Premier Soccer Tournament and the Brevard Cup championships in the spring of 2017.   Cole holds both National and Advanced National Diplomas from the NSCAA. He was involved in developing and implementing the NSCAA goalkeeper curriculum and has taught every level of the goalkeeper education courses. Cole has also developed an intricate video analysis system for evaluating goalkeepers and produces post-match video that he uses as a tool to aid in enhancing goalkeeper performance, as well as movement of the defenders and defensive free kick protocol. Cole was a standout keeper for Georgia Southern University, where he helped lead the team to the Eastern Division championship in the Trans America Athletic Conference. He graduated from GSU with a degree in Health and Physical Education.   Cole and his wife, Stephanie, reside in Ormond Beach with their dog, Annie. He has hiked 14,439 feet to the peak of Mount Elbert in Colorado, which is the second highest summit in the contiguous United States, and made an eight-week, 13,500-mile round trip trek from Florida to Alaska.