Loras College Women's Soccer

COACHING RESUME 2019-present (Loras College)    Head Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Coach 2017-2019 (Millikin University) Assistant Men's and Women's Assistant Swim and Triathlon Coach 2016-2017 (San Diego State University) Swimming and Diving Assistant Coach 2015-2016 (San Diego High School) Head Swim Coach EDUCATION East Carolina University, Michigan State University B.S, 2015 HOMETOWN Birmingham, MI Nick Wyllie became the head coach of the Loras College men's and women's swimming and diving program in 2019.  Coach Wyllie led the Loras Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving teams to a successful 2022-23 season.  The Men’s team finished with a 6-3 record and finished 3rd in the inaugural American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Championships.  The Women’s team finished with a 4-5 record and a 5th place finish in the inaugural A-R-C Championships.  Seven Duhawks earned College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Honors in Christopher Grunke, Jr., Brad LaGrange, Payton Markowski, Kinsey Bogen, Taylor Hrabak, Nina Schiro, and Ellianna Stine.  Schiro also claimed two Second Team All-Conference honors.  Schiro, Emma Pajtash, Molly Strohmeyer, and Annie Quinn earned Third Team All-Conference honors in the 400-yard medley relay.  On the men’s side, Caden Gillmore and Brad LaGrange earned five Third Team All-Conference honors.  Joey Kock, Brian Day, Austin Jorgensen, Connor Smith, Charles Holmes, Noah James, and Gannon Harrington all earned All-Conference honors. The shortened 2020-21 season marked Wyllie's second season at the helm of the Loras College swim and dive program. The season opened on a historic high note, as the Duhawks claimed a tight 115-110 victory over the Coe College Kohawks. The victory was the first time the Duhawks had beaten the Kohawks in seven years. At the Conference Championship meet, the men's team placed third while the women placed fourth and was highlighted by a Championship performance by Sarah Shafer, who finished first in the 100 yard backstroke. Academically, the teams' successes in the classroom led to the men's team earning their sixth straight College Swimming and Diving Coaches of America Association (CSCAA) All-America honor with a 3.13 team GPA and the women claimed their eight straight with a 3.6 team GPA.  In his first season with the Duhawks, the team saw four new team records broken, nine new top-five times in Loras history, and one NCAA “B” qualifying time. Along with the success in the pool, the teams excelled in the classroom. The CSCAA selected the men's and women's swimming and diving teams as Scholar All-America Teams for the 2020 season and honored senior Shafter as one of the 1,479 student-athletes to earn individual Scholar All-America status. He joined the Duhawks' staff after serving as the full time men’s and women’s assistant swim and triathlon coach at Millikin University.  During his time at Millikin, the Big Blue swim team broke four new team records as well as recorded 47 new top-10 times in school history. The team also scored the most points in their championship meet than they had scored in the last 13 seasons. Wyllie was also a part of the Millikin women’s triathlon team's inaugural season where they placed third in the nation for NCAA Division III. Prior to Millikin, Wyllie spent a year with San Diego State University. While at San Diego State, the team went undefeated in dual meets finishing with a perfect 8-0 record and second-place finish at the 2017 Mountain West Conference Championships. The SDSU team accomplished 27 All-time Top-10 performances in school history and set one new school record.  Prior to SDSU, Wyllie spent two seasons as the head swim coach at San Diego High School, leading his program to a combined record of 24-8, with the girls team going 14-2 over that time. The girls team won back-to-back league titles and had their first top-10 finish at the CIF Championships in a decade. During the two seasons, the team set 19 team records and scored more points at their championship meet in 2017 than they had in the last ten years combined.   Wyllie has an American Swim Coaches Association Level 3 certification and is a certified CrossFit L-1 Trainer and ACTION Certified Personal Trainer.  Wyllie was a trainer and coach at CrossFit Stronghold in San Diego, California. He privately coached a client to become the No. 24-ranked powerlifter in the country for his age and weight class.   Wyllie competed collegiately for East Carolina University before finishing his degree at Michigan State University. At Birmingham Seaholm High School, Wyllie was a multiple All-State and All-American swimmer and was the captain of 2011 MHSAA State Champions.   Wyllie earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a Minor in Health Promotion from Michigan State University.  

COACHING RESUME National Tournament Appearances Women 2025- First Round 2024- Sweet Sixteen 2023 - Sweet Sixteen 2022 - Sweet Sixteen 2021 - Final Four 2018 - Second Round 2017 - Second Round 2016 - Second Round Men (Assistant Coach) 2017 - Second Round 2015 - National Finals 2014 - Sweet Sixteen 2013 - Final Four 2012 - Final Four 2011 - Second Round 2010 - Sweet Sixteen 2016-present (Loras College)       140-20-14 Head Women's Soccer Coach 2010-2016 (Loras College) Assistant Men's and Women's Soccer Coach 2008-2010 (Misericordia University) Assistant Men's Soccer Coach 2008 (Wahlert Catholic and Hempstead) Head Boys' Soccer Coach EDUCATION Loras College, Misericordia University B.S, 2008, M.S, 2010 HOMETOWN Libertyville, Ill. The fall 2026 season is Matt Pucci's 17th season as a part of the Loras women's soccer program and 11th as the head coach. He currently ranks No. 4 in winningest active coaches across all college coaches and No. 2 across Division III coaches. In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Pucci serves as an instructor in the Kinesiology department. In 2025, the Loras College women’s soccer team captured its fifth consecutive American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Tournament championship, earning an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight season following a 1–0 win over cross-town rival University of Dubuque. Pucci guided the Duhawks to their 20th A-R-C Tournament title. Loras finished the season 15-2-2 and reached the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Duhawks climbed as high as No. 9 in the United Soccer Coaches (USC) Top 25, the highest national ranking in program history. Pucci and his staff coached 16 Academic All-Conference selections, nine All-Conference honorees, four All-Region players and the A-R-C Defensive Most Valuable Player, Sierra Morgano. Morgano also earned USC All-American, Scholar All-American and Scholar All-Region honors. As a team, Loras ranked first nationally in shutout percentage and sixth in goals against average (.316). In 2024, the Loras women’s soccer team repeated as American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Regular Season Champions and A-R-C Tournament Champions, earning an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament with a 3-2 comeback win over Simpson College in the Championship Game. Pucci lead the Duhawks to their 17th A-R-C Regular Season Title and their 19th A-R-C Tournament Title. Loras finished the season with an undefeated regular season and finished 20-0-2 before falling in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III Women’s National Soccer Tournament. The Duhawks finished ranked No. 9 in the United Soccer Coaches top 25.  Pucci and his coaching staff received A-R-C Coaching Staff of the Year and DIII Region IX Staff of the Year while coaching 10 A-R-C All Conference players, along with A-R-C Most Valuable Offensive Player of the Year, Lauren Riggle and A-R-C Most Valuable Defensive Player, Reagan Lindsay. On the national stage, the Duhawks earned five All-Region players, along with two United Soccer Coaches Association All-Americans, Johnson and Lindsay, in addition to three United Soccer Coaches Association Scholar All-Region members, Riggle, Christina Salerno and Lindsay. Lindsay and Riggle were the sole recipients in the A-R-C to earn Scholar All-American distinction. In 2023, the Loras women’s soccer team repeated as American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Regular Season Champions and A-R-C Tournament Champions, earning an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament with a 3-2 penalty shootout win over Simpson College in the Championship Game. Pucci lead the Duhawks to their 16th A-R-C Regular Season Title and their 18th A-R-C Tournament Title. Loras finished the season with an undefeated regular season and finished 18-2-1 before falling in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III Women’s National Soccer Tournament. The Duhawks finished ranked number 13 in the United Soccer Coaches top 25.  Pucci and his coaching staff received A-R-C Coaching Staff of the Year while coaching 8 A-R-C All Conference players, along with A-R-C Most Valuable Offensive Player of the Year, Savannah Johnson.  On the national stage, the Duhawks earned five All-Region players, in addition to one United Soccer Coaches Association All-American, Savannah Johnson, and two United Soccer Coaches Association Scholar All-Region members, Christina Salerno and Reagan Lindsay. Salerno was the sole recipient in the A-R-C to earn Scholar All-American distinction. In 2022, the Loras women’s soccer team repeated as American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Regular Season Champions and A-R-C Tournament Champions, earning an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament with a 6-1 win over Simpson College in the Championship Game.  Pucci lead the Duhawks to their 15th A-R-C Regular Season Title and their 17th A-R-C Tournament Title.  Loras finished the season with an undefeated regular season and finished 18-1-3 before falling in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III Women’s National Soccer Tournament.  The Duhawks finished ranked number 15 in the United Soccer Coaches top 25 and number 10 in the D3soccer.com poll.  Pucci and his coaching staff received A-R-C Co-Coaching Staff of the Year while coaching 7 A-R-C All Conference players, along with A-R-C Defensive Player of the Year, Olivia Lansing.  On the national stage, the Duhawks earned five All-Region players and two United Soccer Coaches Association All-Americans in Payton McDonnell and Ryleigh O’Brien.  2021 saw the Loras College women's soccer team rewrite the history books, reaching the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament Final Four for the first time in program history. The Duhawks finished third in the country after entering the Tournament with the best record in NCAA Division III, going undefeated in the regular season with a record of 18-0-1. Pucci led the Duhawks to their 14th American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Regular Season title before cruising through the A-R-C Tournament to earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament with a 4-1 win over Wartburg College to claim their 16th A-R-C Tournament title. The Duhawks' dominance in conference play saw Pucci and staff received A-R-C Coaching Staff of the Year nods while seven Duhawks earned All-Conference honors. On the national stage, the Duhawks earned four All-Region players and one All-American in Payton McDonnell, who was named A-R-C Defensive Player of the Year and led all of Division III in assists with 24 to her name, setting a new single-season assists record that had been unchanged since 2002.  In the 2020 (Spring 2021) season, Pucci led the Duhawks to a dominant 7-1 record, pummeling A-R-C opponents offensively, taking a total of 252 shots on the season with 26 goals to average 3.250 goals per game. Pucci's defense excelled in the spring, as well, allowing only three goals in eight games played with five shutouts. The impressive season saw six Duhawks earn All-Conference nods while Pucci and staff were crowned Women's North Region Staff of the Year by United Soccer Coaches (USC) for the first time of their careers. Olivia Lansing and Payton McDonnell added to the postseason accolades for Pucci's Duhawks, earning USC's Player Award of Distinction. McDonnell, a sophomore midfielder, led NCAA Division III in assists in the spring season with 13 in the eight-game conference-only season. The 2019 season saw the women’s soccer team retain their fourth consecutive regular season conference title during Pucci’s fourth season leading the program and tenth overall at Loras. The team earned numerous awards during the season including the Team Academic Award and the Team Ethics/Sportsmanship award both from USC. The Duhawks also earned the first ever Pinnacle Award from the USC honoring the team for success in the classroom, and as well as on the field and overall ethics.  For the team’s accomplishments there were many individual awards handed out including both the Conference Offensive MVP in junior Brynn Jacobi and the Defensive MVP in senior Taylor Trovato. Both Jacobi and Trovato went on to feature on the USC All Region team as well.  For her efforts both in the classroom and on the field, Jacobi was also honored as a Scholar-All American.  The 2018 season was Pucci's ninth as a member of Loras soccer staff and third as the women's soccer head coach. His team won it's 12th overall conference championship and first as a part of the American Rivers Conference.  The team also captured the American Rivers Conference Tournament Championship, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season.  For the team's accomplishments Pucci was awarded A-R-C Coach of the Year and senior Gretchen Schutz was named A-R-C Most Valuable Player.  Schutz also earned United Soccer Coaches Association All-Region Honors in addition to senior Elizabeth Mills and junior Jenny Wick. His team was also presented with the United Soccer Coaches Association Team Academic Award and the Team Ethics and Sportsmanship Award. In 2017, Pucci's team won its second consecutive and 11th overall Iowa Conference Championship, finishing with a 15-2-3 overall record, advancing to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament for the second year in-a-row. Loras garnered a D3Soccer.com All-American, three United Soccer Coaches All-North Region selections, five All-Iowa Conference honorees and the United Soccer Coaches Team Ethics and Team Academic Awards. Sydney Wright was named a First Team CoSIDA Academic All-American, the second in program history and first since Michelle Wieser was named a Third Team selection in 2004. For his team accomplishments, Pucci was named IIAC Coach of the Year. In his first season at the helm, Pucci guided the women's soccer program to an Iowa Conference Championship and berth in the NCAA Tournament, where they defeated No. 20 St. Thomas to advance to the second round. Elizabeth Mills was named Iowa Conference MVP and NSCAA All-Region, while Sydney Wright earned NSCAA All-Region and Scholar All-American honors. Since joining the Duhawks' coaching staff in 2010 as the men's associate head coach, the men’s teams have won six regular season conference titles, six conference tournament titles and have made seven NCAA Tournament appearances. In addition, the men's teams advanced to the Final Four three times ('12, '13, '15) and the NCAA Division III National Championship game in 2015. The women's teams have won five Iowa Conference Regular Season Championships and four Iowa Conference Tournament Championships since 2010, advancing to five NCAA Tournaments in the process. In both the 2010 and 2012 seasons, the women advanced to the "Sweet 16" for the second and third time in program history, respectively. Pucci was a four-year member of the Loras varsity team from 2004-2007. During that time he helped lead the Duhawks to two Iowa Conference Regular Season Championships, two Iowa Conference Tournament Championships, three NCAA Tournament appearances, including the Duhawks' first NCAA appearance in 2005. As a player, Pucci’s honors include being named to the NSCAA All-Region First Team, D3soccer.com All-Region First Team as well as All-Conference First Team, while putting together the fourth-best offensive season in program history his senior year, by scoring a league-high 17 goals. Pucci is currently ranked in the top-10 for goals scored in a career. He was inducted into Loras' Athletics Hall of Fame as a captain of the 2007 men's soccer team that went 23-0-2 on the season and advanced to the NCAA Final Four. Pucci's coaching career began during his time on the Duhawks' roster with the boys' high school teams at Hempstead and Wahlert Catholic. While the head coach Wahlert in 2008, the Golden Eagles went 17-3 and won the IHSSA 1A State Championship and Pucci was named the Mississippi Valley Conference Coach of the Year and Iowa High School 1A Coach of the Year. Upon concluding his time in Dubuque, Pucci spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Misericordia University in Dallas, Pa from 2008-2010. The Cougars went 14-4-3 (6-1-1 Freedom) in 2008 and 12-5-3 (5-1-1 Freedom) in 2009 and qualified for the NCAA Tournament in each of those two seasons, winning the Freedom Conference twice. Pucci earned his bachelor's degree from Loras College in public relations in 2008 and followed with his master's degree in management from Misericordia University in May of 2010. His professional coaching licenses include both the National Diploma and Advanced National Diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). Originally from Libertyville, Ill., Pucci now resides in Peosta with his wife, Carrye, and their three daughters, Nora, Ellee and Colbie.   Career Coaching Record (Women's Soccer) Year Wins Loss/Tie Pct IIAC/A-R-C     Pct Regular Season Conference Tournament  NCAA Tournament Appearance  2016 12  4-3 .711 6-0-2 .875 Champions Semifinalist Second Round 2017 15  2-3 .825 6-0-2 .875 Champions Champions Second Round 2018 17  4-0 .810 7-1-0 .875 Champions Champions Second Round 2019 13  5-0 .722 7-1-0 .875 Champions Semifinalist 2020 (Spring 2021) 7 1-0 .875 7-1-0 .875 Runner-Up No Tournament Covid-19 No Tournament Covid-19 2021 21 1-2 .917 8-0-0 1.00 Champions Champions Final Four 2022      18 1-3 .886 8-0-0 1.00 Champions Champions Sweet 16 2023 18 2-1 .881 8-0-0 1.00 Champions Champions Sweet 16 2024 20 0-2 .955 8-0-0 1.00 Champions Champions Sweet 16 2025 15 2-2 .842 6-1-1 .812 Runner-Up Champions First Round Total 156 22-16 .845 71-4-5 0.918  

Sam Koenig enters his fourth season at the helm of the Loras College men's soccer team in 2026. In addition to his head coach duties, Koenig serves as an assistant coach for the women's team under head coach Matt Pucci ('08).  In 2025, the Loras College men’s soccer team posted an 11-2-6 overall record and went 4-1-3 in American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) play, advancing to the A-R-C Tournament semifinals. Koenig and his staff guided seven A-R-C All-Academic honorees, along with A-R-C Rookie of the Year Alex Drexler. Dani Galiana Torres also earned CSC Academic All-District recognition, USC Scholar All-Region Third Team honors, and USC Third Team All-Region distinction. During the 2024 season, Loras finished 9-5-7 overall with a 5-1-2 mark in A-R-C action, concluding its postseason run in the conference tournament quarterfinals. Koenig and his staff coached nine A-R-C All-Academic selections, four CSC Academic All-District honorees, and Bryan Basinger, who was named to the USC Fourth Team All-Region. During his first season with Loras, Koenig's Duhawks amassed a 12-4-4 overall record, in addition to a 6-2 mark in American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) play. The team's conference record earned the program the A-R-C's regular season champion title and gave the Duhawks' the No. 1 seed heading into the conference tournament. Following a first round bye, the Duhawks downed the fourth-seeded Luther College Norse, 3-0, in the semifinals to advance to the A-R-C title bout against the No. 2 Wartburg College Knights. Despite a strong defensive effort, Wartburg was able to come out on top, 1-0, ending Loras' season.  A four-year member of the Loras men's soccer program from 2012-15, Koenig previously served as the Director of Soccer at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, where he oversaw both the men's and women's soccer team. At Platteville, Koenig was the mean's soccer head coach for two seasons (2019-20) before being elevated to his director role in 2021, although the program did not play games in 2020 due to COVID-19. In four seasons at the helm of the men's team, the Pioneers compiled a 33-18-8 record, including a program record 14-game unbeaten streak (12-0-2 record) in 2021.   In 2022, the Pioneers earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament while Koenig and his staff were named as the Coast-to-Coast Conference's Coaching Staff of the Year during the program's first season in the league. During his time in charge of the women's soccer program, the Pioneers went 21-12-5 and earned their first ever Top-25 ranking during a 6-0-2 start in 2021. While at Dominican University in 2017-18, Koenig helped lead the Stars to back-to-back Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Tournament championships – the first two in program history – and back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Division III National Tournament. In 2018, the program advanced to the second round.   Before Dominican, Koenig was an assistant coach at Loras for both men's and women's soccer in 2016, a season after his graduation. During that fall, both Duhawk teams won the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) – now the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) – regular season championship while the women's team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III National Tournament. He also served as the women's lacrosse head coach that spring (2017). Koenig was a standout player and two-time team captain for the Duhawks during his playing career from 2012-15. During his time, he played a significant role on four Duhawk teams that not only qualified for, but also made deep runs in the NCAA Division III National Tournament. The Duhawks reached the Final Four in 2012 and 2013 before advancing to the Sweet 16 in 2014. During Koenig's senior season in 2015, the Duhawks advanced to the NCAA National Championship game and finished as the national runners-up after an 18-5-1 campaign. He was a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American, a two-time IIAC All-Conference performer, and a 2015 North All-Region selection while he helped the team go 77-12-7 during his playing days that included four IIAC regular-season and three IIAC tournament championships. A Dubuque native and a 2012 graduate of Wahlert Catholic High School, Koenig was a boys soccer coach for the Golden Eagles while he was a Loras student-athlete. In 2013, he led Wahlert to a third-place finish in the 2A Iowa state tournament. During his playing days for the Golden Eagles, Koenig was a three-sport student-athlete between soccer, basketball, and football. He helped the boys soccer team win the 2012 2A Iowa State Championship and contributed to two state runner-up finishes and one third-place finish while his individual honors include four All-State First Team selections, four Mississippi Valley Conference (MVC) All-Conference selections, four state tournament All-Tournament Team selections, and one National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Academic All-American honor.