University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Women's Soccer

The 2025 campaign will be the fourth for Kevin Boyd as the Milwaukee women’s soccer coach.   He has continued the long run of dominance for the Panthers over his first three years, claiming the past three Horizon League regular-season and Tournament Championships while making back-to-back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament. His three-year win-loss record stands at 36-14-10 (.683 winning percentage) while going an impressive 23-1-6 (.867) in regular-season Horizon League contests. In addition, he picked up career win No. 250 when the Panthers were victorious in the Horizon League title game Nov. 9.   In 2024, the Panthers went 12-7-2, going a near-perfect 9-0-1 in Horizon League play after a daunting non-conference schedule. In conference action, he led MKE to a staggering statistical lead in every category, pacing the 10-game slate in shots with 221 (second was 144), shots per game at 10.2 (7.3), shots on goal with 102 (73), total points with 88 (72), total goals with 28, and assists with 32. Also, on the defensive side, the team posted eight shutouts in the 10 matches, with its 0.20 goals-against average first by a wide margin (second was 0.70). Among national NCAA leaders, his team finished 11th in each of the following categories: scoring offense (2.38 gpg), points per-game (7.24), assists per-game (2.48). In addition, the Panthers were 15th in total points (152), 12th in total assists (52), and 17th in total goals (50). He guided Lainey Higgins to Horizon League Player of the Year honors, Parker Donahugh to Goalkeeper of the Year, and Kayla Rollins to a repeat selection as Horizon League Offensive Player of the Year. In addition, the six first-team all-league selections marked the most in program history.   In 2023, he led the Panthers to a 12-3-5 ledger and an unbeaten 7-0-3 in conference action, leading the Horizon League in points (139), goals (47), assists (45), shots (315), and shots-per game (15.8), while finishing second with their 0.95 goals-against average. Those numbers finished among the best in the nation as well, seeing Milwaukee finish in the Top 25 in numerous categories in the NCAA: 17th in points-per game (6.95 ppg), 18th in total assists (45), 19th in scoring offense (2.35 gpg), 20th in assists per game (2.25 apg) and total points (139), 21st in total goals (47) and goal differential (+28), and 23rd in shots-on-goal per game (8.05).   His first season was an impressive one, despite taking over one of the youngest teams in the country that was returning just two starters and four upperclassmen to the lineup. After opening the campaign at 3-3-1, he led the squad to a 9-0-2 finish the rest of the way before nearly taking down sixth-ranked Michigan State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, losing 3-2 in double-overtime. The team claimed the Horizon League regular-season crown for the seventh time in eight seasons and earned a berth to the NCAA Tournament for what was the 16th time in program history.   Boyd brought over 20 years of head-coaching experience with him to Milwaukee, having spent two decades in the Pac-12 as head coach at both Arizona State University and at the University of California, Berkeley. No matter the stop, Boyd has been a proven winner, ranking as the all-time winningest coach during his final campaigns at both Pac-12 programs, while compiling over 200 victories in his career.   “We are truly excited to have someone with Kevin’s experience and proven track-record join the Panther family,” Director of Athletics Amanda Braun said at the time of his hiring. “The Milwaukee women’s soccer program is consistently a top team in the region and continues to make its name known nationally. We look forward to Coach Boyd leading our student-athletes and maintaining our tradition of success and excellence both on and off the field.”    Boyd’s 250-162-58 overall record as a head coach at the NCAA Division I level includes 17 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, helping his players move on to the professional level in every pro women’s soccer league that has existed. Boyd came to the Panthers after spending two seasons as the associate head coach at Washington State, helping lead the Cougars to an overall record of 20-6-7 in that span.   “First and foremost, I am very excited to become the next head coach of the Milwaukee Panthers,” said Boyd at his hiring. “I look forward to coming in and continuing the tradition of excellence that has existed at Milwaukee for decades now and become the new coach to work to build upon that tradition and continue advancing deeper into the postseason.”   While at WSU he added a 14th overall NCAA Tournament appearance to his resume and a track record with drafted players that is hard to match across the nation. The Cougars have had seven players drafted professionally over his final three seasons, the second-most of any NCAA program in the country.   Boyd is the ninth coach in Milwaukee program history and takes over a program that, prior to his arrival, had made 15 NCAA Tournament appearances, won 21 regular-season league titles and 14 league tournament trophies, reaching the NCAA Tournament in each of the past four seasons (2018-21) prior to his arrival, as well as the second round in each of the most recent two (2020 and 2021).   Boyd spent 10 seasons as the Sun Devils head coach from 2007-16. During his time at ASU, Boyd guided his team to four NCAA tournaments, including a second-round appearance in 2014. Throughout his time, Boyd would compile a program-best 90 wins while his players would earn 23 all-conference awards.   Prior to Arizona State, Boyd guided the program as the head coach at Cal from 1997-2006. While at Cal, he compiled a school-record 124 wins while leading the team to eight NCAA Tournament appearances. He would lead the Bears to a Pac-10 championship in 1998 in his second season in Berkeley, while in 2005 he was named the conference Coach of the Year after guiding the Bears to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. One of his final recruiting classes included Alex Morgan, who went on to play for the United States National Team and was the first overall pick in the 2011 Women’s Professional Soccer Draft.   More recently, Boyd worked as the Academy Director and Technical Director for Legends FC (2017-2020). With the club, he was charged with running the organization’s US Soccer Development Academy Program, overseeing the Academy II program, while also coaching the Legends WPSL Semi-Professional Team.   Boyd is a graduate of Tri-State University (now Trine University) where he earned All-America honors for his play in the defensive backline. Among his many honors, Boyd earned induction into the Trojans’ Hall of Fame after finishing a professional career that took him to Hamar Kameratena, a Norwegian Elite team in the country’s First Division.   Boyd, and his wife, Kristi, have two children, Keegan and Kaiya.  

Alex Hallam begins his third season as the associate head coach in 2025-26, following his promotion after five years as the assistant coach for the Milwaukee swimming & diving team. In 2024-25 Hallam saw more success in his second year as associate head coach, helping guide the women to finish runner-up at the Horizon League Championships. He also helped lead the men to their highest finish at the league championships in ten years, while breaking 10 individual school records, six freshman records, and four relay records. The women also set two new individual records, three freshman records and three relay records. In his first season as the associate head coach, Hallam helped guide the women's team to a runner-up finish at the 2023-24 Horizon League Championships, scoring their highest team point total since the 2014 season. Over the course of the season, the Panther men broke three individual program records, one relay program record, and two individual freshman records. The men's and women's teams combined for a 14-3 record, including a 10-1 record in the Klotsche Natatorium.   Hallam continued the strong legacy of Milwaukee swimming in his first six years on campus. In the 2019-20 season, he helped the Panther men break three school records and one freshmen record and two winters ago helped staff the women to their best showing in four years when they claimed runner-up status at the 2022 Horizon League Championships. Last season, two more school records were broken and a pair of individual league titles were brought home, in addition to a pair of runner-ups. In the 2018-19 season, his first year on deck, Hallam guided the Panthers to a third-place showing on the women’s side at the Horizon League Championships while the Panther newcomers broke three freshmen records. Hallam came to Milwaukee with over six years of coaching experience and over 14 years devoted to the sport.   Most recently, Hallam worked as a coach in the Milwaukee area. He spent over three years working with the Schroeder Swim Team in Brown Deer, coaching a large number of swimmers ranging in age from 6-years to 22-years-old. Hallam In addition to a large number of responsibilities, Hallam coached a number of individuals to state championships.   Also in the area, Hallam spent the past year as the head coach at Greendale High School. In just his first season, he led the Panthers to a third-place finish at sectionals and coached four individuals to berths to the WIAA State Championships.   Prior to that, Hallam spent two years as the senior assistant coach for the Southwest Aquatic Team in Muskego.   Hallam is very familiar with the Horizon League, as he graduated from Green Bay and was a four-year swimmer for the Phoenix. He swam distance free, IM and backstroke events with the Phoenix and was named a team captain as a senior. He was also voted as the president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) while at Green Bay.   Hallam graduated from Green Bay with degrees in Psychology and Human Development.    

Jacob Dietrich will start his third season as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee women’s soccer team in 2025.   Dietrich came to Milwaukee following a year as a graduate assistant coach/goalkeeper coach at the University of Tennessee at Martin.   While with the Skyhawks, Dietrich assisted the coaching staff with all practices and team functions, while organizing all training sessions for goalkeepers. He also ran team social media accounts and helped with game film breakdown and exchange. Before his time at UT Martin, Dietrich built his coaching resume as both a head coach and assistant at varying levels including the prep, collegiate and club levels.   He served as a volunteer assistant at Christian Brothers University from 2019-22, working one-on-one with the team's goalkeepers, organized practice sessions and implemented goal standards. His coaching experience has spanned the high school ranks with three different programs. He served as an assistant coach on the boys' staff while also being the goalkeeper's coach for the girls' staff at Briarcrest Christian School in 2021-22. Prior to that he was assistant coach and goalkeeper coach for the boys' team at Madison Academic High School from 2018-20 after spending the spring of 2017 at St. Mary's Catholic School as an assistant coach and goalkeeper's coach for the middle school boys' team. At the club level he served as head coach of the 2015 Lobos Rush Blue Desoto Branch from 2020-22. He also co-led the 2013-14 Lobos Rush Blue/White team practices and games. He currently holds a US soccer coaching license F and Grass Roots 9v9/11v11.   Before his coaching career, he played two seasons at Bethel University (Tenn.) where he was a goalkeeper for the NAIA nationally-ranked program. Dietrich graduated from the University of Memphis with a bachelor's degree in professional studies with a concentration in sports management and leadership in the summer of 2022 and added his Masters in Coaching and Performance at UT Martin this past school year.  

Steve Lucas was named the assistant coach for the Milwaukee women's soccer team in April of 2022 and will move into a part-time role with the staff for the 2025 campaign. In his first three years, the Panthers have claimed the past three Horizon League regular-season and Tournament Championships while making back-to-back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament, with an overall win-loss record standing at 36-14-10 (.683 winning percentage). In addition, the Panthers have gone an impressive 23-1-6 (.867) in regular-season Horizon League contests.   Lucas arrived at Milwaukee with an extensive NCAA coaching background that extends over 20 years.   “We are excited to have Steve join us,” head coach Kevin Boyd said at the time. “He brings extensive collegiate coaching experience and has two championship rings as a player. He is also someone I have known and respected both as a coach and also as a person of great character.”   Most recently, Lucas served as the head coach at NCAA Division III member Pacific University for six seasons. During his tenure, 10 players earned All-Northwest Conference honors and nearly 60 student-athletes earned NWC scholar-athlete honors.    That followed nearly 15 years on the staff at Boise State, serving as the head coach from 2000 to 2012 as well as a three-year stretch as an assistant prior to earning the top spot.   He led the Broncos to the conference tournament on 10 different occasions over the course of moves to three different conferences (Big West, Western Athletic, and Mountain West), reaching the semifinals in 2010, 2008, and 2007. Boise State won the WAC tournament in 2009 and advanced to the NCAA tournament. In 2003, Lucas was named the WAC Coach of the Year, while recording 111 victories in his tenure as head coach.   His resume includes three years as an assistant at his alma mater, Southern New Hampshire, as well as stops with Indie Chicas, FC Nova, and Les Bois United, all in Boise.   A very successful collegiate career included NCAA National Championships with two different programs: one at NCAA Division II New Hampshire College (1989) and one at NCAA Division I Clemson (1987). Lucas earned his bachelor's degree in marketing from New Hampshire College and carries a USSF A License and a USSF National Youth License.