Loyola University

The Norville Center for I/C Athletics
6526 N. Winthrop Ave. Chicago, IL 60626

Division 1 Illinois Midwest

Private Large National competitor

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Coaches

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Steve Bode

Steve Bode enters his second season as head coach of the men's soccer program at Loyola University Chicago in 2023. He brings over 14 years of collegiate coaching experience into this role.

In just his first season at the helm, Bode piloted the team to A10 Tournament runner-up status after an impressive 9-2-7 overall record and a 3-2-3 mark in league action. Along with being undefeated at home, Loyola had an unbeaten streak of eight games from Oct. 5 – Nov. 9.

Bode’s tenure commenced with a bang as the team notched its third 2-0 start to a season in the last four years after beating No. 25 Bowling Green State University at home. The recorded attendance of 1,163 fans was the highest ever in the history of Loyola Soccer Park, in addition to the most students in attendance with 983.

With an emphasis of hard work and determination both on and off the pitch, Bode mentored six College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District® honorees as well as a pair of Academic All-Americans® in Billy Hency (First Team) and Simon Jillson (Second Team). Additionally, Hency and Marc Torrellas were both named Scholar All-Americans and All-Southeast Region performers by United Soccer Coaches (USC) upon conclusion of the 2022 campaign.

After being named the A10 Midfielder of the Year, Hency was selected by Chicago Fire FC in the third round (67th overall) of the 2022 Major League Soccer (MLS) SuperDraft to put an exclamation point on Bode’s first season as head coach.

Bode came back to Loyola after spending two seasons as an assistant coach for the women's soccer program at Marquette University. During his time with the Golden Eagles, he helped the team rebuild confidence and performance following the canceled COVID season in 2020. His squads went 15-12 overall and 9-9 in Big East play, with four players receiving All-Big East accolades.

Prior to his time in Milwaukee, Bode spent the 2019 season as an assistant coach at Loyola. While he was in Rogers Park, he was an instrumental part of the team's success as they won the 2019 Missouri Valley Conference Championship and earned the program's fifth bid to the NCAA Tournament. He also has experience with the men's soccer programs at both Brown University and Marquette University, working at each institution as an assistant coach.

Along with his collegiate career, Bode has coached at the professional level. He served as the head coach for the Chicago FC United in the United Soccer Leagues, where he led the team to a Central Conference championship and a top-four finish in the league. During that time, he had several players move up to the MLS ranks. Bode is also a staff coach for the United States Soccer Federation Youth National Team.

Prior to his coaching career, Bode played for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, serving as team captain for three seasons and twice earning Most Valuable Player honors. He earned multiple All-Horizon League honors, and also garnered CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team honors. Following his illustrious career, he was drafted by the Chicago Fire in 2008, where he played a season on their reserve team.

He received his bachelor's degree in psychology from Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2007 and his master's degree in educational policy and leadership from Marquette in 2011.

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Graham Brennan

The 2023 season will mark the fourth year for Graham Brennan on the Loyola University Chicago men's soccer coaching staff. Brennan, a 2001 graduate of Loyola, serves as Associate Head Coach.

Brennan most recently served as the Roosevelt men's soccer head coach from 2012-2019. While at Roosevelt, Brennan posted an 84-60-11 (.577) overall record. In 2015, Brennan, led the Lakers to their best season in program history, finishing 16-4-2 overall with a sparkling 11-0-1 record in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play (CCAC) as Roosevelt captured its first conference regular season championship in program history.

The Lakers went on to win the CCAC Tournament title in the fall to clinch their first-ever trip to the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship.

Additionally, Brennan was named the 2015 CCAC Coach of the Year and the Lakers reached as high as No. 19 in the country in the NAIA Men's Soccer Top 25 Coaches Poll.

Brennan also spent four seasons as the assistant varsity coach and head junior varsity coach at Robert Morris University. Brennan helped build the program, which started in 2007. Robert Morris qualified for the postseason conference tournament twice under Brennan.

During his time at Robert Morris, Brennan also served as an assistant coach for the Chicago Fire Premier Development League, eventually rising to the role of the club's serving as the head coach for the Chicago Fire National Premier Soccer League. In 2010, he led the Fire's U23 squad to a national championship.

Brennan kicked off his coaching career with the U9-U14 squads for the Wilmette Wings, working with the program from 2000-2007. After his graduation from Loyola in 2001, Brennan served as an assistant coach for the Ramblers in 2003.

"First, I would like to thank head coach Neil Jones, Director of Athletics Steve Watson and Deputy Athletic Director Holly Strauss-O'Brien for this incredible opportunity," Brennan commented. "Returning to Loyola as a coach has always been a goal of mine. I am looking forward to working with the coaching staff and getting to know the players on and off the field. The men's soccer program has had tremendous success in the classroom and on the field, so having the opportunity to help push the program to the next level is really exciting. Loyola is a special place and I would like to thank former head coach Ray O' Connell for bringing me here as a student-athlete all those years ago."

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Calum Mallace

Calum Mallace enters his third season as an assistant coach with the Loyola University Chicago men's soccer program in 2023. Mallace, who wrapped up a distinguished eight-year professional career in 2019, arrived in Rogers Park after serving in a similar role at Northwestern University.

“It is an absolute pleasure to accept this role as assistant coach at such an amazing school,” Mallace said. “We have a great group of young men here and I can’t wait to get to work and win some championships. Go Ramblers!”

Mallace began his stint with the Wildcats in January 2020, assuming the role of Director of Player Development before being promoted to assistant coach just six months later. During his time in Evanston, Ill., he oversaw in the development of a pair of All-Big Ten Conference honorees in Ugo Achara, Jr. and Rom Brown.

Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Mallace, a native of Torphichen, Scotland, enjoyed an impressive professional career that included stops with Major League Soccer’s (MLS) Montreal Impact (2012-17), Seattle Sounders (2017), and Los Angeles FC (2018), making 85 appearances during his MLS career. The 20th overall pick in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft by the Impact, Mallace also spent the 2019 season with Austin Bold FC of the USL Championship.

A two-time All-BIG EAST Conference selection during his time at Marquette University, Mallace racked up 13 goals and 13 assists across 69 career appearances for the Golden Eagles. As a senior, he was tabbed a Second Team All-American by College Soccer News in addition to being named the BIG EAST’s Midfielder of the Year.