Biography

Liam McIlhatton took over the reins of the Embry-Riddle women’s soccer program in June 2022.

Only the third head coach in the program’s 24-year history, McIlhatton brought familiarity and continuity to the women’s soccer program having served as the program’s top assistant from the spring of 2010 until his appointment as head coach. Working alongside Samantha Bohon during that time, McIlhatton helped elevate ERAU women’s soccer to national prominence at both the NAIA and NCAA II levels. The Eagles won five Sun Conference titles and advanced to five NAIA National Tournament appearances in his first five seasons and within ERAU’s first five years after transitioning to NCAA II, they captured two Sunshine State Conference tournament titles and one regular season crown and made two NCAA II tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 finish in 2019.

In his first season as head coach, McIlhatton continued the Eagles’ trend of success in NCAA II competition. He led Embry-Riddle to an undefeated regular season record, the program’s third straight Sunshine State Conference tournament crown and a trip to the NCAA II South Region final. The following year, the Eagles were co-regular season conference champions and made league history by becoming the first women's soccer program to win four consecutive tournament titles. 

McIlhatton played four seasons for the Embry-Riddle men’s soccer team from 2003-06. 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 graduating from 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 women’s 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 earned his undergraduate degree from ERAU in Communication 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. He also holds a NSCAA Premier License as well as a UEFA B License and is working toward his UEFA A License.

Coaching History

Year

Ovr.

Pct.

Conf.

Pct.

Postseason

2 Seasons

28-3-8

.8251

13-1-6

.800

2022

14-1-5

.825

5-0-5

.750

Sunshine State Conference Tournament Champions; NCAA II South

Region Finals

2023

14-2-3

.816

8-1-1

.850

Sunshine State Conference Regular Season & Tournament Champions; NCAA II South

Region Appearance

PERSONAL

Hometown

Coatbridge, Scotland

Education

B.S. in Communication (Embry-Riddle); M.S. in Aeronautics (Embry-Riddle)

ACCOLADES

2 Conference Tournament Title

28 Career Wins

2 National Tournament Appearances

MILESTONES AT EMBRY-RIDDLE

First Victory: vs. Ashland, 3-1 (Aug. 25, 2022)

First vs. Conference Opponent: vs. Tampa, 1-0 (Sept. 14, 2022)

First Postseason Win: vs. Saint Leo, 3-2 (Oct. 31, 2022)

First National Tournament Win: vs. Florida Southern, 3-0 (Nov. 13, 2022)

Total Top-25 Polls Appeared In: 10

Total Poll Top-10s: 15

Longest Win Streak: 19  (Aug. 25 - Nov. 13, 2022)