In 2023 Coach Eckberg finishes his seventh season being the Head Coach at SUNY New Paltz. The Hawks finished fourth and clinched another playoff berth for the Program. The team was led by SUNYAC Offensive Player of the Year Rachel Eisert as well as being assisted by six other All-SUNYAC teammates. Including four first team players (Rachel Eisert, Gaby Treble, Alexis DeLeo, and Katie Buquicchio).

Mike Eckberg, who previously served as an assistant coach at Division I Towson University, completed his sixth season at the helm of the Hawks women's soccer program in 2022.

After guiding the Hawks to their first SUNYAC Tournament appearance in nearly a decade in 2021, Eckberg led the team to their second-straight playoff berth in 2022 — the first back-to-back playoff bids for the program since the 2011 and 2012 seasons, and was named SUNYAC Coach of the Year — just the second Hawks coach in history to earn the accolade. His team finished 11-4-2 overall to reach double-figure wins for the first time since 2012, while boasting a 6-2-1 SUNYAC mark to match a program most in conference victories. SUNY New Paltz finished third in the conference standings to host a postseason game for the second consecutive year where the team defeated The College at Brockport, 5-2 to earn their first postseason victory since 2011.

Under Eckberg's tutelage in 2022, the team set a program record with six All-SUNYAC selections, including four second team picks and the program's first ever SUNYAC Rookie of the Year in freshman forward Brooke Kelleher. 

Eckberg led the program to its first SUNYAC Tournament appearance since 2012 after his team finished the regular season 7-5-4 overall and 5-2-2 in the SUNYAC in 2021, the latter of which was their best finish since 2011.

Entering the program after a one-win season in 2016, Eckberg coached the Hawks to a much-improved 2017 season reaching an overall record of 6-11-1 and 2-6-1 in the SUNYAC.

Under Eckberg’s guidance at Towson, the Tigers saw their first-ever appearance in the Colonial Athletic Conference (CAA) Tournament in the 2014 where the Tigers went 3-0-2 in their final five matches and helped produce one National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCCA) Mid-Atlantic Region honoree and six CAA All-Conference players.

Prior to his time at Towson, Eckberg spent the 2013-14 season as an assistant at Penn State where the Nittany Lions posted a 15-7-1 record, reaching the Big Ten Tournament Semifinals and the second round of the NCAA tournament. Eckberg assisted in the player development of one NSCAA All-American and five NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region selections.

Before Penn State, Eckberg served as the recruiting coordinator in the 2013 offseason for Southwest Minnesota University. In the 2012 season Eckberg worked as an assistant at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, helping the Falcons to a 9-8-3 record and a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Tournament semifinal appearance, a significant improvement from a 6-13 finish in 2011. The program also saw individual athletes earns multiple awards, including one NSCAA All-Region, four WIAC selections and one CoSIDA Academic All-American. 

In addition to his collegiate experience Eckberg brings with him years of club experience, having worked with the Minnesota Olympic Development Program for two years and the Bloomington Youth Soccer Club for six. In 2013, his U13 boy's team qualified for the MYSA State Tournament and secured a spot within the six team state premier league.

Eckberg graduated from Luther College (IA) in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business management and Spanish, and completed his M.S. degree from SUNY Cortland in Sports Management. He is a member of the NSCAA and holds NSCAA National and Goalkeeping Level III diplomas and a USSF B License.

Eckberg currently resides in New Paltz with his wife Emily, daughter Ruby and son Cole.

Contact Mike Eckberg at ext. 3918 or eckbergm@newpaltz.edu.

The Eckberg File

Year

Overall Record

SUNYAC Record

2017

6-11-1

2-6-1

2018

2-14-1

1-7-1

2019

4-11-2

1-7-1

2021

7-5-4

5-2-2

2022

11-4-2

6-2-1

2023

8-5-5

4-2-3

TOTALS

38-50-15

19-26-9