Loyola University Chicago hires Steve Bode as men’s soccer head coach

CHICAGO – Loyola University Chicago has announced the return of Steve Bode as the new head men’s soccer coach.

Bode has 14 years of experience coaching soccer at the collegiate, national and professional level, including a championship season as an assistant at Loyola.

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Steve back to Loyola,” said Steve Watson, Loyola University Chicago’s Director of Athletics. “Over the course of his career he has accomplished so much as a coach by developing his student-athletes both on and off the field. We’re confident he will lead this program to even greater heights.”

“I couldn’t be happier to accept the position of head men’s soccer coach at Loyola University Chicago,” Bode said. “I want to thank Steve Watson and Holly Strauss-O’Brien for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. The culture they’ve created in the athletic department drew me back to Loyola and to this opportunity. It is truly a special place that aligns with my core values. I am excited and eager to build on the existing relationships that I have with the administration, coaching staff and student athletes.”

Bode comes back to Loyola after spending the last 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 cancelled 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.

In addition to the hiring of Bode, Loyola has also announced that assistant men’s soccer coach Graham Brennan has been promoted to associate head coach. Brennan, who played at Loyola from 1997-2000, has spent the last two seasons on the Ramblers’ coaching staff, helping the team to a second-place finish and a third-place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference.