Bio

Matt Eggert is in his 7th season as head coach of Governor State men's soccer, starting up the program at GovState in 2019.

Record-Setting 2024 Season For GovState Men's Soccer - Earns 3rd NAIA National Appearance and First Nationals Tournament Win

The 2024 men's soccer season for GovState saw the team break through and win the CCAC Conference double - earning the Regular Season Championship and then winning the post-season Tournament Championship and compiling a record-seeting 16-match unbeaten streak.

GSU's 2024 season ended with a 1-0 NAIA Nationals second round loss in Iowa to host and top seed William Penn University.

The Jaguars had a shot go off the cross bar in the first half and the 11 seniors on the team & the 2024 "double championship" GovState team lost to a penalty kick by William Penn in the second half.

The Jaguars (16-3-4) earned the CCAC Regular Season and Playoff Tournament Championships and Coach Eggert's 6th-year program, a third NAIA Nationals appearance in 2024.

Coach Matt Eggert and team captains John Gonzalez and Alexander Judd met with the media following the game and Coach Eggert had high praise for his 2024 Jaguar team leaders and the 2024 team.

"These two players - (John Gonzalez and Alexander Judd) these two should be very proud of all we have accomplished this season. They have set the bar very high and our 11 seniors and all on the team, it's been

a wonderful experience for our team and our soccer program. We congratulate William Penn University." said Coach Eggdert.

CCAC Player of the Year Andrea Croce was named an NAIA third team All-American and six other GSU players in the 2024 season dominated CCAC Conference homors.

Year-in-year-out Eggert's teams are among the top All-Academic performers in NAIA and CCAC soccer with 11 team members earning All-CCAC and NAIA Daktronics All-American Scholar-Athletes Awards in 2024.

2023 Season Earns Another NAIA National Berth:

In the 2023 season, Eggert led GSU to its second NAIA nationals appearance finishing second place in the CCAC Conference and qualifying for the CCAC playoffs for the fifth consecutive season. Four GSU players earned All-CCAC Honors in 2023 including Freshman of the Year Player Simon Blaesdahl.

In 2022 GSU qualified for the fourth straight year of CCAC playoffs and were 9-4-5 overall and 8-1-3 in CCAC play.

Named to his post on January 2, 2019, Eggert also served as coordinator of athletic compliance and prior to the start of the 2023 season, was named Interim, Head Women's Soccer Coach for the Jaguars.

In 2021 Eggert directed GSU to its first-ever NAIA Opening Round appearance as the Jaguars finished second in the CCAC, one point out of first. GSU also advanced to the CCAC Tournament Finals for the second straight year and finished with a school-record 12 wins. Under Eggert's watch, GSU led the CCAC in total shots while ranking fourth in defense and fifth in goal-scoring during the conference season. Six players were named to the All-CCAC teams.

During the spring of 2021 Eggert guided GSU to a third-place finish in the CCAC as the Jaguars advanced to the CCAC Tournament Championship Game. GSU also produced five All-CCAC performers and had the CCAC Freshman of the Year in Andy Latorre. Eggert also led the Orange and Black to a 10-win season.

In 2019, Eggert led GSU to eight wins—tying a school record for most victories by a first-year program—and a berth into the CCAC Tournament. GSU won its first three matches, compiled a five-match unbeaten streak (4-0-1) and finished 3-3 at home.

Eggert's collegiate coaching background includes three seasons (2015-17) as assistant coach with the men's team at Purdue Northwest, helping the Pride to back-to-back postseason appearances as the program transitioned from NAIA to NCAA Division II.

He also served as head coach for four seasons at Milwaukee Area Technical College, where earned Region XIII Coach of the Year honors in 2004 from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). He led the Stormers to a conference title and Region XIII championship.

In addition to working with PNW during its time in the CCAC, Eggert had stints with the men's (2005) and women's (2018) programs at Trinity Christian.

Over the past 20 years, Eggert has coached for numerous high school and club programs as well as serving as a member of the Illinois Olympic Development coaching staffs.

A native of Berrien County, Michigan, Eggert earned a bachelor's in psychology from Wisconsin Lutheran College (2000), where he was a three-year captain and two-time all-conference selection. He later completed a master's in teaching from Aurora University.

Eggert owns a USSF National B License along with an NSCAA Advanced National Diploma and NSCAA Goalkeeping Diploma.

Matt and Leah reside in Shorewood, Illinois with daughters Elise, Avery, Josie and son Austin.