Matt Hotchkin enters his 11th year as the head coach of the men’s soccer team at Grace College. Hotchkin has continued the great tradition of the men's program, building it into a respected and competitive force in the Crossroads League and the nation.
Hotchkin has imprinted his style of play on Grace soccer, resulting in one of Grace's strongest periods in program. The Lancers enjoyed a groundbreaking season in 2017, winning the Crossroads League Tournament championship and advancing to the NAIA National Championships for the first time in 35 years. The league championship was Grace's first in 25 years.
Hotchkin was named the 2015 Crossroads League Coach of the Year and NSCAA Region Coach of the Year for directing the Lancers to a runner-up spot in the regular season on the postseason league tournament. The Lancers finished 14-7-3, the team's most wins since 1983, to cap off the program's 50th season of competition.
Before Hotchkin's arrival, the Lancers had not reached the NCCAA National Championships since 2002. But the Hotchkin-led Lancers have advanced to NCCAA Nationals in five of the past seven seasons, including the last three years.
He has also recruited talented players to bring into Grace's program, including a pair of first-year Lancers who tallied 10 goals in 2011 (Altimus, Barthuly) and another who was named the 2012 Crossroads League Offensive Player of the Year as a freshman (Fiema). Prior to Hotchkin bringing in Fiema, Altimus and Barthuly, only one other Lancer over the previous 15 years had reached 10 single-season goals (Joe Kateule).
Under Hotchkin, the Lancers have posted a winning season in six of the past seven years. Hotchkin has helped make the newly renovated Miller Athletic Complex a formidable home atmosphere. Since 2011, Grace is 43-12-8 at Miller Athletic Complex (.746 winning percentage). The Lancers went undefeated at home in 2014 with a 7-0-2 record.
Hotchkin's dedication to academic excellence has resulted in the Lancers becoming consistent earners of the NAIA Scholar Team distinction (averaging over a 3.0 GPA as a team). In 2012-13, the Lancers finished the year 10th among NAIA men's soccer teams with a combined GPA of 3.23.
In the summer of 2012, the Lancers embarked on a sport mission trip to South Africa under Hotchkin's leadership. Grace's players were able to share their faith in the midst of training with and playing against local talent.
“Our goal is to win, while at the same time, striving to keep our values and our mission in place," Hotchkin said. "We want men who are serious about their faith in Christ, serious about life, serious about soccer, and at the same time, know how to have a great time.”
Prior to coming to Grace College, Hotchkin served as the head men’s coach at Northland International University (Dunbar, Wisc.) from 2003-07. While there, he led the men’s program to five consecutive regional championships, two NCCAA National Championships, and was named Midwest Region Coach of the Year in 2006 and 2007.
Hotchkin graduated from Bob Jones University (Greenville, S.C.) where he earned a degree in Bible/religion with a minor in history. He holds two Professional Development Certificates along with a National Diploma from the NSCAA.
Hotchkin and his wife Jennifer live in Warsaw with their two boys (Will, Matthew) and one girl (Lily).
