UIC Associate Head Coach Sean Phillips, who joined Coach Trask in February 2005, serves as the Assistant Director of the UIC Soccer Camp. "Sean's background and coaching pedigree speaks volumes of where this program is headed," said Coach Trask.
He has served as a key administrator and instructor with various soccer camps since 1992. Phillips has been a key cog in UIC’s rise as a national competitor, aiding the team to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, a trip to the 2007 national quarterfinals and a final top 15 national ranking in each of the last two seasons.
His comprehensive role in training, scouting, game preparation and on-field coaching in addition to his goalkeeping expertise, led the 2005 UIC team to a 10-5-2 record, a No. 9 ranking in the final NSCAA Midwest Region Poll (the first Top 10 regional ranking for UIC since 2002) and the program's first national ranking votes since 2001. Following a 2004 season in which he went 4-9-2 and allowed 27 goals for a 1.81 GAA with no shutouts, Goalkeeper Jeff Engelbrecht flourished under Phillips' tutelage by going 9-5-2, allowing 20 scores for a 1.19 GAA and five clean sheets.
2006 saw the program continue to flourish with Coach Phillips’ assistance. UIC’s goalkeeping and defense continued to improve upon 2005 with a fifth best all time NCAA Division I goals against average of .36. In the 2006 season, UIC earned a national ranking as high as #6 during the 2006 season, the Horizon League Regular Season Title and an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament, where the Flames advanced to the second round during the 2006 season.
The success of 2006 carried over into 2007 where the team reached new success in the NCAA Soccer Tournament by reaching the Elite Eight. It also achieved an all time best final ranking of #10 in the country. Seniors Pavle Dundjer and Cesar Zambrano were also invited to the 2008 Major League Soccer Combine.
2008 saw more success for the UIC Flames Soccer Program. A third consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament lasted until the Sweet Sixteen. This earned UIC a final NSCAA Ranking of #11 as well as goalkeeper Jovan Bubonja and midfielder Adis “Baggio” Husidic earning the first First Team All American honors for UIC in any sport.
Goalkeepers under his tutelage currently hold the 4th and 5th best single season goals against average in the NCAA record books. 2008 NSCAA All American Jovan Bubonja from UIC is the second All American tutored by Coach Phillips in the last four years. Jay Nolly, a 2004 NSCAA All American was the first of Coach Phillips’ All Americans.
A tireless worker, Phillips has also made a mark with his responsibilities in recruiting, game management, scheduling, marketing, media relations, and various other areas. He also serves as the point person for UIC soccer players for information on training, class scheduling, compliance and rules, financial aid guidance, housing assistance, and other important items.
Prior to joining the UIC staff, Phillips served as an assistant coach with the Indiana Hoosiers for four seasons, helping Indiana earn two Big Ten titles and three trips to the NCAA College Cup while amassing a sparkling 68-19-4 record. In his final season in Bloomington, Phillips played a vital role in the Hoosiers' 2004 National Championship campaign.
Phillips' main focus as an assistant coach revolved around the daily training of the squad's goalkeepers. In 2004, Phillips' goaltending charges posted a paltry 0.63 goals against average, good for seventh in the nation, along with 11 shutouts. Phillips worked closely in the development of NSCAA All-American keeper Jay Nolly.
In addition to his contributions at Indiana, Phillips became a major name among the youth soccer ranks in the state of Indiana. He has served as the Director of Soccer for the Cutters Soccer Club since 2002, and he is a staff coach for the Indiana Youth Soccer Association and for the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
Sean continues his involvement with youth soccer in his current role as the Technical Advisor for Chicago United Futbol Club and an NSCAA Goalkeeping Staff Coach.
Phillips holds numerous coaching licenses, including an NSCAA Premier Diploma with Distinction, an NSCAA Advanced National Diploma with Distinction, and an NSCAA Goalkeeper Level III Diploma.
Coach Phillips graduated from Indiana in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in public policy and went on to earn his master's degree in sport management from Indiana in 2001.
He and his wife, Allison, reside in Chicago.
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