Mike Barclay

Bio

Mike Barclay has played a key role in the growth and development of women’s soccer at Kankakee Community College. When KCC added women’s soccer, Barclay was selected to lead the program and help create a new collegiate opportunity for local and regional student-athletes. Since that time, he has worked to build the Cavaliers women’s soccer program around player development, academic accountability and a team culture focused on growth, competitiveness and opportunity.

Under Barclay’s leadership, the women’s soccer program has provided student-athletes the chance to continue competing at the collegiate level while pursuing their education at KCC. His approach emphasizes development for players at all positions, daily improvement, accountability and preparing student-athletes for success both on the field and in the classroom. Several Cavaliers have earned Region 4 recognition during his time with the program, reflecting the progress and individual development within KCC women’s soccer.

The Cavaliers also have achieved success academically under Barclay’s direction. In 2022-23, the women’s soccer program earned NJCAA All-Academic Team recognition after posting a 3.39 team GPA, with 13 student-athletes earning GPAs above 3.0. That achievement reflected the program’s commitment to developing well-rounded student-athletes and maintaining high expectations beyond competition.

Barclay’s experience with women’s soccer extends beyond KCC. Before leading the Cavaliers women’s program, he spent more than a decade as the goalkeeper coach for the Olivet Nazarene University women’s soccer program from 2002-12. He also has extensive experience coaching recreational and travel soccer through Dynamo Soccer and Southland Strikers FC. Barclay holds a U.S. Soccer Federation “E” license and has been a longtime presence in the local soccer community.

In addition to his work with the women’s program, Barclay has been part of KCC soccer for more than a decade. He served as an assistant coach for the Cavaliers men’s soccer program during the 2012 and 2013 seasons before taking over as men’s head coach in 2014. His experience leading both KCC soccer programs has helped create a consistent approach to development, recruiting and student-athlete support across Cavalier soccer.

As a player, Barclay built an impressive résumé of his own. He was a three-time all-region, two-time all-sectional and two-time all-state goalkeeper at Downers Grove South High School from 1983-85 before playing NCAA Division I soccer at Eastern Illinois University. At EIU, Barclay ranked among the top goalkeepers in program history in save percentage, goals-against average and total saves, and he helped lead the Panthers to the 1989 NCAA Division I National Indoor Championship. He also played one season in the semi-professional Chicago Metro League.

Barclay and his wife, Tammie, reside in Bourbonnais. They have five grown children and two grandchildren.