COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – University of Colorado Colorado Springs Executive Director of Athletics Nathan Gibson announced Wednesday morning that Lewis Wilcox has been named the head men's soccer coach, removing the interim tag after one season.

"The men's soccer program at UCCS is primed for success and Lewis showed us this year that he was the right person to lead this program into the future," said Gibson. "Lewis has the same championship standard for excellence that UCCS expects, and I am excited to see this program continue to improve under his leadership as head coach."

Wilcox, who took over the head coach role on an interim basis prior to the 2021 season, will be entering his fourth season with the Mountain Lions after joining the UCCS men's soccer program in 2019 as an assistant coach. In his first season overseeing the program, Wilcox led the team to its best finish since 2018 as the Mountain Lions posted an 8-8-1 record on the season. He also played a key role in the development of the program's student-athletes both on the pitch and in the classroom, as the team received three All-RMAC selections, 10 RMAC All-Academic honors and the 2021 RMAC Player of the Year award.

"First, I would like to thank Executive Director of Athletics, Nathan Gibson, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, Carlos Garcia, and the entire athletic administration team for the support they have given me since I inherited the team as the interim coach back in the spring," said Wilcox. "It is a privilege to be chosen to lead this program, and I am humbled by the faith and confidence that UCCS leadership has shown in me. It has been apparent since day one that my values and my vision for this program align with theirs, and I could not be more grateful to continue growing as a leader as a part of this excellent athletic department.

"We have built a solid foundation during the past six months, setting high standards, implementing new tactical strategies, and challenging the student-athletes to have an elite mindset in everything they do," continued Wilcox. "We will continue to provide an environment that promotes excellence on the pitch, in the classroom, and in the community.

"I believe there are few better places in this region to play college soccer. UCCS is a thriving university in an incredible city with a supportive local soccer community. Being the head coach of this program comes with the responsibility of providing the community, the alumni, the families, and the student population with a program that is both successful and exciting to watch. Through hard-work, commitment, and strong leadership, there will be successful times ahead for UCCS Men's Soccer.

"I would lastly like to sincerely thank my entire staff, and Keith Buderus in particular, for the tireless work and support they have given myself and the student-athletes throughout the 2021 season. They have contributed to the overall culture shift of the program, and I am incredibly grateful for their commitment."

Before joining the Mountain Lions in 2019 as an assistant coach, Wilcox spent two highly successful seasons as the head coach at Briar Cliff University where he oversaw all aspects of the men's soccer program. Wilcox led the team to an impressive 22-13-3 overall record and coached a total of 13 players to the all-conference team across his two seasons. He also helped the team achieve their highest regular season finish in school history with a third-place finish in the GPAC in 2018.

Prior to Briar Cliff, Wilcox served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Midland University, for three years (2014-2017), where he primarily worked with the goalkeepers and assisted with recruiting and practice planning. The Warriors found great success with Wilcox on the staff as they recorded a 43-16-4 record during his three-year stint and made their first final site appearance in school history at the 2016 NAIA National Tournament.

As a student-athlete at Midland, Wilcox had a highly decorated three-year career as a goalkeeper for the Warriors. The native of Cardiff, Wales, collected 282 saves and earned a variety of all-conference, All-Nebraska, and All-Region awards throughout his three seasons with the team. Wilcox also established a new program record with 14 shutouts during the 2013 season in which the Warriors finished with an 18-2-2 record. He graduated in 2014 with his Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration.

Wilcox will begin his role as the head coach of the men's soccer program on Dec. 1.