Upper Iowa University's Vice President for Athletics Rick Hartzell announced that Liam Haycock is the new Head Men's Soccer Coach. Haycock continues his tenure with Upper Iowa after coming to UIU as a men's soccer graduate assistant coach in March 2020.

"Liam's work with our men's soccer program over the last two years made his promotion to head coach an easy decision," said Hartzell. "The team has expanded their recruiting reach and success which showed on the field this season. Liam led the program through practices and games more and more as the fall season progressed. I am confident that his approach to recruiting, player development and game management will translate to continued success for the Peacock men's soccer program."

Haycock takes the helm for the men's soccer program following Willie McGowan's move to a full-time role as the Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance with Upper Iowa. McGowan coached the Peacocks for five seasons and helped the program transition from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. McGowan and Haycock, along with graduate assistant, Charlie Ward, coached the Peacocks to a program-best GLIAC campaign with a 10-7-1 (7-6-1 GLIAC) record as their 2021 season came to an end in the GLIAC Tournament Quarterfinals.

"I am extremely excited about the opportunity to become the Head Men's Soccer Coach," said Haycock. "I am very grateful for the support, belief, and mentorship Rick Hartzell and Willie McGowan have both provided. Having been here for two years as the Graduate Assistant Coach and Associate Head Coach,  I know the Men's Soccer team is a fantastic program to be a part of and I hope to continue the hard work already set in place. I am excited to see where we can take this program!"

Since coming to Upper Iowa as a graduate assistant coach in March 2020, Haycock has taken more and more coaching responsibilities as an assistant and associate head coach of the men's soccer program. Haycock began his coaching career at The Player Progression Academy in Washington D.C. where he served as a youth head coach from 2018-2019. Haycock graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in English from the University of the District of Columbia in 2018.

During his time at UDC, Haycock was a four-year starter for the Firebirds. Haycock's collegiate career was highlighted by his senior season in which the native of Stafford, England helped lead the team to an ECC Playoff Final and a berth in the NCAA DII Championships.

Haycock played three years at the Port Vale FC Academy in England prior to coming to the U.S. He also holds an English FA Level 1 coaching license. Haycock is pursuing his Master's Degree in business administration here at Upper Iowa.

Upper Iowa men's soccer finished their 2021 campaign with a 10-7-1 (7-6-1 GLIAC) record. It is UIU's best finish as members of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and their best record since a 2015 campaign that saw them finish 13-4-1 (6-2 MIAA), win the conference tournament, and make a run to the NCAA DII Sweet 16. The Peacocks finished the regular season tied for the fourth-best record in the GLIAC after being voted to finish last in the GLIAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll ahead of the 2021 campaign. Upper Iowa's season came to a close in the GLIAC Tournament Quarterfinals on the road against Purdue University - Northwest. A Pair of Peacocks earned All-GLIAC honors as Alan Dunlop earned a spot on the All-GLIAC Second Team and Italo Martins Soares was selected as an All-GLIAC Honorable Mention.