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Lee Hitchen has been at the helm of Illinois Tech soccer since its revival in 2003. His first season resulted in a CCAC Conference Freshman of the Year and an all-conference selection. In the same year, he was named athletic director and still oversees the department’s twelve NAIA intercollegiate sports today. During his tenure as athletic director, Illinois Tech has produced multiple all-conference, all-region, and All-American selections, three national champions, and numerous academic All-American honors.
Prior to joining the Hawks, Hitchen began his career as a player in the English Premier League clubs Manchester United and Manchester City. After signing with the Blackburn Rovers F.C., he decided to instead pursue a soccer and academic career at Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia. After earning individual athletic awards, coaching at the club level, winning a state championship, and earning his bachelor’s degree in biology, Hitchen signed with the Orlando Nighthawks of the D3 professional league. Later, Hitchen returned to his alma mater to pursue his master’s degree in business administration and management and serve as an assistant coach in the women’s program. During his tenure, the women’s team captured a pair of WVIAC conference championships, several All-American selections, and a nomination for NCAA II Female-Athlete of the Year.
Since coming to Illinois Tech, Coach Hitchen has taken the men’s program from a fledgling team to CCAC and Region VII challengers. With many all-conference selections and a talented group of domestic and international players, the future of Illinois Tech soccer looks bright. With a philosophy of quick one- and two-touch passing and an attractive attacking style, Illinois Tech soccer is firmly establishing itself as a program respected among its peers in the NAIA.
Peter Schulz joined Illinois Tech as an assistant coach in 2006. A native of Charlotte, NC, Schulz came to Chicago after graduating from Queens University in Charlotte. A top recruit out of the Charlotte area high school and club organizations, he was an all-conference performer and midfield mainstay in the success Queens had during his tenure. In 2005, he attended the National School of Health Sciences to earn his Doctor of Chiropractic. During his graduate work, Schulz stayed involved in the game by playing in numerous leagues around the Chicagoland area. A coach with vast knowledge and experience, Schulz is an invaluable contributor to the coaching staff. He also owns and operates his own chiropractic clinic, North Michigan Chiropractic, in downtown Chicago and uses his medical knowledge to consult with the medical staff at IIT.
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