E-mail Coach Fiffles

Evan Fiffles took over as the Lewis University head men's soccer coach in 1992, following the worst season in school history as the Flyers finished the 1991 campaign with a mark of 3-15-1.

Fiffles hit the ground running and never looked back, as Lewis has mounted 17 consecutive seasons of 10+ wins, seven top 25 finishes, six GLVC Tournament Championships, eight regular season GLVC Championships or co-Championships, and a berth in the NCAA Division II semifinals in 2000 since his arrival. He has totaled the most victories in school history (233) and owns a winning percentage of .708, which also is a school-record.

Last season was one of the most successful seasons in recent history, as the Flyers collected a mark of 14-1-4, including a 14-match unbeaten streak that still stands entering the 2009 campaign. Lewis advanced to the `Sweet 16' and battled Great Lakes Valley Conference rival Northern Kentucky to a 0-0 tie in regulation, but the Norse emerged victorious with a 4-3 shootout win.

NKU provided one of the most thrilling moments of his career during the 2007 season, as Lewis freshman Jose Ibarra scored the game-winning goal at the 61 minute mark to help the Flyers upset the No. 1 ranked and unbeaten Norse to claim their sixth GLVC Tournament championship during Fiffles' tenure.

Fiffles has seen his squad ranked as high as No. 2, as recently as the 2004 campaign, as the Flyers finished the season with a mark of 16-3-3. Lewis advanced to the NCAA Division II Championships for the fourth time in five seasons, making the Flyers one of only six teams in the nation and only Great Lakes Region program to accomplish that feat.

Numbers wise, Fiffles best campaign came during the 2001 season, as the Flyers went 20-1-1, best in school-history, and found themselves ranked No. 1 in the nation on two separate occasions.

Fiffles guided the 2000 Flyers to 17 wins - the school record prior to 2001 - and the program's first NCAA Championship bid. After beating UW-Parkside and Wheeling Jesuit in the NCAA tournament's first two rounds, Lewis fell in the semifinals to eventual national champion California State-Dominguez Hills and concluded the season ranked No. 4 nationally.

Eight Flyers have earned All-America honors playing for Fiffles. John Thompson was a first-team selection in 1999, 2000 and 2001; Sean Seaberg and Justin Sanabria made the second team in 1994 and 2004, respectively; Serafin Vega was named to the third team in 2002; Cathal Brady was a third-team choice in 2003, 2004 and 2005; and Nestor Hernandez made the third team in 2007.

Three different players were recognized with All-American status following the 2008 campaign, as Cory Mastey earned NSCAA/adidas First Team honors and Daktronics Honorable Mention All-America, while Hernandez claimed second team accolades and defender Joey De Francesco was feted on the third team.

Fiffles often has been lauded for his team's accomplishments. He was named National Soccer Coaches Association of America NCAA Division II Central Region Coach of the Year and GLVC Coach of the Year in 2000, and he captured the GLVC Coach of the Year award in 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1998.

Fiffles coached his 1996 team to an unprecedented 14-0 mark against conference teams (11-0 regular season, 3-0 GLVC Championship). The Flyers, whose 0.40 GAA that year was third best in Division II, posted 15 shutouts (including 10 straight) and allowed just one goal to a GLVC opponent.

In 1992, Fiffles led his first Flyer men's team to the sixth-best turnaround in Division II men's soccer history. Lewis registered a 12-8-1 record after going 3-15-1 in 1991. Fiffles coached the Flyer women's soccer team in 1989 and 1990 before guiding the 1991 Moline High School boys' soccer team to a 17-2-4 record and a berth in the Illinois High School Association "Sweet 16."

Fiffles, who holds a United States Soccer Federation "A" coaching license, earned a bachelor's degree in physical education at Greenville (Ill.) College in 1982 and a master's degree in education with sports administration emphasis at Eastern Illinois University in 1985.

The Oak Lawn native has coached at Richards High School, Sandburg High School, Moraine Valley Community College and in the Prairie State Games, and he has served as a staff member at the Team USA tryouts. Fiffles was an Illinois State Select coaching staff member for eight years and an Illinois State Coaching Education staff member for 10 years.

Fiffles and his wife, Julie, reside in Homer Glen with 7-year-old daughter Lia and 4-year-old son Niko.