Michael Wiggins, Head Coach

In his second career position as a high school head coach, Wiggins has built the Red Devils program into one of the top squads in the Midwest with a presence on the national high school soccer scene. A native of Chicago's western suburbs, Wiggins brings enthusiasm, a hard-work ethic and passion to Hinsdale. Those characteristics have helped him claim the 2004 IHSSCA Sectional Coach of the Year award and the 2004 Illinois High School Soccer Coach of the Year honor.

Those honors have substantial backing. In the seven years at Central, the Red Devils have recorded a 105-48-14 (.670) record, which includes five of the best 10 seasons in the program’s history. Wiggins has also guided the Red Devils to a pair of 20 win seasons: 21 in 2004 and 20 in ‘07.

Coach Wiggins became Central’s fourth soccer head coach in the spring of 2001 and inherited a program that had produced an all-time record of (250-224-75, .524). While compiling an impressive record, Wiggins has guided the Red Devils to two IHSA “Sweet Sixteen” appearances in 2003 & 2004, the program’s first-ever national rankings in ’04 (NSCAA #3 in the nation), and its first return trip to the IHSA State Finals in 32 years – finishing with a 4th Place IHSA State trophy in 2007. The 2008 season was nothing short of remarkable, but nonetheless just short of a repeat trip to the IHSA State Finals, as the Red Devils advanced to the Elite Eight. Not only have the Red Devils enjoyed tremendous team success, Wiggins’ teams have produced several individual accomplishments among his players. Former Red Devils in the past seven years have achieved 23 IHSSCA All-Sectional honors, 7 IHSSCA All-State honors, 3 NSCAA All-Midwest honors, and 2 NSCAA All-Americans.

Wiggins’ arrival in Hinsdale was actually a return, having spent two years at Central as an assistant in 1992 & 1993. While working at Hinsdale Middle School as a physical education teacher, “Wiggy” was named the Head Soccer Coach at Downers Grove South in 1994, and served in the top spot there until 2001. While working with the rising Mustang program, Wiggins created what is widely recognized as the top high school soccer tournament in the country: The Great Midwest Classic. The “GMC” is a tournament that now calls Indianapolis its home, where the Red Devils compete annually against the nation’s top high school soccer programs. A former player, the 39-year-old Wiggins competed at Illinois State University before the Normal, Ill., school dropped the men’s soccer program. In addition to his NCAA Division I playing experience, there was a brief stint with Chicago Power S.C. in the summer of ’93, Chicago’s only professional soccer at the time. Wiggins has been a member of the Illinois Olympic Development Program coaching staff, while serving two years as an ODP State Team head coach. His experiences have included scouting for U.S. Soccer, as well as working as an independent observer for Major League Soccer (MLS). He has served as a coach in the Chicago Magic Soccer Club, recently named by Soccer America as the top club in the nation, and was inducted into the Chicago Magic Hall of Fame in March of 2005. He currently serves on the Coaching Education Program State Staff for the Illinois Youth Soccer Association (IYSA), where he has worked for over 15 years. Wiggins provides coaching education for the AYSO Region 210 as the Regional Coach Trainer and has recently served as a trainer locally for the Hawks Soccer Club. He also holds a USSF National “B” license and the USSF National Youth License.

Born April 18, 1969 in Chicago, Illinois, Wiggins is married to Bonnie Wiggins, who was a standout gymnast at Rolling Meadows H.S. in the late 1980’s, having won the 1988 IHSA State Title on the vault. The couple has three children: Julianne (14), Emma (11) and Brad (7).