Mcilroy joins the Nighthawks for his first season as an assistant coach after spending the previous two years as a graduate assistant at Clayton State (CSU).
With the Lakers, Mcilroy helped the program finish as Peach Belt Conference Regular-season Champions in both 2023 and 2024 with a PBC Tournament title in 2023 as well.
During Mcilroy’s time in Morrow, Ga., the Lakers went 28-8-5 and made two appearances in the NCAA Tournament marking the program’s first return to the NCAA postseason since 2010. In 2023, CSU was bounced in the Second Round of the tournament. When the Lakers returned to the dance in 2024, Mcilroy helped guide the team to a tie for the deepest postseason run in program history as they lost to eventual National Champion Lynn in the Elite Eight.
Mcilroy is also in his third year as a club coach at AFC Lightning with the U15 and U16 boys teams. He was also added to the coaching staff for Apotheos FC in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) in Atlanta for the last two seasons.
Mcilroy’s collegiate coaching career started in Oklahoma City at Southern Nazarene where he was a graduate assistant for the 2022 season in which the Storm were crowned Great American Conference Regular-season and Tournament Champions, solidifying the first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.
Prior to his coaching career, Mcilroy had a successful playing career from 2017-21. He started his playing career at the University of Mary where he played in 23 matches and knocked in five goals. Mcilroy then transferred to Quincy for the next two seasons. In 32 matches, he scored a pair of goals and added an assist. He then used his final season of eligibility to play at Clayton State. In his one season with the Lakers, Mcilroy notched a pair of assists in 19 matches as a starting center back.
Updated: August 2025
