Pat Herbst - Head Coach
Pat Herbst, a 1996 Briar Cliff graduate, is in his third year as the men's soccer coach and in his first year as the women's soccer coach at Briar Cliff. Herbst came to Briar Cliff after six years at Clarke College as the head coach for the men's and women's soccer. While at Clarke, he guided the women's team to the 2001 and 2004 Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference Championship and was named the NIIC "Coach of the Year" each of those seasons. He left Clarke as the career coaching victories leader for both the men and the women. During his tenure at Clarke College, men's and women's soccer teams set school records for wins in a season (men in 2003 and women 2004). At Clarke, Herbst also served as assistant to the director of athletics, overseeing the institution's athletic recruiting.
As an athlete at Briar Cliff, Herbst was a four-year defensive starter and three-year team captain. He was named an NAIA All District 15 Selection in 1992 and 1993. He also was named to the NAIA All-North Sectional team in 1994, when the Chargers produced a program best 17-4-1 record. That year, the Chargers ranked No. 1 in the Midwest Independant District playoffs. After Herbst graduated from Briar Cliff with a bachelor's degree in business administration, he was assistant men's and women's soccer coach at his alma mater until 1999. During that time, he also served as an admissions counselor and was later promoted to assistant director of admissions. While Herbst was on Briar Cliff's coaching staff, the men's program won the NAIA North Independant districts in 1996, placed second in the 1997 NAIA Midwest Independant Sectional and qualified for regional play in 1998.
Herbst is a member of the United States Soccer Federation and the National Soccer Coaches Association. He received his National "D" Coaching License in 1996 in Sioux City, and his National "C" coaching license in 1998 in Lexington, Kentucky. He has directed youth soccer camps at Clarke since 2000 and has served as co-director of the Dubuque Soccer Academy since 2002. He has also coached youth teams and assisted with other camps throughout the years.
In addition to coaching, Herbst is a BCU admissions representative. Pat and his wife, Micha, have three children, Brooke, Claire, and Domenick.