Men's Soccer

The Heath-Preston Coaching File

Mark Heath-Preston was named head men's soccer coach on March 1, 2016 after four years on staff as an assistant coach on the Bellevue University.

Coaching Education:

• USSF National A-Senior License
• USC Premier Diploma
• USC Level 1 Futsal Diploma
• USC Goalkeeping Level 2
• FA Level 2

Current Coaching Endeavors:

• Bellevue University, Head Coach since 2016
• Bellevue Soccer Club, Director of Coaching and Head Coach for two select teams

Past Coaching Experience:

• Bellevue University, Assistant Coach
• Nebraska Bugeaters FC (NPSL), Head Coach
• Springfield Demize (PDL), Assistant Coach

Leading the Bruins:

Bellevue continued their elite level of play in 2021, posting another 16-win season (16-3-2), winning the Continental Athletic Conference (formerly the A.I.I.) Tournament Championship for the second-straight season, and reaching the championship round of the NAIA Opening Round - Bellevue Bracket. Bellevue picked up 1-0 wins over Viterbo and (RV) Florida National in Lawrenceville, Ga. to win the CAC Championship, with Andy Wilkinson earning CAC Tournament MVP honors. The Bruins hosted an Opening Round for the second time (2018) as the No. 8 seed nationally, defeating (RV) Olivet Nazarene in the first round before falling to #18 MidAmerica Nazarene in a rematch of the 2020-21 season's Opening Round final. A program-record four players were recognized with All-America honors; Oumar Sissoko and Toby Millward on the third team, Andy Wilkinson and AJ Jarvis as honorable mention. Heath-Preston collected his second CAC Coach of the Year Award (fourth overall) while two players, Oumar Sissoko (Player of the Year) and AJ Jarvis (Goalkeeper of the Year) earned major CAC awards.

Following a down 2019 campaign, Heath-Preston led the Bruins to an impressive 16-5-2 campaign again against one of the toughest schedules in the NAIA. After a pair of runner-up performance, Bellevue broke through to win the A.I.I. Tournament and earn the top seed in the NAIA Opening Round - Olathe Bracket. After defeating host MidAmerica Nazarene in the Opening Round Final, BU advanced to the NAIA National Tournament Quarterfinals for the first time in program history. On the season, Bellevue players earned A.I.I. Player of the Week honors six times with Toby Millward and Inaki Aldao each being named NAIA Offensive Player of the Week during the campaign. Under his tutelage, Millward and Aldao became the first Bruins to earn Second Team All-America honors and, with Andy Wilkinson joining them as an Honorable Mention All-American, Bellevue landed a program best three players on the NAIA post-season All-America list. The trio was joined by Zach Robbins in earning all-A.I.I. honors.

Heath-Preston guided Bellevue to an 8-10-2 record in 2019 against one of the most challenging schedules in the entire NAIA. During the regular-season, Bellevue handed eventual-National Champion Central Methodist their only loss and earned a 1-1 draw with eventual-National Runner-Up Hastings. For the second-straight year, the Bruins reach the A.I.I. Championship Game but suffered an overtime defeat to host Georgia Gwinnett. BU saw four players earn all-A.I.I. honors, led by first team selections Andy Wilkinson and Inaki Aldao.

During the 2018 season Heath-Preston guided the Bruins to the first unbeaten regular-season in school history (for any sport), posting a 16-0-2 mark. Bellevue reached the A.I.I. Championship Game before going on to down Marymount California University in the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round by a 3-0 scoreline as the program hosted the Opening Round match at UNO's Al Caniglia Field for the first time. The team finished the year 18-2-2 and reached the Round of 16 at the NAIA National Tournament in Irvine, Calif. Three Bruins - Toby Millward, Renato Silva, and Inaki Aldao - earned NAIA All-America honors after the Bruins saw seven student-athletes named all-A.I.I. Aldao (Player of the Year), AJ Jarvis (Goalkeeper of the Year), Silva (Newcomer of the Year), and Heath-Preston (Coach of the Year) swept the major awards section of the A.I.I. post-season awards program.

For the second-straight season Heath-Preston guided the Bruins a regular-season NSAA title with a 4-0-0 record, their fourth consecutive league title overall. The team extended their league unbeaten streak to 20 by the end of the season. The Bruins concluded the season with an 8-7-2 record while reaching the Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) semi-final. Heath-Preston was once again named the NSAA's Coach of the Year as Yago Ramos earned NSAA Newcomer of the Year honors and Edgar Guzman was cited as the A.I.I.'s Player of the Year.

In his first season as a head coach during the 2016 campaign Heath-Preston guided the Bruins to 12-6-2 mark against the most difficult schedule in the NAIA. Bellevue owned a perfect 4-0-0 mark in NSAA play as the team claimed its third-straight regular-season championship. BU recorded a 2-1 win over Waldorf in the NSAA Championship Game to earn their fourth-straight league tournament championship. In winning both the regular-season and tournament titles Heath-Preston became the first coach in program history to win a conference double in his debut season.

As a BU Assistant Coach:

As an assistant coach Heath-Preston helped lead the Bruins to a 46-24-7 (.643) record in four seasons while claiming three-straight conference tournament championships, including 2015's inaugural North Star Athletic Association title over Jamestown. The Bruins posted an overall 17-2-1 (.875) mark in conference play during his tenure as an assistant which includes winning conference regular-season championships in both 2014 and 2015.

He took over a team which had reached three-straight National Tournaments, including back-to-back appearances at the final site in 2014 and 2015. The Bruins finished the 2014 season ranked No. 11 nationally and followed that up with a No. 17 national ranking at the conclusion of the 2015 season.

Playing Career at BU:

A native of Norfolk, England, Heath-Preston was a first team all-MCAC selection three times in his standout career with the Bruins and earned honorable mention NAIA All-American honors in 2008 and 2009. He helped lead Bellevue to four MCAC championships during his Bruin career.

A two-time MCAC Offensive Player of the Year, Heath-Preston holds the school records for career points (107) and goals scored (45) and ranks fourth with 17 assists. He also set the single-season record with 17 goals and 41 points in 2008.

Playing Career after BU:

Following his standout career with the Bruins, Heath-Preston enjoyed a successful semi-professional career as a player for three clubs: Des Moines Menace, Rochester Thunder, and Springfield Demize.

Personal:

Heath-Preston earned a bachelor's degree in health and human performance with a minor in coaching from Bellevue in 2011.

Updated Jan. 11, 2021