Wisconsin Lutheran College Director of Athletics Jeremiah Hoffmann has announced the hiring of Steve Bode as the next head coach of the Warriors’ men’s soccer program.

"I am incredibly honored and excited to be named the next Head Men’s Soccer Coach at WLC," said Bode. "I want to sincerely thank Director of Athletics Jeremiah Hoffmann for this opportunity and for the trust he has placed in me. I also want to recognize Coach Joe Luedke for everything he built here - his legacy is one I deeply respect and hope to honor.

"As a Milwaukee-area native, leading this program means the world to me and my family. For my wife Ashley and our sons Miles and George, this couldn't be a more perfect fit - WLC is literally the closest college to our home in Wauwatosa, and that makes it feel even more special. We are so proud to be joining the Warriors community, and I cannot wait to get to work!"

Bode brings nearly two decades of collegiate coaching experience at the NCAA Division I level, including four seasons as head coach at Loyola University Chicago from 2022-2025. During his tenure, he led the Ramblers through a conference transition from the Missouri Valley Conference to the Atlantic 10 Conference while consistently contending for league championships, including an appearance in the Atlantic 10 Conference final. His teams also excelled in the classroom, achieving a program-best 3.70 team GPA for three consecutive semesters.

Prior to his head coaching role at Loyola Chicago, Bode served as an assistant men’s soccer coach for the Ramblers during the 2019-2020 season, helping guide the program to a Missouri Valley Conference Championship and an NCAA Tournament automatic bid. He also held assistant coaching positions at Marquette University (men’s soccer, 2008-2015; women’s soccer, 2020-2022) and at Brown University (men’s soccer, 2016-2017).

Throughout his coaching career, Bode has mentored numerous student-athletes who have gone on to play professionally, including multiple MLS draft picks. He was recognized as one of the nation’s top Division I assistant coaches by CollegeSoccerNews.com in 2015 and played a key role in recruiting four consecutive Top 15 recruiting classes at Marquette according to TopDrawerSoccer.com.

“We are thrilled to welcome Steve and his family to Wisconsin Lutheran College,” said Hoffmann. “Steve’s experience leading a Division I program, his proven ability to recruit and develop high-level student-athletes, and his deep ties to Milwaukee make him an outstanding fit for our campus community. He is a relationship-driven leader who values academic excellence and competitive success, and we are confident he will build a men’s soccer program that reflects the mission and values of WLC.”

In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, Bode has been heavily involved with United States Soccer Federation as both a Youth National Team staff coach and scout since 2014. In those roles, he has helped identify and develop many of the nation’s top youth players while supporting national team camps and scouting efforts throughout the Midwest and East regions.

Bode also served as head coach of Chicago FC United in the United Soccer Leagues from 2018-2019, leading the club to a central conference championship and a top-four league finish in 2018 while coaching four players who were drafted into Major League Soccer.

A Milwaukee-area native, Bode was a standout student-athlete at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee from 2003-2007. A three-time team captain and two-time team MVP, he was named Milwaukee’s Men’s Athlete of the Year and received the Herman Kluge Award in 2007. Bode was also a CoSIDA Academic All-American and served as Student-Athlete Advisory Committee president.

Following his collegiate career, Bode was drafted by the Chicago Fire FC of Major League Soccer and competed in the club’s reserve league during the 2008-2009 seasons.

Bode holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UW-Milwaukee (2007) and a master’s degree in Educational Policy and Leadership from Marquette (2011). He also holds a United States Soccer Federation National “A” Senior License.

Bode and his wife, Ashley, live in Wauwatosa with their sons, Miles and George.