Carlos Reyes owns a title that no other Prairie State head coach in any sport can claim: National Champion.
The first and so far, only, head coach in PSC history to ever win a national title, returns for his eighth season at the helm of the PSC men's program and first as women's soccer head coach in 2023, a year after leading the Pioneer men to the 2022 NJCAA Division II championship.
The 2022 Pioneers added to their already legendary status by becoming the first 11th-seed at-large bid in tournament history to complete a title run. Furthermore, Reyes’ squad also earned the national crown despite not winning the NJCAA Region IV or Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference titles.
PSC handed Reyes career win No. 100 in dramatic fashion following a Region IV semifinal victory over respected foe Triton.
At nationals, Prairie State dispatched the tournament’s number one, two and four seeds.
The Pioneers notched a dramatic 1-0 national championship-clinching victory over longtime Skyway rival Morton. The triumph was especially sweet when considering PSC had fallen to the Panthers on two occasions earlier in the campaign.
Through seven stellar season’s at the helm of PSC’s men’s soccer program, Reyes has compiled an overall record of 103-34-3.
In his tenure in Chicago Heights, Reyes has also guided the Pioneers to three Skyway championships (2019, 2021 spring and 2021 fall) and one Region IV title (2019).
Reyes’ teams have earned a pair of Region IV runner up plaques as well.
The 2022 title run wasn’t PSC’s first national tournament appearance.
The 2021 team earned an at-large bid to the tournament during an abbreviated spring season impacted by COVID-19.
The fall 2021 campaign saw the Pioneers reach the highest ranking in program history, holding the No. 2 spot in the national polls for three weeks and compiling an overall record of 18-2.
The Pioneers constructed their breakout season under Reyes in 2019 as the program delivered PSC its first Skyway title in men’s soccer by way of an 18-4-1 record.
The 2019 squad also claimed PSC’s first Region IV trophy and came a goal away from qualifying for the national tournament after falling to Muskegon of Michigan by a 1-0 count in a Great Lakes District championship match.
With a playing career that reached both the collegiate and professional levels, Reyes knew exactly what was required when it came to taking a team to the “next level.”
Already one of the most respected programs in Region IV when he replaced former PSC head coach David Spataru in October of 2015, Reyes’ first season at the reigns was an overwhelming success, to say the least.
During the 2016 campaign, the Pioneers posted an overall record of 14-4-1, good for the second best mark in school history.
Reyes followed that up with a 10-8 showing in 2017 and 10-9-1 mark in 2018.
Reyes, a product of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, was both a Daily Southtown All-Area and All-Chicago Catholic League selection his senior year of 2006. The 5-foot-11 defender/midfielder was also a Times of Northwest Indiana All-Area pick following his junior slate of 2005.
Following his standout prep career, Reyes played two seasons at South Suburban College before transferring to Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights.
Reyes’ senior season at Trinity was one for the ages as the Trolls finished above .500 and made the postseason for the first time in several years.
Reyes also stood out for his performance on the pitch during his senior campaign as he earned all-conference, all-region and National Christian Colleges Athletic Association (NCCAA) All-American honors.
Reyes turned his sights on a pro career following his days with the Trolls, spending two seasons with the Chicago Mustangs of the indoor Major Arena Soccer League.
When not coaching, Reyes works as an academic advisor, recruiter and counselor at PSC.
