Men's Soccer

Malcolm MacPherson is one of WPI's most successful coaches. In fact, success has followed him throughout his entire coaching career. In his 15 years at WPI, he has suffered only two losing seasons.

MacPherson's overall record at WPI is now 141-90-14 for an excellent .605 winning percentage. When one includes his overall 24-year mark, which includes nine years at Fitchburg State, his record is an even more outstanding 249-126-29 for a .652 winning percentage. In those 23 seasons, MacPherson's teams have produced winning records 20 times.

In 2006, The Crimson and Gray were ranked in New England and finished with a 10-5-2 overall record, earning a coveted home match in the NEWMAC Tournament. The year prior, WPI reached the NEWMAC Tournament semifinals after going on the road and eliminating Coast Guard in a dramatic penalty kick-shootout in the first round.

Now entering his 16th season at WPI, MacPherson will look very fondly back at a recent three-year stretch (2002-2004) when WPI went 38-16-1 for an impressive .700 winning percentage. In 2002, WPI finished with a record of 16-4 overall and as a finalist in the ECAC Division III New England postseason championships. The 16 wins smashed the old school record of 13 for most victories in a season and it marked the first time that WPI had won twice in postseason play. The #2-seeded WPI squad defeated Albertus Magnus (3-0) and UMass-Dartmouth (3-2) at home, before bowing to #1-seeded Roger Williams on the road.

In 2001 and 2002, MacPherson achieved milestone victories. In 2001, he won his 200th overall game with a comeback overtime victory at MIT. In 2002, his 100th victory at WPI came in a 3-2 come-from-behind win over Brandeis at home.

Other highlights at WPI include the 1992 season when that squad earned an NCAA post-season tournament berth, and in 1998 when that squad earned an ECAC post-season tournament berth.

MacPherson came to WPI from Fitchburg State, where he remains the winningest coach in Falcons' history. He led Fitchburg State to five postseason tourney berths in nine years, twice to the NCAA's and three times to the ECAC's.

MacPherson has also twice led his teams to conference titles -- in 1988 at Fitchburg State when it won the MASCAC crown, and in 1993 at WPI when it won the now-disbanded Constitution Athletic Conference.

Malcolm is a 1975 cum laude graduate of Keene State College, where he earned his B.S. in health and physical education and served as an assistant coach for two years. He lives in Jefferson, MA and teaches physical education in the Leominster school district.

Evan Holmes has been a fixture on the WPI sideline for 16 seasons. One of the longest tenured assistant coaches in any sport in the NEWMAC, Holmes was named the AFLAC National Assistant Coach of the Year in 2002.

Holmes has been on the staff with head coach Malcolm MacPherson for 19 years, including three at Fitchburg State. A former head coach at Division I Holy Cross, Holmes has also had coaching stints at Boston College, Clark and Holy Name High School in Worcester.

A holder of several USSF and NSCAA advanced licenses and diplomas, Holmes also has served as the WPI Soccer Camp Program Director since 2003.

In 2002, Holmes achieved notoriety when he was named an AFLAC National Assistant Coach of the Year as selected by a panel of judges from Scholastic Coach & Athlete Magazine. Holmes was honored prior to the Wheaton game, which WPI won 4-0. Wheaton was ranked #1 in New England and #6 in the nation at the time.

Holmes played professionally in the North American Soccer League and the American Soccer League after attending Division I power Hartwick. He continues to play soccer competitively in an over-50 league.

Mark Dion enters his second season as an assistant coach on the men’s soccer team. A four year-starter as a central defender for the Engineers, Dion started every game in his career for head coach Malcolm MacPherson and helped the Crimson and Gray to a 40-28-1 record from 1999-2002.

Dion, a native of Plymouth, MA burst onto collegiate soccer scene with five goals as a freshman in 1999. He served as captain in 2001 and 2002, earning All-NEWMAC honors during both seasons. During his senior season, he was selected All-New England.

In 2002, Dion helped lead WPI to an impressive 16-4 record and a berth in the ECAC Tournament, where the Engineers lost to Roger Williams in the championship game. After the tournament, he was recognized for his outstanding play by being named an All-ECAC Tournament selection.

Dion finished his career at WPI with ten goals, two assists, and 20 points.