John McGillivray, a former soccer coach at Cedarville University, has been inducted into the Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association (OCSA) Hall of Fame. The ceremony took place on October 27, 2026, during halftime of the Lady Jackets’ home game against Ashland, where Bud Lewis, an OCSA Executive Board Member and former head coach at Wilmington College, presented the honor.
The OCSA was founded back in 1953, yet this represents only the third Hall of Fame class in the association’s entire history. For McGillivray, the honor serves as a capstone to a 42-season career that spanned the evolution of both men’s and women’s collegiate soccer in Ohio.
A 375-Victory Legacy Across Two Programs
The sheer volume of McGillivray’s impact is best seen in the numbers. Over four decades, he amassed 375 career victories. He spent the first chapter of his tenure leading the Yellow Jacket men from 1974 through 1997, securing 215 wins. He then pivoted to the women’s program, guiding the Lady Jackets from 1998 through 2015 and adding another 160 wins to his tally.
His tenure with the men’s team was defined by early and consistent success. In his very first season in 1974, he led Cedarville to the NAIA National Tournament. By 1981, his leadership earned him the title of NCCAA National Coach of the Year. Under his watch, the men’s program captured eight conference championships and finished as the NCCAA national runner-up twice.
When he transitioned to the women’s side, McGillivray didn’t just maintain the standard; he built a new one. He helped establish the women’s program starting with its second varsity season, eventually leading the team to two NCCAA National Tournaments. The trajectory peaked in his final season in 2015, when Cedarville won its first G-MAC Tournament championship and secured its first appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament.
The Intersection of Faith and Athletics
For those within the Cedarville community, McGillivray’s commitment to Christ shaped his approach to coaching, teaching, and serving others. A 1970 graduate of Cedarville College, “Coach Mac” integrated his commitment to Christ into every facet of his role. His approach treated coaching as a vehicle for teaching and serving others, a perspective that helped shape the culture of the athletics department for nearly half a century.
This holistic approach to leadership is why McGillivray’s name appears in multiple halls of fame. Before the OCSA induction, he had already been recognized by the Cedarville University, NAIA, and NCCAA halls of fame.
By helping establish the women’s program and guiding it to its first NCAA Division II Tournament appearance, he helped define what women’s soccer could achieve at Cedarville.
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