Story by Brett Marhanka, Wheaton College
WHEATON, Ill. -- Wheaton College Director of Athletics, Julie Davis has announced the appointment of John Gosling as interim head men’s soccer coach at Wheaton.
The appointment of Gosling to helm the Thunder men’s soccer program comes following the resignation of former head coach Jake DeClute last week.
Davis says of the new hire, “I am grateful for Coach Gosling’s enthusiasm for the program and his commitment to the mission of Wheaton Athletics and Wheaton men’s soccer.”
A Wheaton native, Gosling joins the Wheaton program with considerable soccer experience. He graduated from Judson University in 1996, earning a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and competing for the Eagles’ men’s soccer team. Following his time at Judson, Gosling played soccer professionally at various stops. He was with the Rockford Raptors of USISL for three seasons, competed for the Milwaukee Wave of the NPSL for one season and was with the Lehigh Valley Steam (PA) for one season.
Gosling is a highly regarded soccer coach in the Chicagoland area, holding a USSF “B” license. He has coached the club soccer teams with Kopion FC for 25 years. Gosling also coached nine seasons as the head varsity boys soccer coach at Hampshire High School. Additionally, he has served three seasons coaching at Glenbard West High School, with two seasons at the helm of the boys soccer team and one season running the girls team.
Gosling is a physical education teacher at Jacobs High School in Algonquin. He is also currently pursuing a master’s degree in Educational Leadership at Aurora University.
Davis has also announced the appointment of Dylan Milkent as the interim full-time assistant coach for the Thunder men’s soccer program. Milkent has served as the goalkeeper coach for the Thunder since 2019. Previously, he served as the director of goalkeeping with the Chicago Rush Soccer Club (2015-19). He also served an assistant coach for men’s and women’s soccer at North Central College (2014-19). Milkent earned his bachelor’s degree in public relations from Loras College in 2014. He played in goal for the Duhawks from 2010-13, with two NCAA Division III Final Four appearances and a 42-4-4 record in net.
The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) was founded in 1946 and currently services nine member institutions including Augustana College (Rock Island, IL), Carroll University (Waukesha, WI), Carthage College (Kenosha, WI), Elmhurst College (Elmhurst, IL), Illinois Wesleyan University (Bloomington, IL), Millikin University (Decatur, IL), North Central College (Naperville, IL), North Park University (Chicago, IL) and Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL).