Jake Plant joined the UIW staff as the Head Women's Soccer Coach in December of 2022 after having previously spent five seasons as the head coach at Eastern Illinois University.
Plant's team concluded the 2025 season with a record of 4-8-4 while going 2-5-3 in Southland Conference action. Senior midfielder Sinead Duffy ended the season on the All-SLC Second Team while also making the conference's Commissioner's Honor Roll.
In his second season on the sideline, Plant and UIW were 8-8-3 and 5-4-1 in the SLC. After going winless on the road in their coach's rookie season, the Cardinals were 5-2-2 away from home in 2024, the most road wins the program has earned since becoming a Division I program. Four different players earned all-conference recognition, a group headlined SLC Goalkeeper of the Year Erica Defferding.
In his first season at UIW, Plant got off to a historical start, going 3-0-1 in the first four matches of the season. The Cardinals' 3-0-1 start was the programs best start since 2013. Plant finished with a 6-8-2 record with notable wins over Rice, UTRGV, and conference foe, McNeese.
During his last season at EIU, Plant led the team to the lowest goals against average in school history (0.81 GAA) after opening the season with a record four straight shutouts. EIU also finished the season with a record-setting eight ties to rank in the top five in NCAA. During his time with the Panthers, Plant coached the team to the highest Ohio Valley Conference finish in program history (third), the first OVC Tournament appearance since 2014, and the first semifinal appearance since 2010.
Plant guided two first team All-OVC selections, the 2019 OVC Defensive Player of the Year, ten All-OVC honorees, and two All-OVC Tournament selections. In the classroom, his 2018 team achieved the top GPA (3.52) in the entire athletic department.
Prior to being named head coach at EIU, Plant was an assistant coach with the men's soccer program (2014 and 2015) and then worked with both programs from 2016-17, primarily coaching the women's team in 2017.
Before starting his coaching career with EIU, Plant was a student-athlete on the men's soccer team from 2012-13. He started 34 matches with six goals and four career assists. He obtained his bachelor's degree in 2014 and his master's degree in 2016, both from EIU.
