| Chicago State Cougars | |
| University: | Chicago State University |
| Conference: | Northeast Conference |
| Conference Short: | NEC |
| Founded: | 2020 |
| City: | Chicago |
| Stateabb: | IL |
| State: | Illinois |
| Coach: | Norris Howze |
| Tenure: | 3rd |
| Stadium: | SeatGeek Stadium |
| Capacity: | 20,000 |
| Nickname: | Cougars |
The Chicago State Cougars men's soccer program represents the Chicago State University in all NCAA Division I men's college soccer competitions.[1] The Cougars soccer team began play in NCAA Division I in the 2020–21 season and the Western Athletic Conference in the 2021 season.[2] CSU moved to the Mid-American Conference (MAC) as a men's soccer affiliate for the 2022 season. After that season, the MAC shut down its men's soccer league, and the Cougars joined the newly formed men's soccer league of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC).[3] They would only play OVC soccer for one season, as Chicago State will become a full member of the Northeast Conference (NEC) in July 2024.[4]
The Cougars play their home matches at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois.[5] Norris Howze is the current head coach.[6]
Chicago State University announced on June 23, 2020, that it would finally begin a men's soccer team, effective immediately.[1] This fulfilled the school's commitment to add the sport when joining the Western Athletic Conference in 2014. CSU had later budgeted for a team in 2016, but the school did not then begin play due to financial challenges and seriously discussed leaving Division I.[7] The decision to finally add men's soccer came at the same time the school dropped baseball due to fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Cougars were to play in their full-time home of the WAC,[2] but did not begin conference play until 2021.[1] The school later announced that it would depart the WAC in June 2022.[8]
The team's first head coach, Trevor Banks, stepped down on February 25, 2022.[9]
On May 27, 2022, the Cougars announced they would move their soccer program to the Mid-American Conference and play as an affiliate member in that sport only.[10]
In March 2023, the Ohio Valley Conference announced it would launch a men's soccer league in the 2023 fall season with Chicago State as one of its eight members. [11] The 2023 season proved to be the Cougars' only season in OVC men's soccer; the university ended its two-year stint as an all-sports independent by joining the Northeast Conference effective in 2024.[4]