Saint Ignatius High School

For a long time, Wildcat football dominated the sports scene in Cleveland. In recent years, fútbol has surged, thanks in part to the efforts of Head Soccer Coach Michael McLaughlin ‘85.

McLaughlin has wrapped up his 31st season as Head Soccer Coach at Saint Ignatius High School. Since taking over the program in 1995, he has led it to new heights.

With McLaughlin at the helm, the Wildcats have won an impressive 14 OHSAA Division I State Championships and seven NSCAA National Championships. As head coach, McLaughlin has an overall record of 544-62-60, to go along with a combined 34 Coach of the Year awards from the NHSCA, NSCAA, OSSCA, GCSSCA, USA TODAY, and the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

On September 27, 2023, McLaughlin secured career win number 500 with a 3-0 victory over Massillon Jackson. It would also be the program's 700th overall victory. 

In November 2024, McLaughlin led the Wildcats to an unprecedented sixth consecutive State Championship victory. The victory came off the foot of Bryce Ince-Lovelace with one second remaining in the second overtime frame against St. Charles Prep. 

McLaughlin serves as Theology Department Chair and Director of Sophomore Service at Saint Ignatius. He joined the theology department in 1991 and has seen his boys succeed in the classroom. The Wildcats have won the NSCAA National Team Academic Award 27 years in a row and the OHSAA Team Academic Award for 29 consecutive years. 

McLaughlin is a Magis Award recipient, being honored in December 2025.

McLaughlin was inducted into the Saint Ignatius Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003.

As of November 2025

Program Highlights: 
All-Time Record: 744-144-103 (.840)
Regular Season: 570-108-102 (.796)
Playoffs: 174-36 (.829)

14 OHSAA State Championships
21 OHSAA Regional Championships
25 OHSAA District Championships
7 National Championships