UIC Athletics

Team: 1968

Inducted: 2019

The 1968 UIC men's soccer team won 10 of its 13 matches and earned the program’s first postseason berth in the NCAA College Division Mideast Regional. The team boasted six players who earned All-Region or All-American accolades during their careers and led by head coach Forrest Tyson, the team outscored its opponents, 51-17.

Team members: George Domino, Nick Iwanik, Luciano Kiszynski, Phillip Naylor, Julius Ringus, Tom Southgate, Michael Witter, Sam Donnelly (assistant coach), Forrest Tyson (head coach)

Sports: Men's Soccer

Years: 1990-2004

Inducted: 2009

The winningest coach in UIC men’s soccer history, Begovic played a crucial part in cementing the program on a national level, earning a pair of conference regular-season and tournament titles in 1999 and 2000.

While at the helm of the program for 15 seasons, he led the Flames to their first two NCAA College Cup appearances in school history (1999, 2000) with UIC advancing to the `Sweet 16' and finishing the year ranked No. 21 in the country in 2000.

Begovic currently holds the record for most wins in program history with 136 wins, while earning Coach of the Year honors in 1999.

After playing in Europe, Canada and the United States during his professional career, the Yugoslavia native prepared his former players for the next level, developing future Major League Soccer and National Professional Soccer League draft picks, and international professionals.

Sports: Men's Soccer, Gymnastics

Years: 1948-1957

Inducted: 1991

Frey was one of UIC's most successful coaches, guiding both the gymnastics and soccer teams to national recognition during his tenure. Frey's first two gymnastics squads in 1948 and 1949 went undefeated, while winning two Midwest Open titles, two Central AAU team titles and the National AAU Team Championship in 1949. Frey was named UIC's first soccer head coach in May of 1955, where he built the program from scratch and earned a three-year overall record of 23-3-4. In his career, Frey has coached 75 All-Americans, 10 Olympians and one world champion. He earned National Coach of the Year recognition three times and West Region Coach of the Year ten times. He served on the U.S. Olympic Committee for Gymnastics and he also served as Vice-President of the United States Gymnastics Federation.

Sport: Men's Soccer

Years: 2006-2008

Inducted: 2023

One of the greatest players in program history, Husidic was instrumental in UIC's 2007 NCAA Elite Eight and 2008 NCAA Sweet Sixteen runs.
 
He is one of two first-team All-Americans in program history, the 2008 Horizon League Player of the Year and a two-time All-Horizon League First Team selection. During his 65 career games for the Flames, Husidic tallied 31 points, scoring 12 goals and adding seven assists.
 
Husidic was drafted by the Chicago Fire in the 2009 Major League Soccer (MLS) SuperDraft and played in 197 professional games from 2009-11 for the Fire, Hammarby IF (Sweden) and the Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS). He went on to serve as an assistant coach for the Puerto Rican men's national team.

Sports: Men's Soccer

Years: 1955-1957

Inducted: 1999

Karawan was one of the pioneers of the men’s soccer program, serving as a member of UIC’s first soccer team in 1955.

He is one of six athletes in the program’s history to earn Pre-Division I All-Americans honors, achieved during his first season with UIC. 

Karawan was an important contributor and active member of the Ukrainian community in Chicago. He served as a board member for over a decade for multiple Ukrainian community organizations.

Sports: Men's Soccer

Years: 1997-2000

Inducted: 2006

Arguably the greatest offensive player in the program’s history, Lukin’s goal-scoring ability with the Flames led him to be drafted as the 36th overall pick by the Colorado Rapids in the 2001 Major League Soccer SuperDraft. 

He is UIC's first-ever player to be drafted in the MLS draft and currently holds the record for most career points (133), goals (50), and assists (33). 

In his last season with UIC, the two-time All-American and two-time Midwestern Collegiate Conference Player of the Year led the program to their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Sweet 16.

Sport: Swimming, Soccer Coach

Years: 1957-1960, 1963-1965

Inducted: 2000

Mackh was a two-time Most Valuable Swimmer for UIC. In his 29 career meets he captured 53 first-place finishes. Mackh set school records in the 60, 220 and 440 yard freestyle events as well as a member of two record setting freestyle relay teams. Mackh continued at UIC upon graduation, coaching the soccer team from 1963 to 1965, and returning to the sport he excelled at as the head coach for swimming from 1965 to 1975.

"Ralph was a team leader. He was a hard worker and used good judgment with dealing with other people. He was a very likable guy," said former swimming Coach Chuck Kristufek.

Sports: Men’s Soccer 

Years: 1991-1992

Inducted: 1997

Rigas left a lasting mark on UIC men’s soccer with one of the most impressive scoring careers in program history. He holds the career record with 64 points and scored 24 goals during his career.

Rigas had a record-breaking 1991 season, leading UIC with 17 goals, 12 assists, and 46 points. His 46 points and 17 goals remain among the top single-season performances in UIC history. He also holds the single-game points record with nine points against Trinity Christian in 1991. In 1992, Rigas scored four goals against Bradley, setting another UIC single-game record.

Rigas was named to the UIC Honor Roll in both 1991 and 1992 and finished his career as one of the program’s most successful goal scorers and playmakers. His records and accomplishments continue to represent his impact on UIC men’s soccer.

Sport: Men's Soccer

Years: 1966-1968

Inducted: 2019

Prior to UIC, Michael Witter played competitively for several clubs before joining the Flames in 1966. The Jamaica native was the team's top scorer from 1966-68, collecting two All-America honors during his time at UIC. In the 1968 season, Witter scored 14 goals and added eight assists that culminated with an NCAA Tournament berth for the Flames. He went on to earn his Ph.D. and teach and research economics, as well as form and coach in a youth soccer club in his native Jamaica, helping produce countless Jamaican National Team players and American professionals.