Aurora University Men’s Soccer Prospect Camp is an elite overnight camp, specifically, directed towards training boys 14-18 years old who are interested in playing soccer at the collegiate level.
This camp will feature high-level competition as well collegiate coaching instruction, allowing each camper to test his abilities against many elite high school and college-prep athletes. The AU Soccer Prospect Camp will also provide a unique preview into what a collegiate training environment entails, including high level instruction, fast-paced activities, and college facilities.
Aurora University traces its origins to the 1893 founding of a seminary in the small town of Mendota, Illinois. Though established initially to prepare graduates for ministry, the institution soon adopted a broader mission and moved to a new campus on the western edge of the nearby community of Aurora.
AU is a four-year, non-profit, independent, liberal arts, co-educational university. AU offers residential, commuter, full-time and part-time programs. Two semesters, late August to mid-December and mid-January to early May. AU also offers a three-week May Travel and summer courses. AU offers more than 40 undergraduate majors in arts and sciences, business, criminal justice, education, nursing and social work. AU offers a wide variety of master’s and doctoral degrees as well as certificates and endorsements in applied behavior analysis, business, marketing, mathematics, education, nursing, science and social work. The Higher Learning Commission accredits Aurora University at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels.
24 NCAA Division III teams compete in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, Midwest Lacrosse Conference, Midwest Women’s Lacrosse Conference and Northern Collegiate Hockey Association.
Ryan Lakin
Head Coach
Ryan Lakin became the Head Coach of the Aurora University men’s soccer program in May of 2014. In his time at AU, Lakin has led the Spartans to a 30-22-8 overall record.
Lakin played collegiate soccer at Illinois State University and earned Most Improved Player for the 1992 Redbirds team and was a 1993 team captain. He was chosen to the Missouri Valley Conference all-league and all-tournament squads, and was named to the all-Midwest region team. Lakin was assistant director of coaching at Barrington (Ill.) Area Soccer Association and FC Barrington, where he was responsible for the operation and oversight of 2,000 recreational players, 35 travel teams and 15 staff coaches.
He is also part of the Olympic Development coaching staff and an instructor on the coaching education staff for the State of Illinois. With the Illinois Youth Soccer Association and FC Barrington, Lakin co-developed and co-instructed the first pilot program for the development of a recreational coaching license. Lakin holds his USSF “A”, “B”, and “C” licenses and an USSF National Youth License and is a consultant to the National Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Club Standards Project.
He is married to Kristin and they have a daughter, Beckett.
