As a soccer and hockey player at Hamline was known for his work ethic and being a good team player. Now Alex Morawiecki has instilled the same habits into the Piper men’s soccer program. The Winona, MN native starts his fifth season at the helm this fall.
In 2015, the Pipers returned to the MIAC playoffs for the first time in nine seasons. They gave eventual MIAC champ St. Olaf all they wanted before falling 1-0. Their five conference wins was one more than the previous three seasons combined. The eight overall victories were the most by a men's soccer team since 2007. In addition, Abbai Habte, the team's leading scorer, became just the fourth HU player ever to be named to an all region team.
In addition to on-field success, ther Pipers have been a hit in the classroom. The past two years, they have earned an All-Academicd Award from the NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America).
"As a student-athlete, my experience at Hamline was rewarding and rich in growth in all facets: academically, athletically and socially. So it is an honor to return here as a member of the staff," Morawiecki said. "As one of many proud alumni of this program, it is my goal to deliver the best possible experience for our guys while competing for MIAC championships."
The Pipers' trip to the playoffs in 2015 was the continuation of men's soccer success. In 2014, HU broke fast, going 3-0-1 to open the season. They ended the year with six wins and a pair of ties, a slight improvement over the 2013 campaign. (See the chart below.)
Alex Morawiecki Year by Year at Hamline
| Year |
Overall Record |
MIAC Record |
Postseason |
| 2012 |
3-12-3 |
0-9-1 |
|
| 2013 |
6-10-1 |
2-7-1 |
|
| 2014 |
6-10-2 |
2-7-1 |
|
| 2015 |
8-9-2 |
5-4-1 |
Lost to St. Olaf in MIAC 1st round, 1-0 |
| Totals |
23-41-8 |
9-27-4 |
|
HU athletic director
Jason Verdugo pointed to Morawiecki’s past successes at Hamline and solid coaching background as one of the key reasons for naming him to take over the helm of the Pipers. “Alex was a key player on the first men’s soccer team here to make the MIAC playoffs in 25 years (2005). He knows we can win here,” he said. “He has also coached at top notch Division I programs. We are very excited to have him here at Hamline. He is one of the bright young minds in the game today.”
Morawiecki played three years of hockey and four years of soccer for the Pipers, graduating with a degree in Psychology in 2006.He received a masters degree in organizational management from Concordia University (St. Paul) in 2009. He spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the Division II school women’s soccer team. In his first season with the Golden Bears (2006), they set a school record for wins, including their first-ever post-season triumph.
In 2009, Morawiecki joined the men’s staff at Division I Northern Illinois, one of the top 25 teams in NCAA Division I. The next year, he moved to Xavier, where he spent two seasons. In 2010, the Musketeers had one of the biggest turnarounds in NCAA history going 2-13-1 the year before to winning the Atlantic 10 Championship and advancing to the NCAA Tournament. They repeated as champs in 2011 and also earned the school’s first ever Top 25 ranking.
Before joining the Pipers, Morawiecki did double duty – assisting at Schoolcraft College, a NJCAA Division I school and also serving as the head coach for a pair of youth teams with the Michigan Wolves-Hawks Youth Soccer Club.
In addition to that experience, he has Advanced Youth and National diplomas from the National Soccer Coaches of America.
