Now entering his 12th season, Ben MacRae has built Iowa Lakes into one of the premier junior college soccer programs in the country. He holds an overall record of 157 wins, 56 losses, and 13 draws, guiding the Lakers to the NJCAA National Tournament in 2020, 2021, 2023, and 2024. During that span, the program captured the 2023 NJCAA National Championship, reached the national semifinals in 2020 and 2024, and consistently competed among the nation’s best.

For his accomplishments, MacRae has been named ICCAC Coach of the Year three times, NJCAA District Coach of the Year once, and was part of the National Coaching Staff of the Year in 2024. Beyond results on the field, he has helped more than 32 athletes move on to NCAA Division I programs, with several former Lakers now playing professionally in Major League Soccer, the USL Championship, and USL League One.

Before Iowa Lakes, MacRae built a dominant program at Spencer High School (IA), where he recorded a 270-70-1 record, won a 2009 state championship, and earned multiple state and national coaching honors. As a player in England, he represented South of England Schools and Ardingly College, played in four National Cup Finals, and was invited into the Southampton School of Excellence, alongside future professionals such as Alan Shearer and Gareth Bale.

MacRae holds advanced coaching qualifications including the UEFA ‘B’ License, USSF ‘B’ License, NCAA Goalkeeping Diploma, and also serves as a USSF Coach Educator, helping to develop the next generation of coaches. His vision remains clear: to elevate the Lakers on the field, in the classroom, and beyond—preparing student-athletes for success at every level of the game.