Northwest Iowa Community College Welcomes New Assistant Soccer Coach Cameron McDonough

Northwest Iowa Community College (NCC) announces the addition of Cameron McDonough as Assistant Soccer Coach, Residential Life Supervisor, and Academic Advisor. McDonough began his role at NCC on June 9, 2025, working alongside Head Men's and Women's Soccer Coach Tre Thomas. He joins Jacob Bonnett—who came on board as Assistant Soccer Coach in April and brings nearly two decades of coaching experience, most recently with Warrior FC, a semi-pro club in Iowa.

Originally from Melrose, Massachusetts, McDonough brings a strong background in goalkeeper coaching and student development. He began coaching during his senior year of high school in 2021 with Melrose United, later working with Boston Bolts and Melrose High School. His experience includes leading offseason trainings, running tournaments, and mentoring student-athletes at multiple levels.

A 2025 graduate of Lasell University in Newton, Massachusetts, McDonough earned a bachelor's degree in Sport Management with a minor in Law and Business. While at Lasell, he was a four-year member of the men's soccer team, ranking 8th in school history for career save percentage and goals-against average. He also earned the Scholar Athlete Award for maintaining the highest cumulative GPA among male student-athletes.

McDonough says the most rewarding part of coaching at NCC is working directly with the players. "We have a great group of players on both sides who are all committed to getting better," he explains, adding that he loves working with them each day at training to help them become the best they can be. He also emphasizes adaptability as one of his key coaching philosophies, noting that the game is always evolving and requires coaches to be ready to meet the needs of their players and teams.

Recruitment is another area McDonough takes seriously. "We are looking for players who are willing to buy in to what we are trying to do on and off the field," he says. "We want our players to set positive examples on the field, in the classroom, and in the community."

Looking ahead, McDonough is excited to continue growing NCC's soccer programs. He says that winning the first match on the men's side was a big step forward and something the programs are eager to build on. "Playing in such a strong conference gives us a chance to test ourselves against some of the best JUCO programs in the nation and sets the bar for where we want to be in the future," he says.

Beyond soccer, McDonough is enthusiastic about NCC's overall athletic growth, particularly with the addition of women's volleyball and men's golf in the coming year. He also expresses his gratitude to Tre Thomas for the opportunity to coach at NCC and says he has "really enjoyed the close bond we share as a coaching staff."

Head Coach Tre Thomas says that McDonough "brings energy, expertise, and a student-centered approach to our growing soccer programs," adding that his dedication to developing players on and off the field makes him a perfect fit for NCC.

When he's not coaching, McDonough enjoys pasta carbonara, watching his favorite movie The Town, and traveling—he attended the Champions League Final in Munich this past May.

McDonough can be reached at cmcdonough@nwicc.edu or 712-324-5061, ext. 342 for soccer program-related questions.

For more information about NCC Athletics, visit thunder.nwicc.edu. NCC competes in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC).