Mark Heath-Preston

Bio

The Heath-Preston Coaching File

Mark Heath-Preston was named head men's soccer coach on March 1, 2016 after four years on staff as an assistant coach at Bellevue University.

Coaching Education:

• USSF National A-Senior License
• USC Premier Diploma
• USC Level 1 Futsal Diploma
• USC Goalkeeping Level 2
• FA Level 2

Current Coaching Endeavors:

• Bellevue University, Head Coach since 2016
• Sporting Nebraska College Coordinator

Past Coaching Experience:

• Bellevue University, Assistant Coach
• Nebraska Bugeaters FC (NPSL), Head Coach
• Springfield Demize (PDL), Assistant Coach
• Des Moines Menace (USL 2), Assistant Coach
• Linoma FC (MPL), Head Coach

Leading the Bruins:

Mark Heath-Preston has solidified his legacy at Bellevue University as both a Hall of Fame player and the most successful head coach in the men’s soccer program’s history. Since taking the helm, he has transformed the Bruins into a perennial national contender, characterized by historic firsts and consistent excellence on the pitch.

Under Heath-Preston’s leadership, the Bruins reached new heights in 2018 by recording the first—and currently the only—unbeaten regular season in the history of Bellevue University athletics across all sports. Two years later, he guided the 2020 squad to a landmark achievement as the first team in program history to break through to the Quarterfinal Round of the NAIA National Tournament.

His tenure is defined by high-level consistency, including four seasons where the Bruins finished with a Top 15 national ranking.

The program’s sustained success is reflected in a string of impressive national finishes. During his tenure the Bruins have qualified for the NAIA National Tournament on six occasions. Most recently, the 2024 team reached the NAIA National Quarterfinals and earned a #7 national ranking. This followed a 2023 campaign that also saw an NAIA Quarterfinal appearance while receiving national votes. Other notable postseason runs include a trip to the First Round in 2022, a Second Round appearance in 2021 with a #12 ranking, an NAIA Quarterfinal finish in 2020 and a #8 final national ranking, and a Round of 16 run in 2018 where the team finished #15 in the country.

Heath-Preston has been named Conference Coach of the Year five times across three different conferences: the North Star Athletic Association (2016, 2017), the Association of Independent Institutions (2018), and the Continental Athletic Conference (2021, 2024).

His players have hauled in a massive collection of individual honors through the end of the 2025 season. On the field, he has coached 13 NAIA All-Americans, 43 First Team All-Conference selections, and 23 Second Team honors, alongside five Conference Players of the Year, four Goalkeepers of the Year, and two Newcomers of the Year.

Heath-Preston’s program has been equally successful in the classroom. Through 2025, the Bruins have produced 32 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes, 72 Conference Scholar-Athlete selections, and three CSC Academic All-District honorees.

As a BU Assistant Coach:

As an assistant coach Heath-Preston helped lead the Bruins to a 46-24-7 (.643) record in four seasons while claiming three-straight conference tournament championships, including 2015's inaugural North Star Athletic Association title over Jamestown. The Bruins posted an overall 17-2-1 (.875) mark in conference play during his tenure as an assistant which includes winning conference regular-season championships in both 2014 and 2015.

He took over a team which had reached three-straight National Tournaments, including back-to-back appearances at the final site in 2014 and 2015. The Bruins finished the 2014 season ranked No. 11 nationally and followed that up with a No. 17 national ranking at the conclusion of the 2015 season.

Playing Career at BU:

Before his coaching career, Heath-Preston was one of the most prolific goal-scorers in Bruin history. A 2020 BU Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, he still holds the school records for career goals (45) and total points (107).

A native of Norfolk, England, Heath-Preston was a first team all-MCAC selection three times in his standout career with the Bruins and earned honorable mention NAIA All-American honors in 2008 and 2009. He helped lead Bellevue to four MCAC championships during his Bruin career.

A two-time MCAC Offensive Player of the Year, Heath-Preston set the single-season record with 17 goals and 41 points in 2008.

Playing Career after BU:

Following his standout career with the Bruins, Heath-Preston enjoyed a successful semi-professional career as a player for three clubs: Des Moines Menace, Rochester Thunder, and Springfield Demize.

Personal:

Heath-Preston earned a bachelor's degree in health and human performance with a minor in coaching from Bellevue in 2011 and in 2016 his master's in leadership and coaching.