Contact

Head Coach: Jon Desha jdesha01@gmail.com if interested!

Prospective Players should fill out this - form

Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Jon Desha, Head Girls Coach at Helias Catholic High School and Assistant Girls Coach at Lincoln University.        

Assistant Coach: Adam Galla. Head Men's Coach at Central Methodist University. 

Assistant Coach: Brandon Russell. Head Boys Coach at Father Tolton Catholic High School and Assistant Men's Soccer Coach at Westminster College 

 

Overview

Midwest Premier League is a regional soccer league in the United States that is managed by its member clubs. The league is dedicated to sustainability, fostering high-level competition, encouraging participation in both regional and national cup competitions, and supporting all member clubs by promoting the sharing of ideas and best practices. 

History & Development

Established in 2019 by clubs previously part of the United Premier Soccer League Midwest Conference, the league's founding members included Union Dubuque FC, RWB Adria, DeKalb County United, and Cedar Rapids Inferno. The inaugural Midwest Premier League season, delayed by the global pandemic in 2020, began with 20 clubs across two conferences and concluded on August 1, 2021. The first conference champions were Detroit City FC U23 (Eastern Division) and Bavarian United (Western Division). 

Expansion and Structure

The league expanded in 2022, growing to 27 member clubs and adding an additional conference to accommodate its growth, resulting in Eastern, Western, and Southern conferences. In 2023, the Midwest Premier League reached 35 member clubs and restructured into four conferences: Gateway, Great Lakes East, Great Lakes West, and Heartland. By the 2024 season, the league included 37 member clubs in five conferences. The 2025 season saw a record expansion to 45 member clubs organized into six conferences: Gateway North, Gateway South, Great Lakes East, Great Lakes West, Heartland Division 1, and Heartland Division 2.

Recent Developments

UCCA has confirmed an expansion team for 2026, bringing new opportunities for UCCA members and collegiate players to compete at this level. The goal is to provide a local training environment that helps keep costs low for participants.

United Capital City Athletic staff will run the men's program, with Coach Jon DeSha as Head Coach. He is also Assistant Women's Coach at Lincoln University and Head Coach for Helias Crusaders Women. Coach DeSha is working with UCCA to find additional qualified coaches.

A graphic representation highlights the footprint of the league across the Midwest region of the United States, showing all 46 member clubs for the 2025 season.

Season Format and Competition Model

The regular season runs from early May to late July, with each team playing at least ten games within their division or conference, split evenly between home and away matches. Some conferences may include interconference games to complete the schedule.

Beginning in the 2024 season, the Heartland Conference was divided into two divisions. The top two teams in Division 2 are promoted at the end of the season, while the lowest-ranked team in Division 1 is relegated. This system of promotion and relegation, based on sporting merit, marks the first step in the league’s 2030 plan to restructure its competition model.

The current league format includes the following conferences: Gateway North, Gateway South, Great Lakes East, Great Lakes West, Heartland Division 1, and Heartland Division 2.