Ben Mallue joined first-year Boston University men's soccer head coach Kevin Nylen and fellow assistant Patrick Lopez in March 2020. All three men have the unique distinction of reaching the NCAAs as student-athletes and coaches.
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Mallue and Lopez were part of Nylen's staff at Florida International for the previous three years, including a historic 2017 campaign that saw the Panthers post a 12-2-4 record and claim their first-ever C-USA regular season title. They were named the Southeast Region Division I Staff of the Year by the United Soccer Coaches for their efforts. Overall, they helped nine Panthers earn professional contracts with five being drafted in Major League Soccer while guiding FIU to a combined record of 29-15-9 (.632).
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In 2019, the Panthers were one of the last teams left out of the NCAA tournament with an RPI ranking of 35 and a 10-3-5 record. Andrew Booth was tabbed the 2019 C-USA Midfielder of the Year, while Nick O'Callaghan was named the conference's Co-Defensive MVP. They were later joined by Alessandro Campoy in earning United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region accolades. In January, FIU had an NCAA-tying three players chosen in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft with All-CUSA honoree Daniel Gagliardi becoming the third Panther in as many years to be selected in the top two rounds.
Along with on-field coaching, scouting, match preparation and recruiting, Mallue also worked with FIU's goalkeepers, including Gagliardi and Hugo Fauroux, another All-CUSA selection. Mallue moved to FIU after spending eight seasons (2009-16) on the staff at St. John's. During his tenure, the Red Storm reached four NCAA appearances as well as claimed two BIG EAST Tournament crowns. Mallue was instrumental in the program's recruiting efforts, as he coached or recruited 13 players that went on to professional careers, including the No. 13 overall pick in the 2015 MLS Super Draft, two players with U.S. National Team Camps and two players as part of the El Salvador National Team.
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In addition, 14 of Mallue's recruits went on to earn BIG EAST individual honors and, as a team, St. John's earned the NSCAA Team Academic Award each season that Mallue was on staff. A senior on the Red Storm squad that went 19-3-3 and advanced to the 2008 NCAA College Cup, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in government and politics and added his master's degree in government and politics in 2012.
