Coaching Carousel

[Kuiper]

It wasn't explicitly stated that this means he will step down as head coach of men's soccer, but either way I thought this was worth posting here

Joe Bergin Named Athletic Director at Marietta

On Wednesday, Marietta College President Kathleen Poorman Dougherty announced the appointment of Joe Bergin '86 as the Pioneers' next Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. Bergin will take over for Larry Hiser who is retiring in May after 18 years leading the Pioneers' athletic department.

"Joe has proven to be a strong leader and effective mentor for both coaches and students," Dr. Dougherty said. "He has multiple talents and background experiences, not only in athletics, but as a leader, as a relationship builder and as an astute decision-maker — these are excellent qualifications for this position. He is committed to bringing a data-driven and student-centered approach to our athletics programs."

Bergin returned to his alma mater in 2013 as head men's soccer coach for the Pioneers. During his time leading the Marietta men's team, Bergin has become the program's winningest coach.

"Our team is very excited that Coach Bergin will take his leadership skills to the next level and lead Marietta's athletics program, but we are also happy that he will continue to coach the team," said Dillon Meagle '27, a Management major/Finance minor who plays the wing position.

Bergin becomes only the seventh athletic director at Marietta College in nearly 100 years, following in the footsteps of Don Drumm (1929-60), William O. Whetsel (1960-69), Joe McDaniel (1970-79), J. Phillip Roach (1980-89), Debbie Lazorik (1989-2007), and Larry Hiser (2008-26). Bergin brings a wealth of athletic experience to the position, both as a player and a coach, and he also is an adjunct professor in the Department of Business and Economics.

[stlawus]

It wasn't explicitly stated that this means he will step down as head coach of men's soccer, but either way I thought this was worth posting here

Joe Bergin Named Athletic Director at Marietta

On Wednesday, Marietta College President Kathleen Poorman Dougherty announced the appointment of Joe Bergin '86 as the Pioneers' next Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. Bergin will take over for Larry Hiser who is retiring in May after 18 years leading the Pioneers' athletic department.

"Joe has proven to be a strong leader and effective mentor for both coaches and students," Dr. Dougherty said. "He has multiple talents and background experiences, not only in athletics, but as a leader, as a relationship builder and as an astute decision-maker — these are excellent qualifications for this position. He is committed to bringing a data-driven and student-centered approach to our athletics programs."

Bergin returned to his alma mater in 2013 as head men's soccer coach for the Pioneers. During his time leading the Marietta men's team, Bergin has become the program's winningest coach.

"Our team is very excited that Coach Bergin will take his leadership skills to the next level and lead Marietta's athletics program, but we are also happy that he will continue to coach the team," said Dillon Meagle '27, a Management major/Finance minor who plays the wing position.

Bergin becomes only the seventh athletic director at Marietta College in nearly 100 years, following in the footsteps of Don Drumm (1929-60), William O. Whetsel (1960-69), Joe McDaniel (1970-79), J. Phillip Roach (1980-89), Debbie Lazorik (1989-2007), and Larry Hiser (2008-26). Bergin brings a wealth of athletic experience to the position, both as a player and a coach, and he also is an adjunct professor in the Department of Business and Economics.

Bergin has said he wants to coach his son who is a HS junior or senior so he has a good bit of time left in that role.  But in that write up it says "Our team is very excited that Coach Bergin will take his leadership skills to the next level and lead Marietta's athletics program, but we are also happy that he will continue to coach the team," said Dillon Meagle '27, a Management major/Finance minor who plays the wing position."

[Ejay]

My soccer coach was also our AD, which was great because he played a little fast and loose with the meal stipends.

[Kuiper]

It wasn't explicitly stated that this means he will step down as head coach of men's soccer, but either way I thought this was worth posting here

Joe Bergin Named Athletic Director at Marietta

On Wednesday, Marietta College President Kathleen Poorman Dougherty announced the appointment of Joe Bergin '86 as the Pioneers' next Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. Bergin will take over for Larry Hiser who is retiring in May after 18 years leading the Pioneers' athletic department.

"Joe has proven to be a strong leader and effective mentor for both coaches and students," Dr. Dougherty said. "He has multiple talents and background experiences, not only in athletics, but as a leader, as a relationship builder and as an astute decision-maker — these are excellent qualifications for this position. He is committed to bringing a data-driven and student-centered approach to our athletics programs."

Bergin returned to his alma mater in 2013 as head men's soccer coach for the Pioneers. During his time leading the Marietta men's team, Bergin has become the program's winningest coach.

"Our team is very excited that Coach Bergin will take his leadership skills to the next level and lead Marietta's athletics program, but we are also happy that he will continue to coach the team," said Dillon Meagle '27, a Management major/Finance minor who plays the wing position.

Bergin becomes only the seventh athletic director at Marietta College in nearly 100 years, following in the footsteps of Don Drumm (1929-60), William O. Whetsel (1960-69), Joe McDaniel (1970-79), J. Phillip Roach (1980-89), Debbie Lazorik (1989-2007), and Larry Hiser (2008-26). Bergin brings a wealth of athletic experience to the position, both as a player and a coach, and he also is an adjunct professor in the Department of Business and Economics.

Bergin has said he wants to coach his son who is a HS junior or senior so he has a good bit of time left in that role.  But in that write up it says "Our team is very excited that Coach Bergin will take his leadership skills to the next level and lead Marietta's athletics program, but we are also happy that he will continue to coach the team," said Dillon Meagle '27, a Management major/Finance minor who plays the wing position."

Thanks.  I missed that.  I'm not sure how an AD can be a full-time coach in the modern college world unless they have a bunch of Ass't AD's who take pieces of the job off their plate, but maybe Marietta's athletic department is organized differently or he has a very active assistant coach who takes on more of that role.

[Kuiper]

Chatham Names Nick Taljan as Men's Head Soccer Coach

On Thursday morning, Chatham University and Vice President of Athletics and Recreation Leonard Trevino announced the hiring of new Head Men's Soccer Coach Nick Taljan.


"We are excited for Coach Taljan to join our program," Trevino said. "Coach Taljan brings a great quantity of experience and we believe he will move our program forward."


Taljan joins the Cougars from Yale University where he was an assistant coach during the 2025 season.


"I'm honored to be named Head Men's Soccer Coach at Chatham University and am grateful to Athletic Director Trevino for the opportunity," Taljan said. "I'm committed to pushing the program forward working tirelessly to elevate Chatham soccer to national prominence. It's an exciting time to be a Cougar!"


Before his time with Yale, Taljan was an assistant coach at Kenyon College and was a head coach for Cleveland Force SC, a USL 2 team. He worked for Cleveland Force SC in a multitude of roles over his seven years with the team. He was also an assistant coach at Baldwin Wallace early in his career.


Coach Taljan and the Cougars will look to return to the PAC playoffs this fall after missing them last season.

[Kuiper]

This isn't a head coach announcement, but it caught my eye.  Amherst announced it is hiring Rye Jaran as an assistant coach, presumably to fill the spot, if not the role, of Alex Ortega, who left to be head coach at Redlands men's soccer.

What made that interesting to me is that Jaran played at NESCAC rival Connecticut College, graduating in 2024, and then was an assistant at Emmanuel College for 2025 before moving to Amherst.  In Jaran's freshman year in 2021 (or his post-Covid freshman year), he started 15 games, including the national championship win against Amherst in which Jaran contributed the assist on CC's lone goal.

[Kuiper]

Andrew Storton from Conn College named head coach at MIT

https://mitathletics.com/news/2026/4/13/mens-soccer-mit-welcomes-andrew-storton-as-head-coach-of-mens-soccer.aspx

"Dr. G. Anthony Grant, Director of Athletics and DAPER Department Head at MIT, has announced the hiring of Andrew Storton as Head Men's Soccer Coach/Physical Education and Wellness Instructor. Storton will officially join the MIT community on April 17.

"Andrew brings an impressive combination of competitive excellence, leadership, and a commitment to enhancing the student-athlete experience to MIT men's soccer," said Dr. Grant. "His role in elevating the program at Connecticut College to national prominence speaks to his ability to develop student-athletes both athletically and academically. Throughout the search process, Andrew demonstrated an emphasis on the holistic development of students, alignment with MIT's academic mission, as well as a vision for building a culture of sustained success. We are excited to welcome Andrew and his family to the MIT community."

Storton comes to MIT following seven highly successful seasons as an assistant men's soccer coach at Connecticut College, where he was elevated to associate men's soccer coach prior to the 2025 season. Since 2019, the Camels have put together a 78-22-29 record, winning the NESCAC tournament in 2024 while finishing as conference runner-up in 2021, 2022 and 2025. At the national level, Connecticut College advanced to the Elite Eight in 2019 and 2023, the Sweet 16 in 2025 and the national title game in both 2021 and 2024, winning the program's first national championship in 2021."

[SierraFD3soccer]

Andrew Storton from Conn College named head coach at MIT

FYI, Mike Singleton (W&L) was MIT's head coach 2011-13 before W&L. He told me that it was decent job, but the players have to work incredibly hard academically and practices were not the greatest which did not help in games.  However, they did well enough that Singelton was NEWMAC's COY along with a championship in 2012. So may be a way.

[Kuiper]

Joe O'Sullivan Named Head Coach of Men's Soccer at Centenary (LA)

Joe O'Sullivan has been named head coach of the Centenary men's soccer program, Director of Athletics and Recreation David Orr announced.

O'Sullivan just completed his first season as an assistant with the Gents and has been serving as interim head coach following the departure of former HC Kevin White. He was named the "Assistant Coach of the Year" at Centenary Athletics' annual end-of-the-year banquet last week.

"Coach O'Sullivan is a welcomed addition to Centenary Gent soccer," said Orr. He displays a passion for the College and to student-athlete success and development."

"Coach O'Sullivan is committed to community relationships through the NW Louisiana Soccer communities and will continue to cultivate partnerships throughout. His dedication to serving the community off of the field is evident with many of his current and future outreach programs, including camps and clinics."

O'Sullivan, a native of England, relocated to Florida at the age of 14 where he quickly found his stride on the soccer pitch. His collegiate career spanned four programs, each showcasing his consistent impact and competitive drive.

At Daytona State College (NJCAA Division I), O'Sullivan made an immediate impression, scoring 11 goals and providing five assists in his freshman year. He followed up with another standout season, netting 11 goals and eight assists, including multiple game-winners. His performance earned him All-Regional Team honors in both seasons.

O'Sullivan then transferred to Florida Atlantic University (NCAA Division I), where he played a pivotal role in leading the team to its first-ever conference tournament appearance, highlighted by his decisive goal against Old Dominion.

Amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, O'Sullivan joined Colorado State University–Pueblo (NCAA Division II), where he continued to perform at a high level. He concluded the season with five goals and two assists, earning a spot on the All-RMAC First Team.

O'Sullivan wrapped up his collegiate playing career at Webber International University (NAIA), where he once again proved his quality, recording 10 goals and three assists, and being named to the All-Conference Second Team.

Off the field, O'Sullivan remains deeply committed to the game. He served as a Graduate Assistant for the Madonna University Women's Soccer Program while earning his MBA, and has coached at the Liverpool FC Michigan Academy, working with elite youth players in the ECNL-RL platform. He currently holds a USSF D License, reflecting his dedication to player development and professional growth in coaching.

[Kuiper]

I'm not a fan of these moves unless the full-time AC's of each team are basically head coaches, which rarely happens because it defeats the usual rationale of cost-saving.  Perhaps this is because of a lack of candidates for the women's job and they didn't want to wait any longer though.

North Central (MN) promotes Men's Soccer HC Keith Bleyer to Manager of Soccer Operations and HC of both men's and women's teams

North Central University (NCU) Athletics has announced that Keith Bleyer, current Men's Soccer Head Coach, has been elevated to North Central's new Manager of Soccer Operations. In his new role, he will assume head coaching duties of both the Men's and Women's Soccer programs beginning immediately. He will be supported on campus by a full-time assistant coach who will assist in all areas of coaching and recruiting for both the men's and women's soccer programs.

With the addition of a full-time assistant coach and a unified structure across both programs, Bleyer emphasized the long-term vision for Rams Soccer. "This new arrangement will create an improved experience for all of our student-athletes, both on and off the field," he said. "Building things the right way takes time and hard work, and I'm confident that the progress we've made on the men's side can happen for the women's team as well!"

[Mr_November]

Jeremy Payne is back in the D3 landscape at Susquehanna after a highly successful 3 year stint as the assistant coach at Bucknell. Payne took Eastern to the Sweet 16 in 2018, which is pretty incredible when you look at how far they've fallen off since then.

https://suriverhawks.com/news/2026/4/22/jeremy-payne-named-next-mens-soccer-head-coach.aspx

[SierraFD3soccer]

Jeremy Payne is back in the D3 landscape at Susquehanna after a highly successful 3 year stint as the assistant coach at Bucknell. Payne took Eastern to the Sweet 16 in 2018, which is pretty incredible when you look at how far they've fallen off since then.

https://suriverhawks.com/news/2026/4/22/jeremy-payne-named-next-mens-soccer-head-coach.aspx

Payne coached there for 3 years. He took over for Mark Wagner who was there for 19 years and had a 237-101-25 .70 win percentage record. Mark is the older brother of F&M's Dan Wagner. Mark has helped out F&M for years.

Also Payne and the 2 Wagners graduated from Messiah.  Pretty cool legacy.

[Gregory Sager]

I'm not a fan of these moves unless the full-time AC's of each team are basically head coaches, which rarely happens because it defeats the usual rationale of cost-saving.  Perhaps this is because of a lack of candidates for the women's job and they didn't want to wait any longer though.

North Central (MN) promotes Men's Soccer HC Keith Bleyer to Manager of Soccer Operations and HC of both men's and women's teams

North Central University (NCU) Athletics has announced that Keith Bleyer, current Men's Soccer Head Coach, has been elevated to North Central's new Manager of Soccer Operations. In his new role, he will assume head coaching duties of both the Men's and Women's Soccer programs beginning immediately. He will be supported on campus by a full-time assistant coach who will assist in all areas of coaching and recruiting for both the men's and women's soccer programs.

With the addition of a full-time assistant coach and a unified structure across both programs, Bleyer emphasized the long-term vision for Rams Soccer. "This new arrangement will create an improved experience for all of our student-athletes, both on and off the field," he said. "Building things the right way takes time and hard work, and I'm confident that the progress we've made on the men's side can happen for the women's team as well!"

This sort of thing is typically a recipe for a neglected and chronically poor women's team.

[Kuiper]

I'm not sure whether being AD is harder or easier when you have five children age six and under, but I'm guessing that was a consideration with the fifth on the way

Loras Head Men's Soccer Coach Sam Koenig Leaving to Become Athletic Director of Wisconsin-Platteville

University of Wisconsin-Platteville Chancellor Tammy Evetovich today announced Sam Koenig as the new Director of Intercollegiate Athletics (Athletic Director - AD), effective May 18. A native of Dubuque and a former standout in high school and college men's soccer, Koenig is returning to lead and advance Pioneer athletics. His extensive experience as a coach and administrator underscores his commitment to fostering a vibrant, competitive and student-centered athletic program.

"Adding stability and strong leadership to our athletic department is a top priority," said Chancellor Evetovich. "We are confident that Sam Koenig's proven experience, dedication and passion for collegiate sports will serve our student-athletes and university community exceptionally well. His leadership will be instrumental as we continue to build upon our traditions of excellence and achievement."

Koenig most recently served as the head men's soccer coach at Loras College, an NCAA Division III institution, where his teams demonstrated resilience and excellence. During the 2025 season, he led the Loras men's team to an impressive 11-2-6 record, culminating in a semifinal appearance in the A-R-C Tournament. His squads also earned multiple academic accolades including A-R-C All-Academic honors, CSC Academic All-District recognition and USC Scholar All-Region awards.

In addition to his coaching accomplishments, Koenig's leadership has been recognized through numerous awards including A-R-C Rookie of the Year honors, exemplifying his ability to foster both athletic and academic excellence among student-athletes. As a player, Koenig appeared in three Final Four tournaments and a National Final. As a coach, he has participated in seven NCAA tournaments, with his teams also reaching two Sweet 16's.

Understanding what it takes to compete at the national level, Koenig will place a strong emphasis on both staff and player development. "Building a strong team starts with investing in our staff and our players. By focusing on continuous growth and development, we can ensure our program remains competitive and prepares our student-athletes for success both on and off the court," Koenig said.

During his initial tenure with UW-Platteville, Koenig also served as Associate Athletic Director and Chief Financial Officer of Athletics managing budgets, financial strategies and department resources, while enhancing overall operational efficiency within the department.

"Returning to UW-Platteville to help our student-athletes succeed both academically and athletically is a true honor," Koenig said. "I am committed to fostering a culture of achievement, integrity and community. I look forward to working with our coaches, staff and supporters to build on our rich traditions and to elevate Pioneer athletics to new heights."

Koenig holds a Master's degree in College Athletic Administration from Coker College and a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from Loras College. He and his wife Shannon, along with their daughters Kathleen (6), Hazel (3), Rayna (18 months) and son Landon (4), are excited about his return to Platteville. With a new arrival anticipated in August, Koenig humorously notes that his "team" is behind him all the way.

[Ron Boerger]

You have other athetic staff members to delegate to (especially at a school like UW-P with a large staff) and travel is different; instead of sheparding busloads of kids and recruiting in the off-season you're meeting with other ADs, going to conference/NCAA meetings, and gladhanding current/future donors. 

It's not an easy job to be sure.