Coaching Carousel

[Kuiper]

Apparently, Illinois Tech Head Men's Soccer Coach, Marlon McKenzie, has left for a position as an assistant coach at Denver University for Women's Soccer.

In 2024, he joined Illinois Tech from University of Chicago Women's Soccer, where he had spent the previous 10 years.  After Illinois Tech went 6-9-6 in 2023, McKenzie led them to a 9-7-3 record in 2024 and a 11-6-3 record in 2025.

[Kuiper]

Most new head coaches these days were assistant coaches before that or at least have some high level club coaching experience touted in their hiring announcements.  We don't hear about many full-time HS teachers and coaches getting these positions anymore.  Nevertheless, a guy who leads his teams (boys and girls) to the playoffs 46 times in 51 seasons over 21 years, winning 91 playoff games, and has been named district coach of the year 29 times and state champion twice, sounds like a true legend and a pipeline to the talent-rich Dallas-Forth Worth metroplex.

Hardin-Simmons Names Austin Guest as Men's Head Soccer Coach

Hardin-Simmons' Associate Vice President for Athletics Dr. John Neese has named Austin Guest the 11th men's soccer coach in program history.
 
Coach Guest graduated from Texas Christian with a Bachelor's in political science and a minor in psychology in 1991. He played soccer for the Horned Frogs and was a USISL All-Star three times and has more than 800 career wins at the high school level and is in the TASCO Hall of Honor.
 
Coach Guest coached at Midlothian high school where he worked as an educator since 2004, coaching both women's and men's soccer through the years. He has 91 play-off wins, and won state championships for boys' soccer in 2003 and 2024. The 2025 girls' team finished in the 5A state semi-finals under coach Guest.
 
He led the teams to 46 play-off appearances in 51 seasons, and was named the United Soccer Coaches state coach of the year in 2024, and has been named the district coach of the year 29 times, winning 29 district championships.
 
Coach Guest has been a member of TASCO, THSCA, and TGCA coaching school clinics, serving as a senior showcase coach for six years and was previously the TASCO president.
 
Before working at Midlothian high school, coach Guest coached at Red Oak high school for nine years. He has also coached with DFW Tornado premier arena soccer, Southwestern Assemblies of God (Nelson University), North Texas Soccer Association, the Arsenal/Texas Stampede USISL team, and various DFW area club teams for nearly three decades.

[Kuiper]

Manhattanville Names Tom Bucknor as new Head Men's Soccer Coach

The Manhattanville University Department of Athletics and Recreation and Manhattanville's Associate Vice President of Athletics and Recreation Julene Caulfield have announced the hiring of Tom Buckner as head coach of the Valiant men's soccer team.

Buckner assumes the mantle as the 17th head coach in the history of the Manhattanville men's soccer team and brings a decade of collegiate coaching experience to his new home in Purchase.

Buckner comes to Manhattanville following an eight-year stint as associate head men's soccer coach at Jacksonville University. A member of the Dolphins' coaching staff since 2018, Buckner began his tenure at Jackson as an assistant coach before being promoted to associate head coach ahead of the 2021 campaign.

Buckner served as the Dolphins' recruiting coordinator since 2020 and developed 25 Atlantic Sun All-Conference selections in that time. In addition to his coaching and recruiting responsibilities, Buckner handled Jacksonville's scheduling from 2022 to 2025, oversaw analytics across a multitude of platforms and was involved in program fundraising, budgeting and fiscal responsibility.

The Dolphins captured the Atlantic Sun championship in the 2020-21 academic year with Buckner on the staff, the second conference title in program history.

Prior to Jacksonville, Bucker served as the assistant coach at Hartwick College in 2018 and was a graduate assistant coach for Western Illinois from 2016 to 2017. He also worked as an assistant coach with the Myrtle Beach Mutiny of the Premier Development Leage in 2017, serving as the head of goalkeeper training.

Buckner played four years of collegiate soccer at Hartwick from 2011 to 2015, serving as the Hawks' starting goalkeeper for the duration of his career. He was elected as team captain in 2014, the same year Hartwick won the Sun Belt Conference regular season and tournament titles and made the NCAA Tournament while he was an All-Conference selection.

Buckner graduated from Hartwick in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism before earning his Master of Science in sport management from Western Illinois. He currently holds coaching licenses from UEFA and USSF.

[Kuiper]

This isn't a coaching change, but an update about the whereabouts of a former top coach

Mike Singleton, who left Washington & Lee after getting them to the Final Four in 2023, and then departed for Goucher's Women's soccer in 2024 and left that gig before the end of the season, is now the Director of Coach and Player Development at the Tampa Training ground in Florida, which just opened in January 2026.  It's an unaffiliated soccer facility that offers coaching, pick-up, and training space outside of clubs that has both indoor and outdoor fields.

https://www.tampatrainingground.com/about

Perhaps one of the more interesting things is that Singleton, who is Vice President of Education for United Soccer Coaches, is also using the space to run coach and referee licensing courses.  I think we need @SimpleCoach to take a trip down to Tampa for a special Field of Dreams segment and check it out!

https://thatssotampa.com/tampa-training-ground-soccer/

We should also follow up on the point that Tampa Training Ground isn't just for youth soccer. The goal is to provide recreational fitness and fun for all skill levels and all ages. Not only is TTG launching adult soccer leagues, but they also offer coach education and licensure, referee certification courses, and direct opportunities for experience and growth.

The backbone of the operation is Mike Singleton, Tampa Training Ground's Director of Coach & Player development. Singleton is one of the most highly decorated and experienced soccer pros in the region, a long-time coach and training leader who has not only coached at the D-1, D-II, and D-III levels in the NCAA, but has worked with U.S. Soccer youth national teams, served on committees for the FIFA World Cup and Gold Cup, and has more than half a dozen licenses and degrees to back up his credentials, from the likes of England, Holland, and FIFA.

[Hopkins92]

What's funny is that every time I open this thread, I'm hoping for an update on this guy.

What a curious path. I guess his wife was able to find gainful employment in the Tampa region.

[Kuiper]

What's funny is that every time I open this thread, I'm hoping for an update on this guy.

What a curious path. I guess his wife was able to find gainful employment in the Tampa region.

Maybe Eckerd College in nearby St. Pete will drop down from DII to DIII and hire Singleton.  I've always thought it's size and academics, if not its location, fit better in DIII than DII.

[jknezek]

What's funny is that every time I open this thread, I'm hoping for an update on this guy.

What a curious path. I guess his wife was able to find gainful employment in the Tampa region.

Maybe Eckerd College in nearby St. Pete will drop down from DII to DIII and hire Singleton.  I've always thought it's size and academics, if not its location, fit better in DIII than DII.

FL is a dead zone for d3. Everything is a flight. You'd have to get a whole conference to shift.

[Ron Boerger]

What's funny is that every time I open this thread, I'm hoping for an update on this guy.

What a curious path. I guess his wife was able to find gainful employment in the Tampa region.

Maybe Eckerd College in nearby St. Pete will drop down from DII to DIII and hire Singleton.  I've always thought it's size and academics, if not its location, fit better in DIII than DII.

FL is a dead zone for d3. Everything is a flight. You'd have to get a whole conference to shift.

The travel for Eckerd in the SAA wouldn't be much worse than what Trinity and Southwestern made a conscious decision to subject themselves to, but the lack of a travel partner would likely keep them out of the equation.  Academically, they would slot in above Maryville(TN).

[jknezek]

What's funny is that every time I open this thread, I'm hoping for an update on this guy.

What a curious path. I guess his wife was able to find gainful employment in the Tampa region.

Maybe Eckerd College in nearby St. Pete will drop down from DII to DIII and hire Singleton.  I've always thought it's size and academics, if not its location, fit better in DIII than DII.

FL is a dead zone for d3. Everything is a flight. You'd have to get a whole conference to shift.

The travel for Eckerd in the SAA wouldn't be much worse than what Trinity and Southwestern made a conscious decision to subject themselves to, but the lack of a travel partner would likely keep them out of the equation.  Academically, they would slot in above Maryville(TN).

Yeah. But even Eckerd's non-con games would be big travel commitments. At least Trinity and Southeastern have a few schools in Texas to pick from. It's just not feasible to be D3 in FL right now. Closest D3 school would be... LaGrange? 475 miles or so?

[Kuiper]

Eureka Names Colin Nelson Men's Soccer Head Coach

Eureka College has named Colin Nelson the sixth head coach in the history of its men's soccer program, Director of Athletics Sara Shaw announced Monday.

Nelson, who has served as an assistant coach for the Red Devils since 2024, steps into the role following the resignation of head coach Ryan Woodside, who is departing to pursue opportunities outside of coaching.

Nelson joined the Eureka coaching staff ahead of the 2024 season, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to the Red Devils' program. He began his coaching journey with the Midwest Wings Soccer Club, where he focused on developing players and organizing training sessions while pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity at Olivet Nazarene University.

After completing his undergraduate studies, Nelson furthered his education by pursuing a Master of Business Administration while serving as first assistant coach at Olivet Nazarene. During his time with the Tigers, he played a pivotal role in the program's success, organizing training sessions, serving as head recruiting coordinator, and assisting with scholarship allocation.

Under Nelson's guidance, Olivet Nazarene posted a 16-2-3 record in 2022 and a 12-4-3 record in 2023, capturing two Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference regular season titles and two CCAC conference championships. The program produced three All-American recipients and eleven CCAC All-Conference nominations during Nelson's tenure.

In addition to his collegiate experience, Nelson has been involved with Chicago Empire South, contributing to player development and collegiate player placement. He currently serves as U17 Head Coach (2024–2025), U19 Head Coach (2024–2026), and U19 MLS NEXT Head Coach (2026–present) with Central Illinois United.

[Kuiper]

I've said before that I do not like these "promotions" when someone is asked to be head coach of both the men's and women's teams unless they have very experienced assistant coaches who basically act as head coaches of each team.  They are trying to save money, but they end up making both programs worse off and I can't imagine it helps in recruiting.  I suppose it's better than hiring an assistant basketball coach to be head coach of the soccer team (hello TCNJ!), but at least one person is in charge of the team.

On the other hand, when the coach "doubled the size of the (women's) roster" with 12 recruits (they only had 12 players on the roster before?!) as interim coach and "revitalized" the men's team by leading them to their second most wins ever - 7(?) - maybe it's as good as it's going to get for the school.

Walters Promoted to Director of Soccer and Head Coach of both Men's and Women's Teams for Thiel

Thiel College Director of Athletics Isaac Collins announced Tuesday the promotion of Zack Walters to Director of Soccer, effective immediately.

Walters will continue to serve as head coach of the Thiel men's soccer program while also leading the women's program and assuming an expanded leadership role overseeing all aspects of the College's soccer operations.

"We are excited to officially move Zack from Interim Head Women's Soccer Coach into the role of Director of Soccer and Head Men's and Women's Soccer Coach," Collins said. "We believe his vision, passion for student-athlete development and commitment to building both programs the right way make him an excellent fit to lead Thiel Soccer moving forward."

Walters was named Interim Women's Soccer Head Coach in February and proceeded to double the size of the roster in three months with more than a dozen committed recruits. On the men's side, Walters has spearheaded the revitalization of the program, which collected seven wins in 2024, the second-most in program history.

Walters will be entering his seventh season at the helm of the Men's Soccer team in 2026. Under his guidance and mentorship, 12 Tomcats have garnered All-Conference recognition while 11 have made the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team. The Cats have brought home five consecutive United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Awards in his tenure.

A graduate of rival Westminster College, Walters was a two-time All-Conference performer for the Titans as a four-year starter and two-year captain.

[Ejay]

Not a coaching change, but AD change. Christa Racine moves from Drew University to Haverford College. This is interesting as Racine was a HS All-American right around the corner from Drew and had been at the University for over 30, with two daughters even playing soccer at the school. I wonder what pushed her to the Main Line?

She replaces Danielle Lynch, who moved to Pomona-Pitzer in California, which is also interesting because Lynch was native to NJ as well.

https://www.haverford.edu/marketing-and-communications/news/christa-racine-appointed-haverfords-director-athletics

[Kuiper]

Loras going back to a player from its first Final Four teams for a new head coach.

Loras Names Nick Rizzo, who was HC for St. Mary's (MN) Women's Soccer, to Men's Soccer Head Coach

Director of Athletics Denise Udelhofen ('90) has announced the hiring of Nick Rizzo ('10) as the next head coach of the Loras College men's soccer program.

"It's always meaningful to welcome an alum back home," said Udelhofen. "Nick's journey has come full circle, and we're excited to see him inspire the next generation of student-athletes in our men's soccer program. As a former student-athlete, he truly understands the impact this program can have. We are excited for his vision, leadership, and dedication to building a championship culture both on and off the field."

Rizzo returns to his alma mater after a successful five-year stint as the women's head soccer coach at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. During his time leading the Cardinals, Rizzo compiled a 58-29-8 overall record and guided the program to its only four Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Playoff appearances. He helped engineer one of the top turnarounds in the conference, improving Saint Mary's from a 13-92-4 MIAC record from 2010-2019 to a 27-17-11 mark from 2021-2025, earning 2024 MIAC Coach of the Year honors in the process.

Under Rizzo's leadership, Saint Mary's produced two MIAC Defensive MVPs, one MIAC Offensive MVP, 15 All-Conference selections, and 10 All-Region honorees. The Cardinals also found success in the classroom, posting a cumulative 3.61 team GPA from 2021-2025 while earning five United Soccer Coaches (USC) Team Academic Awards and the USC Team Pinnacle Award, recognizing excellence in winning percentage, academics, and sportsmanship.

Prior to Saint Mary's, Rizzo spent four seasons as the head women's soccer coach at Monmouth College where he compiled a 41-30-5 overall record. He led the Fighting Scots to the 2019 Midwest Conference Championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance while earning Midwest Conference Coach of the Year honors in both 2017 and 2019. Rizzo inherited a program that had made just three conference tournament appearances in the previous 25 years and helped lead Monmouth to two tournament appearances in three seasons.

Rizzo's coaching career also includes assistant coaching stops at Saint Mary's University from 2013-2015 and Aurora University from 2011-2013. He began his collegiate coaching career at Loras during the 2010-11 season as an assistant men's soccer coach, helping guide the Duhawks to an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance.
In addition to his collegiate experience, Rizzo served as the head varsity boys soccer coach at Wahlert Catholic High School from 2008-2011. During his tenure, Wahlert captured the 2008 state championship, finished as state runner-up in 2009 and 2010, and placed third in 2011. He also earned MVC Coach of the Year honors in 2008 and 2010.

A 2010 graduate of Loras College, Rizzo earned a bachelor's degree in secondary education and mathematics before completing his Master of Business Administration at Aurora University in 2013. He also holds NSCAA Advanced National and National Diplomas along with a USSF C License.

As a student-athlete for the Duhawks from 2006-2009, Rizzo was a four-year varsity letterwinner and three-time Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) All-Conference selection. During his career, Loras captured four consecutive conference championships and advanced to the NCAA Final Four in 2007 and 2008, in addition to a Sweet 16 appearance in 2009.