University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Kern Adds Burnett To Coaching Staff
08.06.2010 | Men's Soccer
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Former UNC Greensboro standout Joe Burnett has been named assistant coach for the UNC Asheville men's soccer program, it was announced Friday by head coach Matt Kern. Burnett, a native of Winston-Salem, N.C., helped lead the Spartans to three appearances in the third round of the NCAA Tournament and was named the 2008 Southern Conference Tournament's Most Valuable Player.
"We are really excited to have Joe Burnett as part of the UNC Asheville soccer family," said Kern. "As the 2008 SoCon Tournament MVP he will have instant credibility with the current players and I am confident they will respond well to him."
The Spartans won three SoCon tournament titles during Burnett's tenure (2005, 2006, 2008), along with two regular season titles in 2005 and 2006. UNCG reached the SoCon tournament final in 2007, but fell to Furman in overtime of the championship game.
During Burnett's senior season he started 22 of 23 contests, logging 1,713 minutes of playing time. That season the Spartans defeated Duke University 2-0 to advance past the first round of the NCAA tournament. UNCG then defeated Loyola (Md.) 2-1 to advance to the Final 16 before falling to South Florida on penalty kicks.
In his first two seasons UNCG finished ranked 18th in the county by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America compiling a 32-14-2 record over those two years. For his career the Spartans amassed 53 victories overall with a 16-10-1 record in conference.
Burnett spent the 2009 season as an assistant coach at West Forsyth High School in Clemmons, N.C.
Asheville will open up the regular season against IUPUI on Friday, Sept. 3 in Lexington, Ky. as a apart of the University of Kentucky Invitational Tournament. Prior to that the Bulldogs will play regional rival Appalachian State in an exhibition game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 28. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. and admission is free to the public.
