University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Mathes Mennell Named as New Men's Soccer Head Coach
01.14.2015 | Men's Soccer
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – UNC Asheville Director of Athletics Janet R. Cone has announced the hiring of Loyola Marymount Associate Head Coach Mathes Mennell as the Bulldogs new head men's soccer coach, pending approval by the UNC Asheville Board of Trustees.
Mennell has been with the Lions program for 14 years. He will succeed Matt Kern who was not rehired following the 2014 season. A press conference for Mennell will be held in the next few weeks.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Mathes Mennell to UNC Asheville as our new head men's soccer coach,” declared Cone. “Mathes has the soccer expertise and leadership experience to direct our soccer program to new heights.
"Mathes impressed everyone he met on his interview, from the search committee to the soccer student-athletes,” added Cone. “Our men's soccer program is now positioned to move forward with this announcement.”
“I'd like to thank Chancellor Grant, Janet Cone, Terri Brne and the search committee for giving me this incredible opportunity to be the head men's soccer coach at a great institution like UNC Asheville,” stated Mennell. “I can't wait to get to Asheville and get started.”
Mennell is considered one of the top assistant coaches on the West Coast and has helped LMU win two West Coast Conference championships and make five NCAA College Cup appearances. The Lions have been an annual fixture in the national rankings during Mennell's tenure and are one of the top programs on the West Coast.
After serving as an assistant coach at the United States Air Force Academy in 1996-1997, Mennell came to LMU as men's assistant coach in June of 1998 until February of 2000. He then rejoined the coaching staff at Air Force as an assistant coach for the Falcons men's soccer team from 2000-2002.
Mennell was an assistant coach with both the men's and women's program at LMU from 2002-06. He helped the women's team get to the NCAA Tournament in 2002 and 2006 and the men's program in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, and 2013.
Mennell is a 1996 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science with a concentration in Humanities and completed his Master of Arts degree in General Education from Loyola Marymount University in July of 2007. In addition to his work within the Athletics Department, Mennell is also an instructor in the LMU Leadership Institute, which is a three component program, open to all students, that includes a curricular, co-curricular and capstone experience based on the Social Change Model of Leadership Development.
A USSF "A" licensed coach, Mennell is also very active in youth soccer in Los Angeles, as he is currently the Director of Coaching Older Boys for the LA Galaxy-South Bay Soccer Club, which is one of the largest youth clubs in Southern California.
A standout goalkeeper at Air Force from 1992-1995, Mennell served as team captain in 1995 and was named the Team's Most Inspirational Player in 1994 and 1995. He was also named First Team All-MPSF in 1994 and earned honorable mention accolades in 1993 and 1995. Upon graduation from USAFA in 1996, he continued to play, spending time in the USL's A-League with the Colorado Foxes and the USL's Premier League Pikes Peak Stampede.
A native of Bristol, Tennessee, Mennell attended Bristol Tennessee High School where he was a three-year all-region selection before graduating in 1991.
What People are Saying about Mathes Mennell
“UNC Asheville has made a fabulous hire in Mathes Mennell. He did a fantastic job here at Loyola Marymount and will develop a wonderful program at Asheville. Mathes is an excellent recruiter and does a great job coaching on the field. He is the most organized person I've ever met.”
Paul Krumpe, Head Men's Soccer Coach at Loyola Marymount
“UNC Asheville has just raised the bar by hiring Mathes Mennell as their new men's head soccer coach. Mathes has extensive experience at every level of coaching in the United States. His work with the LA Galaxy, administrator and coach of Southern California's ODP and dedicated service as the top assistant coach of the successful Loyola Marymount men's soccer program will propel Asheville's program to the next level.”
John Kerr, Head Men's Soccer Coach at Duke
