University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Men's Soccer
Neidlinger, Derek

Derek Neidlinger
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- dneidlin@unca.edu
- Phone:
- 258-7719
Derek Neidlinger joined the UNC Asheville Men's Soccer staff in June 2025.
Neidlinger joins Frid’s staff from Old Dominion, where he had been an assistant coach for the past two seasons. In Neidlinger’s two seasons on staff at ODU, the program has bolstered its national presence in recruiting while also achieving a 10-match unbeaten streak which was the longest for the program since 2004. Neidlinger serves as the lead recruiter on ODU’s current recruiting class which ranks No. 24 in Division I, while the team also achieved a Top-40 recruiting class ranking last season by Top Drawer Soccer.
Prior to joining the staff at his alma mater, Neidlinger served as an assistant coach at Windsor High School. As a player at ODU, he was a two-time Conference USA Academic Honor Roll selection. Prior to joining the Monarchs, Neidlinger was the Big Eight Defensive Player of the Year, a First Team All-Region and Second Team All-America selection and a First Team Scholar All-American at Santa Rosa College in 2019.
Neidlinger holds a bachelor’s degree in sport management from Old Dominion (2022) and a master’s in business administration from Corban University (2023). He is also currently pursuing his United States Soccer Federation (USSF) D License.
Neidlinger joins Frid’s staff from Old Dominion, where he had been an assistant coach for the past two seasons. In Neidlinger’s two seasons on staff at ODU, the program has bolstered its national presence in recruiting while also achieving a 10-match unbeaten streak which was the longest for the program since 2004. Neidlinger serves as the lead recruiter on ODU’s current recruiting class which ranks No. 24 in Division I, while the team also achieved a Top-40 recruiting class ranking last season by Top Drawer Soccer.
Prior to joining the staff at his alma mater, Neidlinger served as an assistant coach at Windsor High School. As a player at ODU, he was a two-time Conference USA Academic Honor Roll selection. Prior to joining the Monarchs, Neidlinger was the Big Eight Defensive Player of the Year, a First Team All-Region and Second Team All-America selection and a First Team Scholar All-American at Santa Rosa College in 2019.
Neidlinger holds a bachelor’s degree in sport management from Old Dominion (2022) and a master’s in business administration from Corban University (2023). He is also currently pursuing his United States Soccer Federation (USSF) D License.