University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Men's Soccer
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- mmennell@unca.edu
- Phone:
- 251-6938
Mathes Mennell enters into his fifth season with UNC Asheville after being named UNC Asheville’s head coach in January 2015. He came to the Bulldog program from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, Calif.
Mennell was with the Lions program for a total of 16 years (1998-2000 and 2002-2015). He helped LMU win two West Coast Conference championships and make five NCAA College Cup appearances.
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.
Prior to LMU, Mennell was an assistant coach at the United States Air Force Academy in 1996-1997 and 2000-2002.
Mennell is a 1996 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science with a concentration in Humanities. He 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 was 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 has also been very active in youth soccer for over 20 years. He has worked in variety of impact roles across the spectrum of the youth soccer landscape. He served as the USYS Region IV Head Coach for Boys ODP, has worked with the Los Angeles Galaxy U16 and U18 Academy. In addition he was the Director of Coaching-Older Boys for the LA Galaxy-South Bay Soccer Club and he is currently on staff at ABYSA/Highland Football Club here in Asheville.
A standout goalkeeper at Air Force from 1992-1995, he Led the Falcons to a top-20 ranking during all four seasons he played. In 1993, he backstopped USAFA to the best NCAA College Cup finish in school history in 1993 with a record of 15-5-1 with the Falcons reaching the quarterfinals.
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. He was also named All-America by the National Strength and Conditioning Association in 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. He was the starting goalkeeper for the All-Air Force team in 1996 and 1999, leading both teams to the Gold Medal in the U.S. Armed Services Championships. In 1996 he was the starting goalkeeper for U.S. All-Armed Services Team that qualified for C.I.S.M. World Championships in 1996.
A native of Bristol, Tennessee, Mennell attended Bristol Tennessee High School, graduating in 1991.
