Prior to the varsity program, VMI had a club team which competed from the late 1870s until 1959. The club team has been retroactively deemed national champions by the American Soccer History Archives for the 1885 and 1889 college soccer seasons.[2]
Founding and Early Years (1953–1988)
The VMI men's soccer team began in the spring of 1953 as an unofficial club. The sport's introduction was grassroots, starting with a group of approximately ten cadets who began kicking a volleyball on a hill, lacking proper soccer equipment or a coach. Despite the lack of official recognition or funding from the Athletic Council, the team quickly grew, with 36 cadets registering to play. Using personal funds, the cadets purchased equipment and a few official soccer balls. They practiced diligently on their own time, holding sessions on Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays.
The team played its inaugural season in the fall of 1953, competing in three games against Washington & Lee, Roanoke College, and Duke. The team continued to play without a coach until February 1954, when Captain Duncan Wolf, a West Point graduate and instructor on the ROTC staff, agreed to become the team's first coach. Captain Wolf was inspired by the "determination of the cadets and their enthusiasm." Following his appointment, the Athletic Council began considering soccer for official status as a regular sport, which would provide the team with official practice time and funding for equipment and travel. Plans were also underway for a more extensive 20-game schedule for the next year, which was to include matches against prominent programs like West Point, NC State, Maryland, and the University of Virginia.
The Stephen Ross Era (1989–2005)
Stephen Ross's tenure as head coach from 1989 to 2005 was the longest in program history, spanning 17 seasons. His coaching career totals at VMI were 92-186-15, representing a program-record 293 total matches coached.
The 1990 season was one of the most successful under Coach Ross, with the team finishing with a 9-7-2 overall record. This period produced several notable players, including Russell Rutter, who was named Southern Conference Freshman of the Year in 1990. Ross was recognized for his coaching efforts twice, earning the Southern Conference Coach of the Year award in 2001 and the Big South Coach of the Year award in 2004.
In 2003, the VMI men's soccer team transitioned from the Southern Conference to the Big South Conference.
Transition (2006–2022)
Following Coach Ross, the program entered a challenging period with frequent coaching changes. Ben Freakley coached from 2006 to 2009, followed by Richie Rose from 2010 to 2014. Jon Freeman coached for one season in 2015, and Michael Bonelli led the team from 2016 to 2018. The team returned to the Southern Conference in 2014.
Despite the team's struggles with its overall record during this period, individual players received recognition. Goalkeeper Alex Guerra was named to the All-Southern Conference 2nd Team in 2014 and the All-Southern Conference 1st Team in 2015, also earning the Southern Conference Goalkeeper of the Year award that season.
Nick Regan Era (2022–Present)
Nick Regan has served as the head coach of the VMI men's soccer program since 2022. Under his leadership, the team has achieved several notable milestones:
In 2023, the Keydets recorded five wins, which was the most in 17 years. This included their first NCAA Division I win in nine years and their first Division I road victory in a decade.
In the 2024 season, the team achieved five or more wins for the first time in back-to-back seasons since 2004–2005. The team also had three consecutive positive results against a Division I program for the first time since 2010.
During his first season as head coach, the program reached a nine-year high for goals scored and a 14-year high for shutouts.
The team's goalkeepers recorded four shutouts in the 2024 season, the most in 17 years, contributing to the highest win percentage in 16 seasons.
Under Regan, several players have also earned individual recognition. Three players have received Southern Conference (SoCon) All-Conference accolades: Cole Mooney was named to the Second Team in 2023 , while Kyle Grant was named to the Freshman Team in 2023 , and Anthony Huang was named to the Freshman Team in 2024.
Additionally, several players have been recognized as SoCon Players of the Week:
Kyle Grant was named Offensive Player of the Week on September 26, 2023, and September 17, 2024.
Dylan Holbach was named Defensive Player of the Week on September 26, 2023.
Zack Murphy was named Defensive Player of the Week on September 24, 2024.
↑ The 2002 Southern Conference Tournament semifinal match against Davidson, and the final were cancelled due to inclement weather. Furman was declared the champion.[4]
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