| ||||||||||||
A new era in Charlotte 49ers men's soccer began, December 26, 2006, when Jeremy Gunn became the sixth coach in the program's history. "I'm thrilled to take this position," said Gunn, who went 42-2-2 at Fort Lewis over the last two years. "Our ultimate goal is to produce a nationally-recognized program with our sights on reaching the highest success in collegiate soccer. We also want to produce an exciting team on the field and and a brand of soccer that will attract a lot of community support. I've been fortunate to have had some wonderful years at Fort Lewis and Cal-State Bakersfield and I'm confident we can bring that same sort of success and excitement to Charlotte. I'm looking forward to a successful, bright future with the 49ers and working at a fine institution in a vibrant city." Before taking over the reins of the 49ers men's soccer program, Gunn spent eight years as head coach at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. He guided the Skyhawks to three NCAA Div. II Championship games in those eight years, including each of the last two years. Fort Lewis won the 2005 NCAA National Championship and finished as the NCAA runner-up in 2006 and 1999. Gunn was named Div. II National Coach of the Year in 2005 by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) after leading the Skyhawks to the National Championship and an unbeaten 22-0-1 season. "We are thrilled to have someone of Jeremy's caliber leading our program," said Director of Athletics Judy Rose. "We had tremendous interest in this position from all over the country and the quality of applicants was very strong. Jeremy has enjoyed immense success as a head coach and is driven to bring that type of success to Charlotte. He was highly-successful as a player who has a great passion for the game and high expectations for our program." Gunn had been head coach at Fort Lewis for the last eight years, winning six Rocky Mountain Conference (RMAC) championships, three NCAA Mid-West Regional titles and advancing to the NCAA National Championship game three times. He was named the 2005 NSCAA Div. II National Coach of the Year and the Mid-West Region Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2005. He boasts an eight-year record of 123-35-17 and led the Skyhawks to the RMAC Championship in each of the last three years. This past year, the Skyhawks posted a 21-2-1 record, finishing second in the 2006 NCAA Tournament and second in the NSCAA national poll. The Skyhawks were led by Daktronics Div. II National Player of he Year John Cunliffe, who scored a school record 29 goals. The three-time all-America scored 75 goals in his four-year career. A five-time RMAC Coach of the Year, Gunn began his coaching career at his alma mater as an assistant coach in 1993. He served as an assistant coach with Cal-State Bakersfield's men's and women's soccer programs from 1993-1999. Cal-State Bakersfield won the 1997 NCAA Div. II National Championship and advanced to the 1995 NCAA Final Four. While serving as the men's assistant coach, Gunn also performed duties as the acting Head Women's coach during the women's program's first two seasons. Gunn was named CCAA conference women's coach of the year having led the Roadrunner women to a conference championship and national ranking in only their second season. Gunn attributes much of his success to the great mentors that he has had during his coaching career. At Cal State Bakersfield he spent ten years with a former NSCAA coach of the year, the eighteen year Head Coach Simon Tobin. "When I arrived as a player at Cal-State the team had struggled to survive - Coach Tobin had inherited a team that had been 1-59 in conference," Gunn said. "Ten years later we had won five conference titles and a National Championship. I had the invaluable experience of being a part of something growing from start to finish. I learned the value of immense hard work, dedication and a sheer desire and ambition to be the best." Moving on to Fort Lewis College Gunn found US National Staff Sports Psychologist, Dr. Dan Friegang as a mentor. "Danno was incredible in helping me to mature as a leader and communicator, as well as teaching our players how to make the most of their abilities," Gunn said. "Coaches often emphasize and understand the physical training of athletes, but I felt our players benefited so much more from becoming mentally strong preparing for and coping with the stress and excitement of high level competition. Our work with Danno not only enhanced our performance on the field, but also translated into our student-athletes being successful, happy, confident people in general." The biggest coaching influence on Gunn's career came during the last three years working with former Arsenal Football Club of England Youth Coach, Andy McDermid. "It was quite humbling working with someone who has coached at one of the biggest professional clubs in the world," Gunn said. "Andy's knowledge and experience in the game are second to none in the United States, and so I couldn't have wished for a better education in coaching. Through Andy's guidance I really felt we created a far superior training environment than what most collegiate players experience." Gunn also draws experience from a highly successful playing career. Growing up in England he was a youth player at Grimsby Town F.C. and Scunthorpe United F.C., while representing the North Region as an English Schoolboy. A first team all-American at Cal-State Bakersfield, Gunn played professionally from 1993-95 with the Chico Rooks Pro Soccer Club in Chico, Calif., the North Bay Breakers in Rohnert Park, Calif.; and in 1998 with the Nashville (Tenn.) Metros and the Charleston (S.C.) Battery of what is now called the United Soccer League (formerly the A-League). Now, at Charlotte, Gunn is excited to put his wealth of experience into practice in a new environment with new challenges. The opponents and the geography have changed for Gunn, but the philosophies that have taken him to five final fours will stay the same. "Many players and coaches feel that you have to make the choice between being a hard working winner or just having fun and enjoying yourself," Gunn said. "It is my job as a head coach to allow players to train and play in an environment where they can do both." The Harrogate, England native graduated from Cal-State Bakersfield with a degree in Business Administration, Management Information Systems in 1993. He earned a Master's Degree in Business Administration, Management Information Systems, in 1999 from Cal-State Bakersfield.
email: menssoccer@uncc.edu
