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Belmont Abbey College

Belmont, NC 28012
North Carolina Southeast
Private Small Developing team
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Coaches

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Michael Lynch

Belmont Abbey College Head Women's Soccer Coach Mike Lynch came to the Abbey in 2011 with a clear mission to graduate leaders committed to excellence and virtue and compete for championships. Since his arrival eleven years ago, his teams have played in eight conference finals, winning championships in 2012 and 2014, and three NCAA Tournaments while compiling 131 wins, 60 losses and 21 ties (.667). He earned his 100th win at Belmont Abbey in a 4-0 shutout of King on Sept. 26, 2018.


During his tenure, numerous individuals have received postseason honors including 58 players for all-conference and 31 for all-region. A pair have garnered All-America honors.


The women’s soccer team has been recognized by the United Soccer Coaches for excellence in academics (nine straight years) and sportsmanship/ethics (eight straight years). For the 2018-19 academic year, the team was awarded the prestigious Pinnacle Award (one of only 22 college programs in the country), recognizing top performance in academics, sportsmanship/ethics and winning percentage match performance. Conference Carolinas recognized the program's commitment to sportsmanship and fair play with the Messick Sportsmanship Award in four of the past five seasons (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021)


Lynch played college soccer at the United States Air Force Academy, earning all-league and all-region accolades and served as Team Captain his senior year. After graduation, he competed for the USAF Soccer Team in 1985 and 1985 and was selected to the United States Armed Forces National Team in 1984. He earned the US Soccer Federation National “A” Coaching license in 1992 and the NSCAA “Premier” Diploma and US Soccer Federation National “Youth” Coaching licenses in 2010. Lynch has been heavily involved in youth soccer since 1985, coaching Olympic Development Program (ODP) and select club soccer teams in Ohio, Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, and North Carolina.


Prior to coming to the Abbey, Lynch also held head coaching stints at Nebraska Wesleyan University (NCAA DIII) and Truman State University (NCAA DII), and as an assistant coach at the United States Air Force Academy (NCAA DI). Lynch earned a Master of Science degree from Central Michigan University. In addition to the college coaching profession, Lynch served as an officer in the United States Air Force and also worked as a pharmaceutical sales manager for Pfizer, Inc. In 2009, Lynch founded WINning Coaching LLC, a company specializing in developing leadership, performance and virtue in business and sport. In 2017, Lynch was appointed the United Soccer Coaches D2 Women’s College representative and the United Soccer Coaches Chair of the Faith-Based Coaches membership group. In 2019, Lynch was selected to serve on the NCAA Regional Advisory Council for the third time in his career.


Growing up a military “brat,” Lynch has lived all over the United States. He followed his father’s footsteps into the Air Force, marking his family’s six straight generations of military service dating back to the US Civil War. Lynch is married and has three children. He and his family love most anything outdoors (skiing, biking, hiking, boating, running). Lynch, an avid runner until undergoing bilateral hip resurfacing surgeries, has completed several marathons, including the Boston Marathon in 2004.

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Jaime Malilong

Came to Belmont Abbey

June, 2012

Previous Experience

2017 - present Belmont Abbey - Associate Head Women's Soccer Coach

2012 - 2017 Belmont Abbey - Assistant Women's Soccer Coach

2012 - present North Carolina Olympic Development Program - Recruiting Coordinator

- 2012 Gaston United Soccer Club - Academy Director

- Carolina Elite Soccer Academy - Assistant Coach

- Blitz United Soccer Club

- Tulsa Spirit - Assistant Coach

Playing Experience

Tulsa Roughnecks

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John Keating

John Keating was named Head Men's Soccer Coach in April 2011, following 13 years as a Director of Coaching and Executive Director of various large clubs in the Midwest. Prior to that, he coached at the State University of New York (SUNY) and Warren Wilson College, where he also served as Assistant Athletic Director from 1994-1997.


Keating has had success at each of his collegiate stops, earning Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year honors in 2023 and 2021. The 2023 team posted its first 10-win season since, earning the No. 4 seed for the league tournament. During the Spring 2021 campaign, he led the team to the championship, beating the No. 5, No. 2 and No. 1 seeds in the process. Ben Knust secured the All-Tournament MVP and four players were named to the all-tournament team. The 2018 finished second in the in the regular season with three players earning all-conference honors.


During his tenure at Warren Wilson, Keating led the team to its first-ever NSCAA final four appearance, while he helped SUNY - Fredonia, he worked with Mike Middleton to take the team to SUNYAC finals.


As a player, Keating was a four-year starter at West Virginia, where he captained the team in his junior and senior year. He holds multiple scoring records at his alma mater and still stands tied for fifth on the career scoring list. Before coming to the United States, Keating had been a member of the South African under-17 national soccer team (1987).


Keating earned both a bachelor and master's degrees from WVU before taking up the assistant position at SUNY. During that period he also earned his USSF A License and National Youth License.


A native of Johannesburg, South Africa, Keating played in the South African NSL for Wits (BidVest). He is married to Toni and they are raising their four children (Jack, Dublin, Finnian and Savannah) in Gastonia, N.C.

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Patrick Kibler

Came to Belmont Abbey

August, 2023

Previous Experience

2019 - 2022 Professional Playing Experience with Senglea Athletic (Malta)...Bodens BK FF (Sweden)...South Hobart FC (Australia)...Seaford Rangers (Australia).

2020 - 2022 South Hobart FC -- Professional Youth Academy

2019 - 2023 Mariner High School (Florida) -- Assistant Boy's Soccer Coach

2017 IMG Academy (Florida) -- Assistant Boys Soccer Coach

Playing Highlights

Two-time captain for Belmont Abbey men's soccer (2016, 2017)...Conference Carolinas Defensive Player of the Year (2017)...Conference Carolinas All-Conference Selection (2017).

Education

B.S in Sports Management -- Belmont Abbey College, 2018

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Austin Gunnels

Came to Belmont Abbey

August, 2023

Playing Experience

2018 USC Lancaster -- Goalkeeper

2019-2022 Limestone -- Goalkeeper

2023 Columbia College (South Carolina) -- Goalkeeper

Playing Highlights

2018 Junior College National Leader in saves...Two-time Division II NCAA Tournament participant at Limestone (2019, 2021).

Education

B.S. in Physical Education/Teacher Education -- Limestone University, 2022

M.S. in Athletic Coaching -- Columbia College (S.C.), 2023

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