Coaches

Matt Cosinuke

Matt Cosinuke was hired as the head coach of the Eastern Kentucky University soccer program on January 3, 2019.


Players have thrived on and off the field under Cosinuke's guidance. Katie Shaffer was voted first team All-OVC in both 2019 and 2020, making her the first Colonel ever to earn first all-conference honors twice. Sarah Owusu (2019 second team All-OVC), Audrey Anderson (2019 OVC All-Newcomer Team) and Michaela Iacono (2020 second team All-OVC) have also played at an all-conference level in Cosinuke's system.


Larissa Heslop (2020) and Billie Clark (2021) have been NCAA Woman of the Year Nominees the last two years.


Heslop was voted an Academic All-American in 2019.


In the spring of 2020, the Colonels posted the highest single-semester GPA in program history - 3.837.


On the field, EKU improved greatly from 2019 to 2020, especially on the attacking end. After averaging 0.67 goals-per-game in 2019, the Colonels averaged 1.4 goals-per-game in 2020.


After going 1-7-1 at home in 2019, Eastern went 3-1-0 at home in 2020, including shutout wins over rival Morehead State and Belmont and a Senior Day victory over then-unbeaten Southeast Missouri.


In Cosinuke's first season at the helm, EKU tied for the OVC lead with four shutouts during conference play. The Colonels recorded clean sheets on the road over Jacksonville State, Eastern Illinois and rival Morehead State, and at home against Belmont.


EKU also recorded an impressive 1-0 shutout win over Milwaukee during non-conference play. Milwaukee came into the game undefeated and had only lost twice in its last 50 games dating back to 2016.


On Sept. 12, 2019, in Cosinuke's seventh game as head coach, the Colonels hosted Kentucky, marking the first time ever an SEC school visited EKU Soccer Field. A record-setting 1,045 fans were in attendance for the intrastate contest.


Cosinuke came to EKU following five successful seasons as an assistant coach / recruiting coordinator at the University of Cincinnati (2014 to 2018). He helped lead the Bearcats to the 2015 American Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament championship and a trip to the 2015 NCAA Tournament.


“I’d like to thank the administration for believing in me to lead this program,” Cosinuke said upon being hired. “I’d also like to especially thank Neil Stafford for helping to shape me into the coach I am today. Richmond is a wonderful town and EKU is an exceptional university. I feel blessed to be given this opportunity, and I look forward to the challenge. My wife Alexis, my daughter, Iris, and I are ready to be part of the community and extended EKU Family. Go Big E!”


During Cosinuke’s five seasons at Cincinnati, the Bearcats’ RPI rose from No. 237 to No. 11.


UC recorded five consecutive losing seasons (2009 to 2013) before Cosinuke joined the staff. In Cosinuke’s first four seasons in Cincinnati (2014 to 2017), the Bearcats went 46-23-14 (18-13-5 AAC).


Cincinnati notably finished the 2015 season with a record of 13-6-5 (5-3-1 AAC), giving the Bearcats their best league finish since 2002. UC then stormed through the AAC Tournament and stunned USF in a penalty-kick shootout in the title game to win its first ever conference championship and earn its first NCAA bid since 2010.


In 2017, Cosinuke helped guide Cincinnati to a record of 12-4-3 (5-2-2 AAC).


In addition to his duties as recruiting coordinator, Cosinuke worked primarily with UC’s goalkeepers and defenders. During the championship season of 2015, the Bearcat defense recorded 12 shutouts, second-most in a season in the history of the American Athletic Conference. In 2017, UC notched 11 clean sheets, third most in conference history.


In 2017, UC keeper Natalie Smith led the AAC in shutouts during conference play (five) and ranked second in the league in goals-against average (0.82).


Prior to joining the women’s soccer coaching staff at Cincinnati, Cosinuke was a volunteer goalkeepers coach for the UC men’s soccer program from 2012 to 2013. During that time, he instructed a goalkeeper who led the Big East in shutouts and ranked 21st in the country in saves.


Cosinuke experienced great success as a volunteer goalkeepers coach for the Dartmouth College men’s soccer program from 2010 to 2012. During the 2010 season, the Big Green reached the NCAA Sweet 16 before falling to No. 8 UCLA, 2-1, in double overtime. In 2011, Cosinuke helped lead Dartmouth to the Ivy League title and back to the NCAA Tournament. He mentored goalkeeper Noah Cohen to honorable mention All-Ivy League honors in 2011.


Before arriving at Dartmouth, Cosinuke spent one season as a volunteer goalkeepers coach at his alma mater, Florida Atlantic University, in 2009.


A native of Lebanon, New Hampshire, Cosinuke graduated from Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, New Hampshire before going on to play Division-I soccer at FAU.


Cosinuke holds an Advanced National Goalkeeping License from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and several licenses from the U.S. Soccer Federation.


He graduated from FAU with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He also holds a master’s degree in sport management (certificate in athletic administration) from the University of Southern New Hampshire.


Cosinuke and his wife, Alexis, have a daughter, Iris, and a son, Maddox. A third child is set to arrive in November of 2021.

Shelby Spaulding

Shelby Spaulding was hired as an assistant coach at Eastern Kentucky University in July of 2022.


Prior to arriving in Richmond, Spaulding served as the head coach at Division-III Rockford University in Rockford, Illinois during the 2021 season. She led the Regents to their first win since 2018 and their first two conference wins since 2008. One of the conference wins featured the largest margin of victory (8-0) in program history.


Before being hired at Rockford, Spaulding was selected to the prestigious 2020-21 class of the United Soccer Coaches 30 Under 30 Program.


"I am thrilled to have someone of Shelby's quality and character join our family," head coach Matt Cosinuke said. "She has a huge, authentic personality and buzz around her. Shelby is a wonderful addition to our family and will continue to help our culture and environment grow. I can't wait to have her here."


Spaulding coached at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania during the 2019 and 2020 seasons, first as an assistant coach and subsequently the interim head coach. While at Allegheny, she oversaw all aspects of the women's soccer program. She was responsible for recruiting and retaining student-athletes, developing, organizing and running training sessions, game preparation, scouting, and alumni engagement. Spaulding also coached a trio of All-North Coast Athletic Conference performers and helped the Gators record their first non-losing season since 2014.


Prior to Allegheny, Spaulding spent two years as a graduate assistant at Concordia University Texas. During her time there, she was heavily involved in all facets of the program. Her coaching duties involved recruiting, assisting with training sessions, game day preparation, creating scouting reports, and monitoring the team's academic progress. The Tornados qualified for the American Southwest Conference Tournament in both seasons with Spaulding on staff, had 11 all-conference selections, and posted their first 10-win season since 2011.


"I cannot say enough about how excited I am for the opportunity to be joining the EKU family," Spaulding said. "Having gotten to know Matt and learning more about the program and the direction it is headed, this is such a huge honor, and it is a really exciting time to be a part of the EKU soccer family."


Spaulding entered the collegiate coaching ranks after a four-year playing career at Howard Payne University. She was selected as a captain her senior season, and the Lady Jackets advanced as far as the semifinals in the American Southwest Conference Tournament during her sophomore year, finishing with an impressive 10-8-1 overall record.


Spaulding graduated from Howard Payne University with a bachelor's degree in Business Management and earned her M.Ed. in Sports Administration from Concordia University Texas.

No Men's Soccer Program