Limestone University

Gaffney, SC 29340

South Carolina Southeast

Private Small Developing team

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Coaches

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Andrew McClain

Andrew McClain begins his first season as the head women's soccer coach at Limestone following a five-year stint as an assistant men’s coach at Gardener-Webb University.

McClain specialized in working with the goalkeepers as he conducted devised and conducted all workouts for the group. His training helped the goalkeepers finish second in the Big South statistical categories in 2018, 2019, and 2022. He also helped two prepare players to achieve the goal of playing professionally in Europe.

In addition to his assistant coach duties, McClain was also the head coach of the reserve team at Gardner Webb from 2019 to 2022. In 2022, his team went undefeated and won the Southeast Reserve League for a third consecutive season.

Prior to Gardner Webb, McClain served as assistant men’s soccer coach at Brevard College from 2015 to 2018. He helped Brevard achieve the most wins in a season and the most wins versus conference opponents in the 2016 season. He started honing his head coach abilities as he took over the reserve team in 2016. As Brevard transitioned from NCAA II to NCAA III, McClain helped develop multiple All-Conference selections.

McClain started his coaching career at the University of Pikeville as an assistant on the women’s team. He was responsible for day-to-day operations including budgets, travel arrangements, equipment purchases, and fundraising. As the goalkeeper coach, he devised training and tactics that led to two All-Conference first-team selections and one second-team selection for goalkeepers.

McClain also has experience as a private goalkeeper coach, and a school-based therapist and served in the United States military.

He has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Pikeville and a Master of Business Administration from Gardner Webb University. He has also obtained National Soccer Coaches Association of America Goalkeeping 1 and 2 certifications, along with a USSF D license.

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Addy Fitzgerald

Assistant Women's Soccer Coach

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Ali Al-Gashamy

Ali Al-Gashamy begins his first season as the head men's soccer coach at Limestone following a four-year playing career and then serving as assistant coach for five seasons at nearby Gardner-Webb University.

Al-Gashamy takes over an established Limestone men’s soccer program following a three-year tenure as the first assistant coach and recruiting coordinator with the Division I Runnin’ Bulldogs. He also served as a graduate assistant coach and was a three-year standout during his time as a student-athlete at GWU.

A native of Kristiansand, Norway, Al-Gashamy coordinated all recruiting for the Gardner-Webb men’s soccer program and was involved in all day-to-day operations. He helped plan, design, and execute training sessions while also being heavily involved in scouting opponents and tactical match-day preparations. He worked with both the first team and the reserve program with the Runnin’ Bulldogs.

In his first year as the first assistant in 2019, he helped guide GWU to a 9-8-2 record with a 5-2-1 league mark, earning the third seed in the Big South Conference Tournament. Despite opening the season at 0-3 with losses to No. 21 Charlotte and South Carolina, the Bulldogs turned things around by going 6-1-1 over the next eight matches and closed the regular season on a three-match unbeaten streak. Gardner-Webb extended that streak to four with a win over Radford before falling to High Point in the semifinals.

During his time a student-athlete, Al-Gashamy was a four-time All-Big South selection, twice earning first-team honors, after posting 64 career points on 23 goals and 18 assists. His best year was in 2016 when he led the team and finished second in the Big South with nine goals while tallying three game-winners (Davidson, VMI, and Presbyterian) as a redshirt-senior. He recorded a career-high 21 points that season.

Prior to coming Boiling Springs, N.C., he played professionally for IK Start Club Team in the top division in Norway before moving on to play for FC Flora Tallinn in the top division in Estonia in 2010 and then for FK Jerv in the second and third divisions of Norway in 2011. He has played for Detroit City FC in the USL every season since wrapping up his collegiate playing career at Gardner-Webb in 2016.

Al-Gashamy graduated from Gardner-Webb with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and International Business in 2016. He earned two graduate degrees from GWU, graduating with an International Master of Business Administration in 2018 and a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2020.

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Preston Walker

Preston enters his first season as the assistant men's soccer coach after being hired this fall.

Walker brings a wealth of knowledge to the Blue and Gold after serving as a coach for the Foothills FC Academy in 2019 as well as the head middle school and assistant high school coach at Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy in 2020.

Prior to joining the Saints, Walker was a standout player for Gardner-Webb University where he played four years with the Runnin' Bulldogs. Upon graduation from GWU, Preston went on to play semi-pro soccer with the UPSL in Charlotte, N.C. as well as the Mint Hill FC.

Walker played his prep ball at Chase High School in Forest City, N.C. where he was a 4-time member of the All-Conference Team, 3-time All-Region selection, and an All-State member on one occasion.

During his senior season with the Trojans, Walker recorded a nation-high 69 goals to go along with 17 assists while leading the country in points and goals scored. For his performance, he was a finalist for the Gatorade National Player of the Year before being named Most Valuable Player in the North Carolina All-Star Game.