University of Lynchburg

University of Lynchburg Athletics
Turner Gym 1501 Lakeside Dr Lynchburg, VA 24501

Division 3 Virginia Northeast

Private Small Developing team

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Coaches

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Chris Yeager

Chris Yeager has brought the Hornet men's soccer program to a nearly unmatched level in both the Old Dominion Athletic Conference and nationally after coming to the Hill City in the fall of 2002.

In that time, Yeager's Lynchburg squads have collected eight ODAC championships and seven NCAA Division III tournament appearances, most recently in the fall of 2021. Six Hornets have garnered All-America honors under Yeager's tutelage, and 43 players landed all-region nods for the six-time ODAC coach of the year.

The Hornets and Yeager won back-to-back ODAC trophies in 2020 and 2021. Lynchburg’s 18th conference title in 2021 came off the boot of Luke Mega, a two-time All-American in 2021 and 2022.

Yeager mentored 10 All-Region players, 11 All-State and 22 All-ODAC players from 2013-16 and collected ODAC Coach of the Year honors in 2016 after a spectacular season which saw the Hornets reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The 2016 campaign featured a team which recorded the most wins in a season in program history and registered the 5th most points in a season.

The 2010 season was perhaps the finest for any Lynchburg team. Yeager led Lynchburg to the NCAA Division III tournament title match, falling just short from grabbing the school's first-ever national title in overtime. The ODAC, state and regional coach of the year, Yeager was honored in January as the Division III National Men's Coach of the Year, the first time an Lynchburg athletics coach has earned those accolades. His Hornets finished 20-5-1 and won their second-straight ODAC title. Lynchburg eliminated the #1, #2, #6 and #12th-ranked teams in the nation during the storybook NCAA Tournament run.

Between 2002-04, he watched the Hornets improve in each season, and was rewarded in 2004 by earning co-ODAC Coach of the Year honors. The Hornets won four more games in 2003 than they had the season before, and in 2004 finished 10-8-2 and advanced to the ODAC Tournament Finals for the first time in the 16-year-history of the tournament.

In 2006, The Hornets saw their best season for 20 years, posting 14 wins and winning the ODAC Championship. Lynchburg also advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1982. The 2009 season proved to be one of the best years ever for the Hornets. Lynchburg captured its league-leading 12th ODAC Championship, posting a school-record 17 victories, and Lynchburg recorded the team's first ever NCAA Tournament win, a 3-0 defeat of Catholic University.

Yeager served as an assistant coach at ODAC rival Virginia Wesleyan from 1995-1999. During his time at VWC, the Marlins compiled a 77-21-5 overall record, won three ODAC championships and appeared in the NCAA Division III National Tournament four times.

Yeager earned his bachelor's degree from VWC where he was a four-year letter winner in soccer. He was voted the Blue Marlins' Rookie of the Year in 1990, top Defender in 1992, and Most Valuable Player in 1993. Also in 1993, he was named VWC's Best Male Athlete. In addition, Yeager started all 85 games during his collegiate career and was named to the NCAA Division III All-South Atlantic Region team in both 1992 and 1993. He holds a USSF 'B' and Advanced National license.

Yeager resides in Lynchburg with his wife, Shannon; three daughters, Bailey, Kailyn, and Grayson; and son, Keegan. He received his master's in sport management from Old Dominion University.

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Josh Hinkle

Josh Hinkle moved from the playing field to the Lynchburg sideline in 2015 after an outstanding four-year career as a Hornet. In that time, Lynchburg has captured four Old Dominion Athletic Conference championships, reached four NCAA Division III tournaments, and seen four players earn All-America honors.

As a player, the defender had a dominant senior season to lead Lynchburg to the ODAC title, and earned 2014 All-South Atlantic Region, All-State and All-ODAC First Team honors. Hinkle was a three-time all-conference honoree.

More recently, Hinkle served as an intern at the Central Virginia United Soccer Club as well as coaching the junior varsity team at Jefferson Forest High School. He has coached the E.C. Glass High School JV boys the past two seasons and also worked at several camps in the summer months.

He graduated in the spring of 2015 with a degree in sport management and a coaching minor.

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Philani Mlotshwa

Philani Mlotshwa joined the Lynchburg men's soccer coaching staff as a graduate assistant prior to the 2022 season.

The former Roanoke College standout tallied six goals and seven assists between 2017-20 as a midfielder for the Old Dominion Athletic Conference-rival Maroons. He was a second-team All-ODAC selection in 2018 and helped the Maroons to a 2019 NCAA tournament berth. Mlotshwa won Roanoke's 2021 Michael R. Murphy Award for extraordinary perseverance in accomplishing his academic and athletic goals.

He spent the 2021 season as an assistant on the Roanoke staff and was involved in youth soccer in the Roanoke Valley during his collegiate career.

The Bulawayo, Zimbabwe is pursuing a master's of business administration at Lynchburg.