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Reinhardt University

Waleska, GA 30183
Georgia Southeast
Private Small Developing team
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Andy Kaplan

Andy Kaplan is the longest-tenured head coach at Reinhardt as the 2022 season will mark his 22nd year at the helm of the women’s soccer program. He has seen the program move between conferences and regions in the NAIA and has helped to guide the Eagles to unprecedented success in recent years.


Reinhardt has won conference championships in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) in five recent seasons - including in 2017 - winning the AAC, making the national quarterfinals of the NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship, and carrying the No. 1 GPA in the country (3.67).


The squad won the AAC championship in 2011, then after falling in 2012, Kaplan led the Lady Eagles to an unbeaten season in AAC play in 2013 and a regular season and tournament championship. In 2014, Kaplan led the Eagles to a second-place finish in the AAC and a tournament championship win, guiding RU to its third NAIA National Tournament trip.


Over a four-year period from 2004-07, Kaplan led his Eagles to NAIA Region XIII Tournament appearances three times. After a move to the AAC in 2009, Kaplan’s squad in 2011 won its first AAC Championships with a perfect run in the regular season and tournament.


In 2013, the Lady Eagles won both the AAC regular season and tournament championships, with Krista Barikos earning Honorable Mention All-American honors. Ashley Yarger was named AAC Defensive Player of the Year, with Barikos earning AAC Player of the Year recognition. In the tournament, Stephanie Goins was the AAC Championship MVP. In the seven games prior to the NAIA National Tournament, the Lady Eagles did not allow a goal, going 5-0-2 in the process. Two of RU’s losses during the 15-4-2 season came on golden goals in 0-0 situations entering overtime.


The 2014 edition of the Eagles matched the ‘13 version with a 15-4-2 mark. The Lady Eagles finished as AAC regular season runners-up, but RU would allow just one goal over 274 minutes of AAC Championship play as Reinhardt won the AAC Championship and the conference’s bid to the NAIA National Tournament. Goins was once again AAC Championship MVP, and also earned AAC Offensive Player of the Year honors, with Katie Hale taking the AAC Defensive Player of the Year award.


In 2015, the Eagles won the AAC regular season and tournament championships. The tournament title came with a 6-1 win over Truett-McConnell in the championship game. Colby LaFever was named AAC Championship MVP. For the season, Allie Hale was AAC Player of the Year while Katie Hale was Defensive Player of the Year for the second year in a row. Reinhardt closed the season with a 3-2 loss at Keiser in the NAIA National Tournament. Still, the Lady Eagles finished the year ranked No. 25 in the country for the program's first-ever ranking.


Kaplan’s teams have also excelled in the classroom. Reinhardt’s 2014-15 women’s soccer team had a team GPA of 3.77, with Lindsey White earning Capital One Academic All-America honors, the first time an RU student-athlete has earned that recognition. Reinhardt had 13 of 14 eligble student-athletes receive AAC All-Academic honors. In the 2013-14 academic year, Kaplan’s squad had a 3.59 grade point average, the highest for any of Reinhardt’s NAIA-sanctioned sports. In 2010, his squad put together a 3.57 grade-point average, ranking third nationally of all NAIA women’s soccer programs. During the 2006-07 academic year, Reinhardt earned the seventh highest-team GPA in the NAIA. His 2007, 2008, and 2009 squads also earned NAIA Scholar Team distinction. Kaplan has also coached several players who have received NAIA Scholar-Athlete accolades.


Before coming to Reinhardt, Kaplan was a history teacher and boys soccer coach at Marietta (Ga.) High School for 11 years. He acquired his bachelor’s degree in 1990 from Macalester College, where he was a four-year starter on the men’s soccer team. Kaplan went on to earn a master’s degree at Boston University.

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Elisabeth Dunlap

Asst. Women's Soccer Coach

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Francisco "Frankie" Ruiz

Francisco "Frankie" Ruiz comes to Reinhardt after a successful stint as the Head Coach at Brewton-Parker College from 2017-2021. He also served as an assistant from 2016-2017 at Brewton-Parker before taking the lead role.


While at BPC, Ruiz built a hardworking, disciplined, and winning culture. He was able to lead the program out of a 14-year slump to its first conference win and first earned SSAC Tournament appearance. For his accomplishments, He was awarded the Mayor Todd Strange Champions of Character Award while also serving as the Men's Head Golf Coach and Associate Athletic Director.


While at BPC, Ruiz worked with St. Vincent's and the Grenadines U20 National team and served as an Assistant Coach to former Head Coach Jim Robbins at Peachtree City MOBA's USL2 Men's program.


Ruiz also served as a Head Coach to the u19/u20 boys' side and Director of Coaching at Richmond Hill Soccer Club from 2012-2016. During his time at RHSC, he was serving as a decorated Sergeant in the United States Air Force for 12 years, with multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He models his leadership style from his experiences and time in service with the military.


Most recently Ruiz was the coach at Bacon County High School, working with the boys' soccer program. He led the Red Raiders to a 17-0-2 season and deep into the GHSA State Playoffs, ranking Bacon County as one of the top goal-scoring teams in the nation with just one season at the helm.


Coach Ruiz is married to Certified Athletic Trainer, Mindy Ruiz, and they have three children; Jaxson 9 years old, Beckham 8 years old, and Addy Kate 6 years old.

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Junior Nyamunda

Junior Nyamunda is from Zimbabwe where he started playing soccer at a young age with Dynamos Juniors. After youth soccer, he moved to France and South Africa for professional tryouts. In 2017, Nyamunda was given the opportunity to play soccer in the United States at Milligan University. He was a standout player at Milligan where he landed a starting spot his first year. Later, he transferred to Brewton-Parker where he played under Coach Ruiz and continued to be a standout player at the NAIA level.


Nyamunda graduated from Brewton-Parker with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration. He is currently working on his Master of Science Degree in Management with Business Analytics Emphasis at Faulkner University.

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