Coaches

Nick Roberts

YEAR: Fourth in 2023-24


PREVIOUS COLLEGE: Mercyhurst '94


AT ASHLAND UNIVERSITY


Roberts is in his fourth season guiding the Ashland University men's soccer team.


The 2022 season saw Ashland win the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Tournament, and earn a spot in the NCAA Division II postseason. The Eagles were 12-7-1 overall and 9-5 in the Great Midwest.


During the 2021 spring season, Roberts led the Eagles to a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament title, as they rallied to win the last five games of the campaign.


In the fall 2021 season, Ashland's first in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, the Eagles were 5-8-4 overall and 5-6-3 in the league.


BEFORE ASHLAND UNIVERSITY


Roberts came to AU from Urbana University, where he worked as the head coach since 2008. Under his guidance, Urbana became a consistent winner on the conference, regional and national levels.


He led the Blue Knights to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in 2015 and 2016. His soccer team was the first and only team in school history to be selected to the NCAA postseason. In 2017, Urbana was ranked 12th in the nation.


Roberts was the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2012, and the Mountain East Coach of the Year in 2016. Urbana boasted the regional staff of the year in 2016.


During his tenure at Urbana, Roberts coached 40 players who earned all-region honors. He coached four All-Americans.


The Urbana men's soccer team also performed admirably in the classroom. His 2015-16 team had a team grade point average of 3.72. For the Fall, 2017 semester the team grade point average was 3.61.


When Roberts began at Urbana the program was a NAIA entrant. It was under his direction that the program took off and eventually made the move to NCAA Division II. Along the way he toughened the schedule and increased the scope of recruiting.


Prior to taking over at Urbana, Roberts served as an assistant coach at Wittenberg (2006-2008) and Kenyon (2001).


Roberts also enjoyed a stint in professional soccer. He was an assistant coach and the head scout for the Columbus Crew from 1997 to 2001.


Other stops along the way for Roberts include Director of Coaching and Player Development, Santa Rosa United, California (2002-2006), Director of Coaching and Operations, Columbus East Soccer Association (1995-2002) and Columbus USISL Professional Team Head Coach (1995-97). Roberts was also the Founder and President of Premier Sports Group International LLC (1997-2010), which directed over 40 overseas tours for approximately 1,700 youth soccer and collegiate soccer players plus professional teams. He organized travel and tournament entry and competition for over 2,000 youth players and parents to Europe over a 13-year period.


PERSONAL


The AU head coach is a 1994 graduate of Mercyhurst University. He played soccer for the Lakers.