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Lipscomb University

Nashville, TN 37204
Tennessee Southeast
Private Small Developing team
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Kevin O'Brien

Kevin O’Brien enters his 12th season leading the women’s soccer program at Lipscomb University and the winningest head coach in program history. O’Brien has led the program to unprecedented success and has catapulted the Lady Bisons into the national spotlight.


O’Brien has led Lipscomb to six ASUN Championship game appearances, three ASUN Tournament titles, and five Regular Season ASUN titles and has guided the program to the NCAA tournament in three of the last four seasons. During his tenure at Lipscomb, O’Brien has coached 41 All-Conference performers, 14 All-Freshmen performers, 25 All-Academic honorees, and 30 players of the week.


In his first ten seasons at Lipscomb, O’Brien was named the ASUN Coach of the Year three times (2016, 2017, and 2021) and logged a record of 101-62-27. In a very prestigious honor, O’Brien’s staff was named the United Soccer Coaches South Region Staff of the Year in 2018.


Over the 2022 season, O’Brien’s squad put together a strong showing across the board. The Bisons collected an 11-5-3 record, boasting ten shutouts including an 8-0 victory over Alabama State. For their efforts, Shelby Craft, Logan McFadden, Kelli Beiler, and Kale’a Perry earned spots on United Soccer Coaches All-Region Teams with Beiler earning both the ASUN Player of the Year and the ASUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year titles. Alivia Carapazza joined Beiler on the ASUN All-Academic Team as well as earning her own ASUN All-Conference hnors. McFadden, Craft, and Perry also joined the duo as ASUN All-Conference selections. CJ Graham, Emily Patti, and Emanuela Schurch also claimed spots in the ASUN All-Conference awards.


In 2021, O’Brien led the Bisons to an ASUN Regular Season title with a record of 15-5-1, a dominating run to win the ASUN Tournament Championship, and another birth to the NCAA Tournament. Prior to the NCAA Tournament, the Lady Bisons beat two Power 5 teams in non-conference play (University of Miami and Mississippi State University) continuing a trend that has been consistent over the last several years. Lipscomb matched up against in-state rival No. 6 University of Tennessee, providing them with a hard-fought match in their NCAA Tournament first round loss. In 2021, Shelby Craft was named the ASUN Defensive Player of the Year, CJ Graham the ASUN Goalkeeper of the Year, Katia Hanger earned ASUN All-Conference First Team honors and O’Brien the ASUN Coach of the Year. Additionally, Cami Rogers and Molly Grant were named to the ASUN All-Conferece Second team. Furthermore, five Lady Bisons were recognized on one of the three United Soccer Coaches All-Region teams and the program finished the ranked No. 6 in the South Region Poll.


In the abbreviated 2020 season (played in the spring of 2021), O’Brien led the Bisons to another regular season title with a record of 7-3-2 before being knocked out of the ASUN Tournament by the eventual champion. Shelby Craft was named the ASUN Defensive Player of the Year, along with Kelli Beiler and Cami Rogers who earned spots on the ASUN All-Conference First Team. Emily Patti and Molly Grant were named to the ASUN All-Conference Second Team, while Evee Reeder was named to the ASUN All-Freshman Team.


In 2019, O’Brien led the Bisons to their third-straight ASUN Regular Season title with a record of 13-6-2, defeating Kennesaw State in the ASUN Championship final. The victory led to a second-consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament, where the Bisons fell to No. 23 Louisville 1-0 in a tightly contested match. Senior Olivia Doak was named to the ASUN All-Conference First Team and was also named the Scholar Athlete of the Year. Joining her on the First Team was Maycie McKay, who also earned All-Academic Honors and was named to the COSIDA Academic All-District Team. Leah Cernicky and Katia Hanger were both named to the ASUN All-Conference Second Team, while Hanger and Molly Grant were also named to the All-Freshman Team.


In 2018, O’Brien led the Lady Bisons to an historic year by winning their first ever ASUN Tournament title. After knocking off perennial power FGCU 1-0 in the semi-final match, the Lady Bisons went on to win the ASUN final 3-2 over North Alabama. Lipscomb’s historic run continued in the first round of the NCAA Tournament by defeating No. 17 Mississippi State in overtime. With the win, the Lady Bisons became the first team in Lipscomb University history to win an NCAA Tournament game. The season ended with a hard-fought loss to No. 9 Duke in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.


In 2016, Lipscomb nearly swept the ASUN Conference awards as O’Brien won ASUN Coach of the Year, Anna Buhigas won ASUN Goalkeeper of the Year for the third-consecutive season, Niamh Rawlins won ASUN Defensive Player of the Year, Olivia Doak won ASUN Freshman of the Year, and Natalie DuBoise was named ASUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year.


Prior to Lipscomb, O’Brien was the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator of the men’s soccer program at Davidson from 2009-2011. He assembled a top-notch recruiting class in 2011 that included three players ranked top-150 nationally by College Soccer News.


O’Brien was part of Davidson’s staff that led the Wildcats to upset three top-25 programs in three seasons including a victory against eventual National Champions, North Carolina, in 2011.


Both the 2009 and 2010 squads were ranked top-25 Nationally at one point in their respective seasons.


Prior to joining the staff at Davidson, O’Brien served as the top assistant and recruiting coordinator with another NCAA Top-25 program - the Charlotte 49ers. The 49ers were NCAA College Cup finalists in 2011, with seven of eleven starters being recruited by Coach O’Brien in his time with the program. O’Brien worked under and honed his coaching philosophy alongside four-time National Champion coach Jeremy Gunn (Head Coach, Stanford University).


At other coaching stops along the way, O’Brien served as an assistant at Creighton University, where he was on staff for two Elite Eight NCAA Tournament runs. He also spent time at Oregon State University and got his coaching start at Presbyterian College, where the team won the SAC Tournament Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.


O’Brien holds a USSF “A” License and the NSCAA Advanced National Diploma. He spent several years serving in the North Carolina Olympic Development Program and coached his team to an ODP National Championship in 2006.


In his playing days, O’Brien captained the College of Charleston to two NCAA post season appearances, multiple top-20 rankings, an Elite 8 appearance and was a two-time All-Conference selection and All-South Region player. O’Brien holds the ASUN record for most games in a career (85) during his time at College of Charleston. Following his collegiate career, he played professionally (USL) for 8 years with the Charleston Battery and Charlotte Eagles.


Coach O’Brien lives in Nashville with his wife, Shannon, a former University of Arizona women’s soccer player and Lipscomb Women’s Golf Assistant Coach. They have a daughter (15), Keely and son Keegan (13).

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Nathan Chatfield

Nate Chatfield enters his sixth year on the staff of the Lipscomb women’s soccer after joining the program in July 2018. Chatfield first joined the staff as a volunteer assistant coach and was promoted to associate head coach prior to the 2023 season.


Over the past few seasons, Chatfield has helped the program to back to back ASUN Championship game appearances and two consecutive ASUN Tournament titles.


In 2021, Chatfield helped guide the Bisons through an impressive 15-5-1 season wherein the Bisons posted 13 shutouts to collect their third ASUN Tournament Championship in four years and their fourth ASUN Regular Season Champion title. The squad faced Tennessee in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.


In 2019, Chatfield helped the Bisons to their third-straight ASUN Regular Season title with a record of 13-6-2, their second straight ASUN Tournament championship, and a second straight appearance in the NCAA tournament.


In 2018, Chatfield was a part of the record setting Lipscomb program that saw Lipscomb post a program record in wins at 15-5-2, claim their first ever ASUN Tournament championship and trip to the NCAA College Cup. Along with the other members of the coaching staff, Chatfield was named on the United Soccer Coaches Staff of the Year in the NCAA I South Region.


Prior to his hire at Lipscomb, Chatfield made coaching stops at the club, high school, and collegiate level both in Wisconsin and Michigan.


Chatfield took his first head coaching role with the women’s side at Northland International University (Dunbar, WI) in 2011 and led the team to a 11-8 record, their first ever NCCAA Regional Championship, and a 3rd place finish at the NCCAA II National Tournament in Kissimmee, FL. Under his leadership, the Lady Pioneers saw four players named to the All-American team, with three additional players earning Midwest All-Region.


Chatfield also spent five seasons (2013-17) on the coaching staff at Inter-City Baptist High School in Allen Park, MI with his final two years as head coach. With seven MHSAA State Championships to their credit, Inter-City carries a reputation as one of the most competitive programs in Michigan and the second most state championships in Michigan history. Chatfield helped to develop a dynamic attack at Inter-City that led to 8 players named to the MHSAA All-State team, the Division 4 Player of the Year award (2013), 3 MIAC league championships, and three District titles.


Chatfield played collegiately at Northland International University where he had a prolific career notching 91 goals and 78 assists during his four years career (2005-08). He was named to the NCCAA II All-American First Team three times, NCCAA National Tournament Team two times, team MVP and captain three times. His 91 goals and 78 assists each rank second on the university’s all time list, while holding the record for career points. Chatfield also set three state records in Michigan as a prep player for career goals (170), career assists (105), and career points (275).


Chatfield holds multiple coaching certifications from United Soccer Coaches including the Premier, Advanced National, Advanced National GK, and National Diplomas, as well as his M.A. in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia University Irvine.


Nate and his wife Tiffany have four daughters (Eliana, Chloe, Lilian, and Eden) and reside in Nashville.

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Charles Morrow

Charles Morrow enters his 19th season in 2023-24 as head coach of the Lipscomb Bisons after taking over the program in 2005.


Since taking over the Lipscomb program in 2005, Morrow has been named ASUN Coach of the Year three times (2013, 2018, 2022), won four ASUN Tournaments (2017, 2018, 2021 & 2022) and led the Bisons to the first four NCAA Tournament appearances in program history (2017, 2018, 2021 & 2022), including a run to the Sweet 16 in 2018. Morrow led Lipscomb to the national stage once again in 2022 when the team finished the regular season No. 7 in RPI and No. 10 in the United Soccer Coaches National Poll. The 2022 team earned the No. 9 overall national seed in the NCAA Tournament and hosted a second round NCAA Tournament game after earning a first round bye. Morrow led his coaching staff to the United Soccer Coaches Southeast Region Coaching Staff of the Year award in 2022.


Under Morrow, Lipscomb has earned three ASUN Player of the Year selections, three ASUN Defensive Player of the Year selections, three ASUN Freshman of the Year selections, an ASUN Goalkeeper of the Year selection and four ASUN Scholar-Athletes of the Year. In addition, he has guided a MAC Hermann Trophy Finalist (Noah Gulden), two United Soccer Coaches All-Americans (one First Team), two Scholar All-Americans, 21 All-Region selections, 60 All-Conference selections (including 27 First-Teamers), 28 All-Academic honorees, 37 All-Tournament members and 29 All-Freshmen Team members.


A Lipscomb graduate himself, men's soccer head coach Charles Morrow has been a long-time stalwart around the Nashville soccer scene, first as a player during the Bisons' NAIA days and now as a coach on the Division I level.


Upon graduating from Lipscomb in 2997, Morrow took over head coaching duties for both the boys and girls squads at Goodpasture High School, where he stayed until 2000. His boys teams reached the regional semifinals in both 1999 and 2000. He returned to the collegiate ranks in 2000 when he accepted an assistant coach position with Vanderbilt where he stayed until 2003.


He accepted his first collegiate head coaching job at Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, N.C. in April 2003. In two seasons with the Crusaders, Morrow directed the DII squad to conference runner-up honors in the regular season and conference tournament.


Off the pitch, Morrow and his squad are active in the community, primarily through YES (Youth Encouragement Services). The coaches and players offer instruction to players and coaches in six-week fall and spring youth leagues.


Morrow and his wife Beth have two sons, Trip and Will.

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Matt Horth

Matt Horth joined the Lipscomb Men's Soccer coaching staff in April 2023. He will serve as Assistant Coach.


“Matt has been a friend of mine and a friend of the program for years and has worked our ID Camps,” said Morrow. “Matt checks all the boxes. He is a phenomenal guy and is as impressive in his soccer knowledge as he is as a person. I am excited to have him join the team.”


Horth comes to Lipscomb after a six-year stint as the Head Coach at Gordon College. While at the helm of Gordon College, Horth led the Fighting Scots to a 43-29-7 record with a 19-11-4 mark in Commonwealth Coast Conference play.


He guided the squad to two Commonwealth Coach Conference Championship titles (2018, 2021) in three Championship Game appearances while his team won two Commonwealth Coast Conference Sportsmanship Awards (2019, 2021).


During his tenure at Gordon, he coached 25 All-Commonwealth Coast Conference Selections, 36 Commonwealth Coast Conference All-Academic Selections, two Commonwealth Coast Conference Rookie-of-the-Year Awards, two United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division III Men’s All-New England Region Team selections, a United Soccer Coaches All-New England Region Team member, a United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-American selection and a Commonwealth Coast Conference Senior Scholar-Athlete Award winner.


Horth also spent time in USL League 2 as Head Coach of Mississippi Brilla FC. He led Brilla to a second-place finish in the Mid-South Division in 2022 and produced 2 professional players during his tenure.


Prior to being named the head coach at Gordon, Horth played professional soccer with several organizations including the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer (MLS), the Atlanta Silverbacks of the North American Soccer League (NASL), the Rochester Rhinos of the United Soccer League (USL), and internationally with Icelandic club Leiknir Reykjavik of 1. Deild Karla. As a professional player, he was twice named NASL Player of the Week and was named the NASL Player of the Month during his tenure with the Silverbacks. As a forward, Horth logged over 100 professional appearances while scoring 28 goals.


Horth played four years at Gordon College where he was a three-time NSCAA All-New England selection, a four-time All-Commonwealth Coach Conference First Team honoree, a New England Intercollegiate Soccer League (NEISL) All-Star and the 2007 CCC Rookie of the Year. All told, he notched 37 goals and dished out 20 assists over his four-year career as a Fighting Scot.


Horth has coaching licenses through both the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and United States Soccer Federation (USSF). In addition, Horth graduated from Gordon College in 2010 with a B.S. in Kinesiology and received a Masters of Theological Studies from Liberty University in 2015.


Horth and his wife Jessica live in Nashville with their two sons.

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Micah Bledsoe

Lipscomb Men’s Soccer head coach Charles Morrow announced the addition of Micah Bledsoe as assistant coach on Wednesday. Bledsoe was a standout for the Bisons from 2013-2016.


“We are excited to welcome Micah back to Lipscomb in a new role as a coach,” said Morrow. “Micah as a player was someone that I always had a lot of respect for. Micah left a lasting impression in the way he prepared himself, carried himself, dealt with and overcame adversity and interacted with teammates.”


Bledsoe joined the Bisons after playing professionally for several teams in the United States. Most recently, he played for Michigan Stars FC of the National Independent Soccer League. He also spent time in 2020 with Stumptown Athletic in NISA after a one-year stint with Tormenta FC of USL League One. Bledsoe also made stops at USL Championship sides Nashville SC and Louisville City FC where he was part of the USL Cup Championship squad in 2017.


During his time spent with Nashville SC, Bledsoe also served as an assistant coach at Trevecca Nazarene University where he helped guide the Trojans to a 13-4-2 overall record and a G-MAC Conference Tournament Final appearance.


During his career at Lipscomb, he was a four-year starter and was part of the 2014 ASUN Regular Season Championship team. An ASUN All-Freshman team member and five-time ASUN Defensive Player of the Week honoree, he made a lasting impact on the program both on and off the pitch.


“I think that Micah is a fantastic addition to our staff and I look forward to working with him in the years to come,” added Morrow.

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