University of North Georgia

University of North Georgia Athletics
82 College Circle Dahlonega, GA 30597

Division 2 Georgia Southeast

Public Large Competitive team

I'm interested in this program!

Coaches

Email coach

Patrice Parris

In 13 seasons as head men's soccer coach, Patrice Parris has taken North Georgia to nine conference tournaments in a row, including season marks at or above .500 in six out of the last 10 seasons.

In 2017, the Nighthawks went deeper than ever before in the PBC tournament, reaching the championship game and sending it deep into penalty kicks against one of the nation's top-25 teams. In 2016, the Nighthawks finished as runners-up in the Peach Belt Conference regular season standings, the program's highest finish ever.

In 2011, his squad was ranked 72nd out of 175 NCAA Division II programs by the NCAA, the highest ranking in the NCAA DII era. Additionally, Parris' team claimed the NSCAA Team Academic Award in 2010.

During his first season at the helm of the North Georgia soccer program, he led the squad to an 8-10-1 record and a birth in the semifinals of the 2007 Peach Belt Conference tournament. UNG recorded its best start in school history in 2010, going 4-0-3 through the first seven games of the year.

Parris came to North Georgia from Georgia Southern where he was a four-year letterwinner for the Eagles from 1994-97, joining the Statesboro (Ga.) High School coaching staff after concluding his career at Georgia Southern. Parris spent three years at Statesboro, helping the Blue Devils win back-to-back region championships. He then moved on to the collegiate ranks, joining the Georgia Southern coaching staff where he served in that capacity until accepting his current position at UNG.

In the summer of 1999, Parris was called up to train with the Jamaican (Reggae Boys) National Team.

During his collegiate career, Parris played in 75 games at forward, marking back and outside-midfield. He helped Georgia Southern to a 14-4-2 record his senior year by scoring five goals and registering four assists for 14 points. Two of his goals came in the Southern Conference Tournament first-round game against Appalachian State, in which he helped the Eagles to a 7-5 win to continue the stellar season. Parris finished his playing career having scored 15 goals and 10 assists for 40 points. He also recorded four-game winning goals during his stay and helped Georgia Southern to its first-ever national ranking.

Parris’ high school days were spent at Bradwell Institute (Hinesville, Georgia), where he was a four-year letterwinner. In 1993 he was named the team’s Best Offensive Player, only to better that his senior season when he was tabbed the Coastal Empire Most Valuable Player and Bradwell’s Best Offensive Player.

Parris graduated from Georgia Southern in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in sport management, and received his Master's in sports management from Georgia Southern in 2007. Parris holds an NSCAA Premier Diploma.

Email coach

Avram Allen

Avram Allen is entering his seventh year as assistant coach of the University of North Georgia's men's soccer program. Allen returned to his alma mater as the full-time assistant men's soccer coach in 2014 to assist head coach Patrice Parris with all aspects of the program.

He has collegiate coaching experience for both women’s and men’s soccer programs. He served as an assistant coach for Young Harris College's women’s soccer program before returning to UNG as the assistant men’s soccer coach. He is also involved with the development of youth players and coaches, as he is currently the Girls' Director of Coaching at Lanier Soccer Association.

As a player Allen competed at YHC for two years before transferring to North Georgia. At YHC, he was captain of the 2006 Mountain Lion team that went to the GJCAA Region 17 finals earning two all-tournament team selections and All-Region honors along the way. He was a two-year letter-winner at North Georgia as a midfielder garnering Peach Belt Conference All-Tournament honors.

He received his B.S. in P.E. and Leadership minor, and completed his Masters in Arts & Teaching at the University of North Georgia. He holds a USSF “B” license as well as a United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma. He resides in Dawsonville, GA with his wife Hannah, daughter Londyn, and son Liam.