Coker hires new head women’s soccer coach
Michael Donald has been hired as Coker University’s new head women’s soccer coach, announced by Vice President of Athletics and Athletic Facilities Lynn Griffin.
“We are excited to welcome Michael and his family to Coker and the Hartsville community,” said Griffin.
“After an extensive national search, Coach Donald rose to the top. His proven record of success working with student-athletes, academically and athletically, made him the perfect fit for Coker. I am looking forward to watching him grow and develop our program into a championship caliber team.”
Donald comes to Coker from Nova Southeastern University, where he was an assistant coach on the men’s soccer staff for the 2021 season. During the 2021 season with Donald on staff, Nova Southeastern won the Sunshine State Conference tournament title as well as the South region championship, both firsts for the program as the program also advanced to its first NCAA tournament.
Donald also helped the Sharks to program records for most wins in a single season (17), fewest losses in a single season (three) and most shutouts in a single season (nine). Donald also coached one All-American, two All-Region selections, four All-Tournament selections and helped the team to the highest men’s team GPA in the department at 3.57.
Prior to Nova Southeastern, Donald worked the previous two years at fellow Sunshine State Conference institution Barry University working with the women’s soccer program. He served as an assistant coach during the 2019-20 season, before serving as interim head coach for the 2020-21 season. During the 2019 season, Barry won the SSC tournament championship and landed two on the All-South region team and seven on the All-Conference teams.
Before Barry, Donald was an assistant coach for both men’s and women’s soccer at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Donald also served as the Director of Coaching at the Florida Elite Soccer Academy from 2017-19.
Before coming to the states in the coaching ranks, Donald was the head coach at the Scottish Football Association School of Soccer. He also served as the head coach of the Ayr United Football Academy from 2013-17.