Men's Soccer Release (2005) - Jeff Bateson Named Guilford College Head Men's Soccer Coach - Guilford College

• JEFF BATESON NAMED HEAD MEN'S SOCCER COACH AT GUILFORD COLLEGE

      Greensboro, NC (3/28/06) -- Jeff Bateson joined Guilford College's athletics staff Tuesday as the Quakers' first full-time head men's soccer coach. The six-year head coaching veteran replaces Liam Behrens, who resigned in January when Guilford elevated the head men's soccer coaching position from part-time status.

A 1998 graduate of Alma (MI) College, Bateson (pronounced BATE-sun) spent the past two seasons as the head men's soccer coach at Tri-State University, an NCAA Division III institution in Angola, IN. The Thunder improved from a 3-15-1 team in Bateson's first season to 6-13-1 last fall. Five of his Tri-State student-athletes garnered honorable mention All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) recognition and three were named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll. In addition to coaching the men's soccer team, Bateson advised Tri-State's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and taught in the school's Health, Physical Education and Sport Science department.

Bateson served as his alma mater's head men's soccer coach from 2000-2004. Alma went 39-31-7 in his four-year tenure and saw two students earn all-region honors. He directed four first-team and seven second-team All-MIAA selections. The Scots enjoyed their finest year under Bateson in 2000 when Alma went 12-6-2 and placed second in the MIAA with an 8-2-2 mark. In addition to his efforts on the field, Bateson raised funds for the construction of a new soccer game field, advised Alma's SAAC for two years, and served as an assistant baseball and track and field coach.

      An elementary education major, Bateson minored in math and Spanish and spent three years on Alma's SAAC. On the soccer field he garnered Third Team Umbro/National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division III All-America honors as a senior midfielder. The Midland, MI, product helped the Scots to the regional finals in Alma's first NCAA Tournament appearance and was the MIAA's Most Valuable Player in 1997. Bateson earned all-region and First Team All-MIAA honors in 1996 and 1997.

      Upon graduation Bateson parlayed his college success into a short professional soccer career and entered the college coaching ranks. He played with the Premier Development League's Mid-Michigan Bucks (1997-98) and Colorado Comets (1999-00) before devoting himself fully to coaching. Bateson spent the 1998 and 1999 campaigns assisting his college mentor, Scott Frey, at Alma. The Scots went 30-9-3 with two NCAA Tournament trips in that time and reached the 1999 NCAA Division III semifinals. Bateson took over in 2000 when Frey accepted the head women's soccer post at Messiah, where he guided the Falcons to the 2005 NCAA Division III title.

      Bateson earned his Premier coaching diploma from the NSCAA last June and worked with the Citadel Futbol Club in Indiana. He has coached at a variety of soccer camps, including those hosted by Indiana University, the University of Michigan and UNC Greensboro.

      Guilford returns 21 letter winners, including three starters, from last year's 6-7-4 unit that missed the eight-team Old Dominion Athletic Conference Tournament for the first time in six years.