Nick Stirrett has been named the head men’s coach at the University of Mount Union.
“Nick’s character, integrity and dedication to his coaching and student-athletes allowed him to stand out among a strong field of candidates,” commented athletic director Larry Kehres. “We are excited to have him join our family and move our men’s soccer program forward.”
Stirrett comes to Mount Union after spending the last seasons at Northern Illinois University as an assistant men’s soccer coach. He worked with All-MAC First Team and All-Great Lakes Region goalkeeper Jordan Godsey.
“First, thank you to Larry Kehres, the members of the search committee and the University of Mount Union. I have long been familiar with the athletic tradition, quality of the programs and the campus as a whole,” commented Stirrett. “I am excited by the opportunity to be a part of it. I believe we can do big things here and I am looking forward to joining the Mount Union family.”
Stirrett began his coaching career at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in 2006, spending two seasons with the Engineers. Stirrett served as an assistant coach and goalkeepers coach with both the men’s and women’s soccer programs, helping both teams earn regional rankings in his first season while mentoring goalkeeper Trey Buck to first team all-region honors.
In 2008, Stirrett moved on to DePauw University, where he worked with goalkeepers for both the men’s and women’s soccer programs for one season, helping men’s goalkeeper Ted Jacobi earn conference defensive player of the year honors. Stirrett took over as the head coach at the African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2009. After one season in South Africa, Stirrett returned to DePauw as an assistant coach in 2010.
During his second stint with the Tigers, Stirrett helped the DePauw men’s program finish the 2010 season ranked 11th in the nation in Division III. Stirrett mentored Nathan Sprenkel, a two-time conference defensive player of the year, two-time all-conference goalkeeper and a 2011 second team All-American. Sprenkel currently plays professionally with the Chicago Soul of the Major Indoor Soccer League. DePauw set a school record with a 16-3-1 record in 2011, winning the North Coast Athletic Conference championship, an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and finishing ranked 24th in the nation.
In addition to his work at DePauw, Stirrett was also the Indiana Olympic Development Program Director of Boy’s Goalkeeping and an assistant girl’s goalkeeping coach as well as the goalkeeping coach for Dynamo FC in Indianapolis.
As a player, Stirrett played three seasons at Augustana College, graduating in 2006. Stirrett also earned his master’s degree from Queen’s University in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 2008. Stirrett holds United States Soccer Federation National “D” and “Y” Coaching Licenses and is close to completing the requirements for a NSCAA National Diploma.
