Jonathan Meade, a former player and assistant coach with the Mount Vernon Nazarene College men's soccer team, has been hired as the first head coach for the MVNC women's soccer team that will begin competition as a club sport in the fall of 1999 and then be elevated to varsity status in the fall of 2000.
"I am pleased to have Jonathan join our athletic staff as the first women's soccer coach at MVNC," said Athletic Director Scott Flemming. "We felt like he was a good fit at this important time of initiating a program. He has a strong commitment to the Christian mission of our college and understands the balanced approach that is needed. He also has a variety of coaching experiences that will prepare him for this challenge. We are looking forward to seeing women's soccer at MVNC next fall."
"It feels good to be coaching for my alma mater," said Meade. "MVNC did so much for my growth as a student-athlete and even more importantly as a Christian. I want to give back to the school and the student body with the same dedication that they showed me."
Meade spent one year as an assistant coach for Paul Furey with the MVNC men's soccer team following the conclusion of his playing career. Then, he served as the assistant varsity coach for the girls' team at Naples Central School in New York during the 1995-1996 school year. He has also served as the assistant director for the MVNC summer soccer camp for three years.
During his playing career, Meade played in 81 matches which still stands as a school record. He was named to the Mid-Ohio Conference Second Team in 1990, and was an MOC Honorable Mention selection in 1993 when he served as team captain.
"The fact that the women's program is being started from scratch is very exciting," Meade said. "It is always nice to look back at something as a coach or player and know that you had a key role in the building process."
"My immediate goals for the new program are recruiting players and finishing the schedule," added Meade. "The foundation of this program has already started due to the commitment of the administration and the work of (head men's coach) Paul Furey and Scott Flemming."
Meade is a 1995 graduate of MVNC. He is single and currently resides in Canal Winchester, Ohio.
With the addition of women's soccer, MVNC now offers eight intercollegiate sports - four women's sports (volleyball, soccer, basketball, and fastpitch softball) and four men's sports (soccer, basketball, baseball, and golf).
MVNC competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). The school is also a member of the American Mideast Conference (AMC).
