JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman College has named former Eagle soccer standout Richard Moodie as its head men's soccer coach, C-N athletic director David Barger announced Friday.
Moodie returns to his alma mater after serving as head coach at nearby Morristown East High School as the head men's and women's soccer coach for the past two and a half years.
"Coach Moodie has earned the right to direct our men's soccer program," Barger said. "As a Carson-Newman man, he understands the personal and professional challenges it takes to coach at the college. His Christian faith, outstanding people skills, and love for the game make Richard Moodie a great fit for our team."
The Stenhousemuir, Scotland native has stayed close to both soccer programs at C-N since he joined the Eagles as a freshman in 2002. He played for former Eagles head coach Allen Vital for four seasons, and then served as a graduate assistant under Vital from 2006-2008 while earning his master's degree.
Now Moodie gets a chance to run the program he has served as both a player and an assistant coach.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank David Barger and my Carson-Newman family for placing their faith and trust in a former graduate of the program," Moodie said. " I am truly blessed to have the opportunity to serve at such a great institution, and look forward to restoring and continuing the success of the program that coach (Allen) Vital has accomplished over the past decade."
Moodie inherits a program that has enjoyed unprecedented success in men's soccer the South Atlantic Conference over the last decade. The Eagles have won seven of the last eight South Atlantic Conference titles, six of which he was a part of as a player and coach.
The '06 Carson-Newman graduate was a part of the first three SAC titles the Eagles captured from 2003-2005. In '05, Moodie was named first team All-South Atlantic Conference after leading the Eagles to a perfect 7-0-0 mark in league play and an 18-2-2 mark overall. C-N would go on to reach the national quarterfinals that season, the deepest run in the NCAA Tournament by any Eagle team to date.
As an assistant coach, Moodie saw the Eagles continue their success, capturing South Atlantic Conference titles in 2006 and 2008. The Eagles also made a SAC record seven consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 2003-2009, the first six of which Moodie was on the sidelines for as either a player or a coach.
Moodie has been extremely involved with a number of collegiate and amateur soccer programs in the area since finishing his master's at C-N. He spent 2008 as men's and women's club soccer coach at Walters State Community College in nearby Morristown, and also served as the director of recruiting for the Lakeway Area Soccer Club from 2006-2008, also in Morristown.
An All-SAC performer on the field, Moodie also excelled in the classroom. He graduated from C-N in 2006 a B.S. in Business Management. He followed with an M.A. in Education in 2008, also from Carson-Newman.
Moodie has also spent time playing professionally. He spent a season with the Cincinnati Kings in 2007 and was loaned to the MLS' Columbus Crew for a period of time.
Moodie inherits a Carson-Newman squad that finished 8-1 in SAC play in 2010 and won the league's regular season title. The Eagles were 12-5-1 overall.
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