MOBILE, Ala. – Carson-Newman men's and women's soccer coach Richard Moodie has been announced as the head women's soccer coach at the University of South Alabama.
Moodie becomes the fifth head coach at a program that owns an all-time record of 226-182-35 and has been to the NCAA Tournament in each of the past three seasons.
"I want to thank David Barger, who gave me the chance to be the men's coach and Allen Morgan, who's been a role model in my life and a father figure," Moodie said. "I want to take the opportunity to thank him for giving me the chance to coach the girls and to continue to work at Carson-Newman. I also want to thank my family, my wife and my kids, for supporting me through this time in my life. Lastly, I want to thank every player that I've had the opportunity to coach. They've helped me grow and be the best that I can be as a coach and I thank them for giving me the time and the opportunity to coach them."
The native of Stenhousemuir, Scotland took the head coaching reigns in 2011 for the men's team and he took over at the helm of the women's club in 2012. In six years with the men, he posted a record of 60-43-9 and 35-21-6 in the South Atlantic Conference. He helped guide the team to its best season in 2013, when they finished as the National Runner-Up. On the women's side, he finishes with a mark of 48-39-7 and 24-24-5 in the SAC and his squad compiled a ledger of 36-7-1 and 18-3-1 in league play over the last two years. Both campaigns included SAC regular season and tournament championships and victories in the NCAA Tournament.
Moodie 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.
"Carson-Newman is Richard Moodie," Moodie said. "I've put together a resume full of attributes from Carson-Newman. My first degree, my masters and my first ever job as a head college coach. It's been unbelievable. I'm really thankful for the opportunity that I've had here."
The 2006 Carson-Newman graduate was part of the first three SAC titles the Eagles captured from 2003-2005. In 2005, 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 at that time.
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 currently holds his NSCAA national and advanced national diploma and Premiere licensure. He also holds an NSCAA Advanced National Goalkeeping diploma. He is also a licensed USSF coach. In 2013, he was inducted into the FirstPoint USA Hall of Fame; he was the first student-athlete to come through the company's procedures.
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.
A national search to fill the coaching vacancies has already begun.
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