JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – After two seasons as an assistant coach for both men's and women's soccer at Carson-Newman, assistant coach Matthew Carr departs Mossy Creek to become the next women's soccer head coach at Lincoln Memorial.
"We've been very fortunate in having both Jules (Julianne Herrity) and Matt on board and I knew that when Matt joined he would become a head coach rather quickly," women's head coach Simon Duffy said. "It's bittersweet to see him move on but I'm incredibly proud and I know he will bring success to that program."
Carr leaves C-N after a pair of double-digit win seasons as an assistant to Duffy, helping to coach both Jackie Burns and Jasmine Rizk to successful campaigns in frame for the Eagles. Carr was a member of two regular season conference title teams in two seasons, winning the SAC regular season title in 2018 with Duffy and in 2019 with men's coach Stephen Lyons.
It is the first head coaching stint in Carr's career, who will take on a talented Railsplitter side that went 17-5 last season and won the SAC tournament, making a Southeast region semifinal appearance and playing to a tightly contested 2-1 loss to Flagler.
Last season, the Railsplitters were ranked No. 5 when the two sides met at McCown Field, with C-N securing a 2-1 upset victory in the late stages of the match. While the 2020 schedule is to be determined, LMU and C-N's conference tilt will hold a new meaning for Duffy.
"One-hundred percent (the matchup) will (hold new meaning), and not in any bad way," Duffy said. "He knows our tactics inside and out…and hopefully we can rise above the emotional aspect of it and keep it as professional as we can and get the win."
In 13 seasons as an assistant, Carr has now spent time across the Division I and II levels at Kennesaw State, VCU, Bridgeport, West Georgia and C-N as an assistant. He has also coached professionally in Iceland and stateside for the Atlanta Beat of the Women's Professional Soccer league.
A replacement assistant coach for the upcoming 2020 campaign will be announced at a later date.
