High Point University Men's Soccer

Becoming just the fourth Head Coach in HPU men's soccer Division I history, Zach Haines began his tenure on February 12, 2019, having spent the previous season with the University of Denver, and six seasons prior with the University or North Carolina-Wilmington. Following his seventh season in 2026, Haines received a five-year contract extension following a historic 2025 season. Since arriving in 2019, Haines has brought a winning culture to HPU behind eight Big South Conference Championships, seven Big South Tournament Final appearances, four straight Big South Coach/Staff of the Year awards, four NCAA Tournament appearances, two NCAA Tournament second round appearances, one NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance, and a 79-31-19 overall record. Haines is responsible for the program’s first Big South Tournament title in program history, and both NCAA Tournament victories, while coaching 72 all-conference players — including 15 Big South Players of the Year —  17 All-Region honorees, six MLS SuperDraft picks and four All-Americans.   79-31-19 overall record in seven seasons; 46-2-7 in the Big South Conference HPU Record GPA for Men's Team: 3.57 in 2024; Above a 3.0 team GPA every semester in Haines’ tenure 2025 1st Round Bye of the NCAA Tournament; Hosted 2nd Round Matchup (3-2 win over West Viriginia) 2025 3rd Round of the NCAA Tournament (Traveled to #7 Georgetown) 2023 1st Round of the NCAA Tournament (Traveled to UNC Charlotte) 2022 2nd Round of the NCAA Tournament (2-0 win over UNC in the First Round to advance to play at #5 Stanford) 2020 2nd Round of the NCAA Tournament (Secured bye to face defending National Champions - Georgetown) 2025 Big South Coaching Staff of the Year 2025 Big South Regular Season and Tournament Champions 2024 Big South Coach of the Year 2024 Big South Regular Season Champions 2023 Big South Regular Season Champions 2023 Big South Tournament Champions 2023 Big South Coach of the Year 2022 Big South Tournament Champions  2022 Big South Coach of the Year 2020 Big South Conference Regular Season & Tournament Titles 72 Big South All-Conference selections in seven seasons 15 Big South Players of the Year 17 United Soccer Coaches All-Region honorees 4 All-Americans Seven straight Big South Tournament Final appearances Three MLS Draft Picks in Four Seasons: Meyer, Rula, Trent (First Round) Three MLS SuperDraft Picks in 2025: Lugo (First Round), Amaya (Second Round), and Johnson (Third Round) Ranked in the Top 25 in each of the last five of his seven seasons Defeat No. 1 ranked Pittsburgh 1-0 on October 14, 2024.  Ranked as high as 14th in the country in the 2020 season Ranked as high as 2nd in the country in the 2024 TopDrawerSoccer national rankings Rose to #11 for program's highest United Soccer Coaches Ranking in 2024 Received highest United Soccer Coaches Ranking at #5 in 2025 19th Ranked Recruiting Class in Division I for 2024/TopDrawerSoccer.com 19th Ranked Recruiting Class in Division I for 2023/TopDrawerSoccer.com 25th Ranked Recruiting Class in Division I for 2022/TopDrawerSoccer.com 23rd Ranked Recruiting Class in Division I for 2021/TopDrawerSoccer.com 12th Ranked Recruiting Class in Division I for 2020/TopDrawerSoccer.com 2020 End of Season Poll: #23 United Soccer Coaches, #22 in TDS, #23 CSN 3rd Highest Winning Percentage in the Country in 2020 Haines' seventh season (2025) was his best yet at HPU as the program firsts continued to stack up. Behind a 14-2-4 record and highest national ranking (#5), Haines led the Panthers to their first-ever second round win in the NCAA Tournament — a 3-2 victory over West Virginia at Vert Stadium in front of over 5000 fans. It was also the school's first-ever time hosting a second round game on campus, and its first appearance in the Sweet Sixteen in any sport. Haines' squad didn't suffer a loss until after the 10th game to a Sweet Sixteen UNCG team. The Panthers completed a perfect, undefeated 9-0 Big South record and held league opponents to the best goal differential in conference history (30 goals for -1 against). Haines' tenure of defeating big-time teams continued with wins over #14/25 Georgetown in the season opener as well as results against #10 Marshall and #10 West Virginia in the regular season. Haines' Panthers were the first team in school and league history to receive a ranking from the NCAA Top 16 Committee at #7 before earning the school's highest national seed in the NCAA Tournament at #10. HPU swept the league trophies, winning the Big South regular-season and tournament titles as Haines coached the nation's only four-time major award winner in a different category (Jefferson Amaya) and the team's first TopDrawerSoccer Player of the Year finalist and the team's fifth MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List honoree (Daniel Lugo). The Panthers had three players drafted in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft, which is the most in one season for any Big South school ever, as Daniel Lugo (First Round), Jefferson Amaya (Second Round), and Koven Johnson (Third Round) were selected. In total, he’s coached six MLS SuperDraft picks and the only HPU men’s soccer head coach to do so. His sixth season (2024) saw HPU earn its highest national ranking in school history as the United Soccer Coaches had the Panthers 11th on the national polls in late October, while TopDrawerSoccer had HPU at No. 2 in the rankings. Haines led the Panthers to a 11-4-2 overall record, and 6-1 in Big South play. The Panthers defeated the No. 1 ranked University of Pittsburgh 1-0 to earn the school and conference its first win over a No. 1 ranked team. Nine Panthers were listed to Big South All-Conference teams, and two listed to the United Soccer Coaches All-South Region Team as HPU hoisted its sixth Big South Regular Season trophy.  In his fifth season (2023), Haines led HPU to its fifth straight Big South Championship game, resulting in a 1-1 draw with UNC Asheville but advancing on penalty kicks to secure an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Panthers then traveled to UNC Charlotte in the first round. Charlotte took that game 1-0. HPU finished 10-4-5 overall, with yet another undefeated Big South Regular season at 6-0-1. High Point landed 10 players on Big South All-Conference teams, and two who were honored with All-Region awards.  In his fourth season (2022), Haines led HPU to program history once again with its fourth straight Big South Championship game, beating Campbell 2-0 to secure an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Panthers then traveled to UNC in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, and won 2-0 to advance to play #5 Stanford in the 2nd round. This was the first NCAA tournament win in program history, and the second NCAA 2nd Round appearance for Haines and HPU (2020-21 bye to face Georgetown). HPU finished 11-5-5 overall, with another undefeated Big South Regular season at 5-0-3. Haines added two more Power-5 wins over #7 Maryland and UNC on the road, to go along with a 2019 win at Duke. HPU landed 11 players on Big South All-Conference teams. In his third season (2021), Haines led HPU to its third straight Big South Championship game. HPU went unbeaten in conference play 5-0-3, and had nine players earn Big South honors. The Panthers finished 8-7-3 overall, securing a third straight winning season. Haines and the Panthers made program history in his second season (2020-21) as Haines led HPU to its first Big South Tournament Championship in program history, defeating USC Upstate, 3-1. Haines led HPU to a 12-2-0 overall record while going 8-0-0 in the Big South, an NCAA Tournament 2nd Round appearance, and a 3.44 Team GPA. The Panthers won the Big South Regular Season and Tournament to capture their first-ever Big South double. High Point received an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament making its second ever NCAA Tournament appearance. High Point was undefeated at home in the spring season of 2021. The NCAA Second round finish is the furthest an HPU soccer team has made it in the NCAA Tournament. Under Haines in the Spring of 2021, HPU received its first-ever semifinalist for the Mac Hermann Trophy in MD Myers. HPU was ranked in all four national polls and as high as No. 14 in the country in the 2020-21 season. HPU finished the spring of 2021 with a final ranking of No. 23 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll. Through two seasons, Haines was 25-9-0 overall and had the highest win percentage of any active head coach in DI. In his first season (2019) with the Panthers, Haines led HPU back to the Big South Championship match with a 13-7-0 record, the most successful season in the first year of a head coach in High Point men’s soccer history and saw Keegan Meyer taken 43rd overall in the MLS SuperDraft, the Purple and White’s first SuperDraft pick in program history. The Panthers won a marquee game at Duke as well as finishing 7-1-0 in the Big South Conference. Acting as the Pioneers' Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator, Haines helped Denver to a 15-4-2 record on the year, as the side reached as far as the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Under Haines the Pioneers reached as high as No. 3 in the United Soccer Coaches top-25, finishing the year at No. 15 overall. DU finished 2018 as both Summit League Tournament and Regular Season Champs, while boasting the No. 15 scoring offense in all of Division I soccer (2.00). A native of Jamestown, N.C., Haines spent six years of his coaching career at UNCW before going to Denver, holding the position of Associate Head Coach for three seasons. The Southwest Guilford HS grad helped lead the Seahawks from a 7-11-1 record in his first season, to a 13-5-2 finish, and an NCAA Tournament At-Large bid, in his third year. During his time in Wilmington, UNCW received a pair of NCAA Tournament At-Large Bids, advancing to the second round of the championship in both appearances, as well as two CAA Championships. The Seahawks received a ranking in the top-25 during each of Haines' last five seasons at UNCW, thrice defeating his alma mater North Carolina as well as four wins in a row versus in-state foe Duke. While in Wilmington, 25 players competing under Haines received All-Conference honors and eight earned All-CAA rookie recognition.  Haines has made a habit of recruiting and producing professional talent with eight of his players at UNCW signing pro contracts between 2012-2017. In 2019 at the University of Denver, two players under Haines' tutelage were selected in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft, including NCAA leading goal scorer Andre Shinyashiki (No. 5; Colorado Rapids) and Pioneer defender Scott DeVoss (59th; Orlando City). Haines also coached 2016 MLS pick Colin Bonner (45th; FC Dallas), during his tenure with UNCW, and recruited Vancouver Whitecaps Homegrown signing, Sean Melvin, as well as Atlanta United draft pick Phillip Goodrum, and Seattle Sounders draft pick Danny Reynolds. Before his successes at the D1 level, Haines also led a Triangle Futbol Club team to the 2011 USL Super-20 National Championship semifinals as a head coach and has also handled coaching duties with North Carolina ODP (Olympic Development Program) and East Chapel Hill High School. Haines played for Southwest Guilford High School before competing collegiately at North Carolina. As part of the No. 4 recruiting class in the country in 2004, he spent two years playing for the Tar Heels before being forced to take a medical release due to injury in 2006, and later spent time as a Volunteer Coach for UNC in 2009.  What They're Saying: Denver Head Coach Jamie Franks:  "We are very happy for Zach and the High Point University community, but sad for our student-athletes here in Denver.  Zach's knowledge and passion for the game will be sorely missed.  His love for the game is contagious and positively impacted the team and program during his time here.  Zach's ability to recruit, scout opponents, and on field coaching helped us tremendously over the past year.  On behalf of the program, we want to wish Zach only the very best of luck at High Point."  UNCW Head Coach Aiden Heaney:  "Zach Haines is one of the brightest young coaches in the country. He is extremely knowledgeable, tactically astute, and will demand excellence from his players. He has high standards on and off the field and will challenge his players to be the best version of themselves that they can be. I am certain he will build on their recent successes. Great hire High Point!" Creighton Head Coach Johnny Torres:  "Over the years I have had the opportunity to work with Zach at multiple levels. He is a passionate individual that takes his job personally. His ability to formulate and convey a successful formula for both on the field and in the classroom to a group of young men is a valuable asset! Looking forward to see Zach and High Point continue their upward trend!"

Josh Gillon rejoined the High Point University men's soccer coaching staff in May of 2017 after previously serving as an assistant coach with the Panthers from 2013-2015. Gillon is the Associate Head Coach for the Panthers and has been a vital piece of all five NCAA Tournament appearances and the program's two victories: North Carolina (First Round; 2022) and West Virginia (Second Round; 2025). In 2025, it was HPU's best season yet as the program firsts continued to stack up. Behind a 14-2-4 record, Gillon helped lead the Panthers to their first-ever second round win in the NCAA Tournament — a 3-2 victory over West Virigina at Vert Stadium — which was also the school's first-ever time hosting a second round game on campus for the program's first appearance in the Sweet Sixteen. The Panthers didn't suffer a loss until after the 10th game to a Sweet Sixteen UNCG team. The Panthers completed a perfect, undefeated 9-0 Big South record and held league opponents to the best goal differential in conference history (30-1). HPU was the first team in school and league history to receive a ranking from the NCAA Top 16 Committee at #7 before earning the school's highest national seed in the NCAA Tournament at #10. HPU swept the league trophies, winning the Big South regular-season and tournament titles as Gillon assisted in coaching the nation's only four-time major award winner in a different category (Jefferson Amaya) and the team's first TopDrawerSoccer Player of the Year finalist and the team's fifth MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List honoree (Daniel Lugo). Gillon helped the Panthers to its fifth consecutive Big South Championship appearance in 2023. HPU advanced to the 1st round of the NCAA Tournament after defeating UNC Asheville in the Conference Championship game. High Point went to Charlotte to face up with UNC Charlotte in the first round of the NCAA's. Gillon helped produce 10 athletes selected to Big South Conference Awards and two who were honored with All-Region Team accolades. As an assistant, Gillon helped the Panthers to back-to-back Big South regular season championships in 2017 and 2018, along with an NCAA Championship tournament during the latter campaign. HPU reached as high as No. 12 in the national polls during that 2018 championship run, the highest any High Point team had been ranked at the time. Gillon and the rest of the Purple & White coaching contingency earned 2018 United Soccer Coaches South Region Staff of the Year honors for their record-setting season, the first Panther staff to do so in program history. In addition to coaching numerous Big South All-Conference selections, athletes learning under Gillon have received a plethora of conference, regional and national recognition. In 2018, High Point defender Johnny Fenwick (San Antonio FC) earned Second Team All-American status for his efforts, in addition to Big South Defensive Player of the Year Accolades. His teammates Ilias Kosmidis and Tony Pineda collected Big South Attacking Player of the Year and Big South Freshman of the Year respectively, while the latter garnered College Soccer News All-American Freshman distinctions. Fenwick and fellow Panther defender Rashid Tetteh (New Mexico United) both earned College Soccer News All-American honors during their time at High Point, while Tetteh also received 2017's Big South Defender of the Year honor. Fenwick, Tetteh, Kosmidis, Keegan Meyer, Mamadee Nyepon and Adam Sewell were all United Soccer Coaches All-Region selections while playing under Gillon, with all six previously mentioned players earning spots on the NCCSIA All-State Team, along with former Panthers Austin Yearwood (New Mexico United), Renato Punyed (Nybersgund & Nicaraguan National Team), Ebe Kudolo (formerly North Carolina FC), Kody Palmer, and Avery Ryan.  In November of 2016, Gillon was called into the U14 United States National Team as an assistant coach for head coach Clint Peay. Gillon still serves as the Goalkeeper Coach at a United States Soccer Federation Scout. He also spent three seasons as the Goalkeeper Director for North Carolina Fusion of the US Development Academy. Gillon helped guide the Panthers to the 2015 Big South Conference championship game and he played a key role in the team turning in their best season defensively in program history. HPU recorded nine shutouts last year and only allowed 18 total goals for a 0.82 goals against average on the season.   Gillon last came to HPU after a three-year stint at Catawba College as an assistant coach and goalkeeping coach. He led the charge in recruiting for the Indians and after his first recruiting class saw Catawba improve from 5-12-1 to 11-8-1 in his first year. During his time at Catawba, the Indians posted a .543 winning percentage, winning more games in his first season than the previous three seasons combined.   Gillon began his collegiate coaching career at Saint Leo University, serving as an assistant for two seasons. He also has been the Director of Goalkeeping at the North Carolina Soccer Fusion since 2013. He was the Burke Soccer Association Director of Coaching from 2006-08. During his coaching career, Gillon has coached several players that have gone on to play professionally. Jonathan Glenn of Saint Leo University led the Icelandic Premier League in goals in 2014 with IBV and was called into the Trinidad & Tobago Men’s National Team for the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Goalkeeper Erik Mozzo has represented the US Virgin Islands in World Cup Qualifiers and is currently playing for Oberliga club Vfl Frohnlach in Germany. Gillon also coached HPU grad Renato Punyed, who signed to play professionally with IBV upon graduation. Holden Trent was HPU's first-ever MLS SuperDraft First Round pick of the Philadelphia Union after leading the Panthers to their first NCAA Tournament victory at North Carolina in 2022.  A number of athletes to play under Gillon are currently in the American football system, including current Memphis 901 FC, and former New York City FC goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell, and San Antonio FC midfielder Leeroy Maguraushe.  During his time at HPU the now Associate Head Coach has directed five former Panthers currently playing in the USL, including All-American Johnny Fenwick (San Antonio FC), United Soccer Coaches All-Region Rashid Tetteh (New Mexico United), NCCSIA All-State Ebe Kudolo (North Carolina FC), Austin Yearwood (New Mexico United) and Ryeong Choi (Greenville Triumph). In addition to coaching, Gillon also works for ESPN on the sidelines during US National Team, MLS, five NCAA College Cups and several International Friendlies that have included the Brazilian National Team, AC Milan, Chelsea, PSG, Liverpool and others.   A native of Morganton, N.C. and former All-State Goalkeeper at Freedom High School, Gillon now resides with his wife, Lauren, in High Point, N.C.

HIGH POINT, N.C. — High Point University Men's Soccer Head Coach Zach Haines announced the promotion of Mason Marcey from Assistant Coach to Associate Head Coach in 2026. Marcey, a former player and team captain, joined the HPU staff in 2022. "It is a dream scenario to recruit someone like Mason, have him captain your team, and then join the staff right after graduation," Haines said. "In the years since, he has established himself as a top Division I coach at HPU. He fully deserves this position." "Every program does it differently in terms of how they manage promotions and title changes. At HPU, I have been extremely fortunate. In 2019, I was able to begin this journey with Josh Gillon as Associate Head Coach. He is without question one of the best in the game. JG and Mason as AHC's  and Toney, one of the brightest young assistants in DI soccer, make up a coaching staff that I know will continue to do big things. I am extremely proud to work with them every single day as well as our entire support staff." Marcey earns the promotion following a historic 2025 season, where the Panthers swept through the Big South Conference unblemished with two trophies to show for while earning the program's highest NCAA Tournament national seed (#10). Marcey helped coach High Point to a 14-2-4 record and the program's first-ever second round win — a 3-2 victory over West Virginia at Vert Stadium — for the very first Sweet Sixteen appearance. Winning the Big South regular-season and tournament titles behind the conference's best goal differential (30-1), Marcey coached the nation's only four-time major award winner in a different category (Jefferson Amaya) and the team's first TopDrawerSoccer Player of the Year finalist and the team's fifth MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List honoree (Daniel Lugo). The Panthers had three players drafted in the MLS SuperDraft, which is the most in one season for any Big South school ever, as Daniel Lugo (First Round), Jefferson Amaya (Second Round), and Koven Johnson (Third Round) were selected. "I am extremely grateful to Zach for this opportunity," Marcey said. "I am fortunate to get to work with a fantastic group of players and be a part of a staff with people I genuinely enjoy working with and learning from. The growth of this program has been unbelievable to be a part of, and I only want to continue to help us achieve more in the years to come. I also want to thank my wife, Claire, for her constant support." In four seasons as an assistant, Marcey has helped the Panthers win six Big South championships while being a part of the Panthers' first NCAA Tournament win — a 2-0 victory over North Carolina in the 2022 first round — as well as the first round of 32 win — a 3-2 victory over West Virginia in the 2025 second round — for the program's first Sweet Sixteen appearance. As a player, Marcey transferred to High Point from Valparaiso University and played two seasons with the Panthers. Marcey was a member of HPU's first-ever Big South Tournament Championship team in 2020-21 when the Panthers swept the regular-season and tournament trophies for the first time. Marcey started in 27 of 29 appearances and scored three goals — with a pair of game-winning scores — while tallying eight assists in 2,389 minutes played. He was a Big South All-Conference Second Team honoree and Honorable Mention as well as a two-time Big South All-Tournament Team member. Marcey graduated with a bachelor's degree in sociology and a master's degree in communications in 2022. He was born in Sacramento, California, and then grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina while playing for the Charlotte Soccer Academy.  #GoHPU SEE YA SATURDAY! MASON. MARCEY.#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/Nr41lS4F1U — High Point University Soccer (@HPUMSOCCER) April 15, 2021

Mason Marcey is a former High Point Mens Soccer player and current volunteer assistant coach. Mason joined the High Point coaching staff in Spring 2022. As a player Mason spent two seasons at HPU where he served as the captain of the team and was an All-Conference and All-Tournament performer both years. Prior to High Point, Mason played at Division 1 Valparaiso University. Mason grew up in Charlotte, NC.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – High Point University Men's Soccer Head Coach Zach Haines announced the hiring of Toney Anderson as an assistant coach in February 2023. Anderson will also assist Josh Gillon as the goalkeeper coach.   Head Coach Zach Haines: "We wanted to make sure that we brought in an assistant coach that would help our program get better. I am confident we have that person in Toney. He is an ideal fit for our staff with his energy, character, and work ethic. Our staff and student-athletes are excited about his arrival and looking forward to his impact on and off the field."   A 2020 graduate of University of Illinois Chicago, Anderson played three years of college soccer at Wisconsin Whitewater before transferring to UIC to finish his collegiate career and earn his bachelor's in finance.   "I'm very excited to get to work with High Point men's soccer," Anderson said. "Coach Haines, Coach Gillon and Coach Marcey are doing something right out here in North Carolina. For me, it's an honor to be invited in and to be welcomed as graciously as I have been. I am eager to grow closer with this seemingly great group of guys, and I hope that I can give back as much as High Point has already given me."   After graduation, Anderson took his skills to FC United MLS Next as a goalkeeper coach. He was then able to move programs and work with Bavarian SC MLS Next before heading back to his roots in collegiate soccer.   In June of 2022, he went to Mequon, Wisconsin to Concordia University as he specialized in goalkeeper development with the men's soccer team.   Anderson comes to High Point from University of Evansville in Evansville, Ind., where he served as a Graduate Assistant also specializing in goalkeeper development.   Anderson's love for coaching is a family affair working his father's goalkeeper camp, Camp Shutout – the largest GK camp in the world - since 2016.   #GoHPU