Susquehanna University Men's Soccer

Susquehanna University Director of Athletics Sharief Hashim has announced the hiring of Jeremy Payne as the River Hawks' newest head coach for men's soccer in April of 2026. Payne, a local soccer product from nearby Middleburg, makes the short trip to Susquehanna after spending the last three years as the assistant coach at Bucknell University.  "We are thrilled to welcome Jeremy Payne to lead our men's soccer program," related Hashim. "Jeremy's experiences as a national player of the year, a successful Division III head coach, and a key contributor at Bucknell uniquely position him to lead Susquehanna soccer. What stood out throughout the process was his ability to connect culture, recruiting, and player development in a way that aligns with our values." About Jeremy Payne: "It is a privilege to take on the role of head men's soccer coach at Susquehanna University and to follow in the footsteps of someone who dedicated nearly three decades to the program. I'm very grateful to Sharief, Jim Findlay, the search committee, and so many others across campus who spent considerable time getting to know me throughout this process. Being originally from this area, with family close by on both my side and my wife's, makes this opportunity incredibly personal. Susquehanna stands out for its people, beautiful campus, and the strength of its academic programs, and I'm excited to help connect that experience with our soccer program. We will establish high standards and high expectations, with the vision of building a program that is both highly respected and highly successful. At the core, we want our student-athletes to have an outstanding experience—one that shapes their character, develops leaders, and creates meaningful, lifelong relationships." Coming off of two successful NCAA Division III head coaching stops at Eastern University (Pa.) and Whitworth University (Wash.), Payne was enlisted to join the Bison coaching staff in 2023. After a two-win campaign that first season, the program achieved an incredible turnaround the following fall, sharing the Patriot League regular season title en route to the PL title, beating American in the semifinals on penalty kicks and defeating Colgate in the championship, 3-nil. The Bison finished with a 7-7-6 record in 2024, then improved upon that in 2025 at 9-4-5 to receive their first top-25 ranking since 1974.  A native of nearby Middleburg, Pa., Payne was an All-State player and two-time Daily Item Player of the Year during his days at Midd-West. He went on to star at Division III power Messiah, where he was the 2012 and 2014 United Soccer Coaches National Player of the Year. A key member of Messiah's 2012 and 2013 national championship teams, Payne was a three-time First Team All-America selection, and he was the D3Soccer.com Midfielder of the Year in 2012 and Forward of the Year in 2014.  Payne launched his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Eastern University in 2015, and after two seasons he was elevated to head coach. In his first season in 2017, he led the Eagles to a 13-4-2 record, and one year later his squad finished 18-3-2, won MAC Freedom Conference regular-season and tournament titles, and reached the final 16 of the NCAA Division III Tournament. Eastern was recognized as the United Soccer Coaches Mid-Atlantic Region Staff of the Year in 2018. Despite heavy graduation losses, his team repeated as conference champs and returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2019. After compiling a 42-17-5 record during his three seasons as head coach at Eastern, Payne accepted the head coaching position at Whitworth in Spokane, Wash., in April of 2020. After a COVID-altered 2020-21 season, Payne's squads finished 16-17-5 over the last two seasons, when he coached 10 All-Northwest Conference players and two NWC Freshmen of the Year.  From 2019-22, Payne also served as the director of player personnel and strategic planning as well as an assistant coach with West Chester United SC. He was involved with coaching the club's USL2, NPSL and U23 programs and worked with players from a number of Division I programs, including Notre Dame, Villanova, Penn State, Penn, Akron, and Princeton. The team finished 13-2-2 in its inaugural USL2 season in 2021, and he coached six players who were selected in the MLS SuperDraft and 12 who signed professional contracts.  Payne returned to his native Central Pennsylvania in the spring of 2023 to serve as the director of coaching with the highly successful North Union United Soccer Club. During his time at Bucknell he served under head coach Dave Brandt, who was also a standout player and coach at Messiah and is a member of the school's Hall of Fame.

Findlays players reeled in All-League accolades. In 2003, Findlay led the mens soccer team to its first appearance in the Middle Atlantic Commonwealth Conference championships while garnering the conferences Coach of the Year award. The team returned to the championships tournament in both 2005 and 2006, advancing to the championship game for the first time in school history in 2006. The team also qualified for the Landmark Conferences inaugural championships tournament in 2007 and captured the programs first-ever conference championship by taking the Landmark crown in 2008 and earning a spot in the NCAA Division III championships. Findlay also is the winningest coach in the womens teams history. He coached the Susquehanna womens soccer team from 1999 to 2005 and 2011 and compiled a 72619 record while at the helm of the SU women, including a 1451 record in 2004. The women advanced to the MAC Commonwealth championships for the first time in school history in 2002 before falling in the final round. The team returned to the championships tournament in 2003 and 2004, advancing to the championship game again in 2004. Findlay was honored as the Commonwealth Coach of the Year for womens soccer in 2002 and 2004. His 2011 squad reached the conference playoffs. Findlay was inducted into the Wheeling Jesuit University Athletics Hall of Fame in September 2007. He played soccer at Wheeling Jesuit from 1992 to 1995 and was a four-year all-region team honoree for the Cardinals as well as a four-year allWest Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference pick. He earned WVIAC Player of the Year honors as a senior in 1995. Also as a senior, Findlay was named as a starter in the Umbro Select All-Star Soccer Classic, featuring the top senior players from all of Divisions II and III and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. He was chosen as Wheeling Jesuits MVP as a freshman and a senior while serving as a captain during his final two years. He finished his career holding the school record in assists (33) and ranking fourth all-time in goals (32). He still ranks in the top five in program history in points (97). Findlay graduated from Wheeling with a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice in 1996. He is an active community member, serving as an instructor/director at various camps and clinics for players and coaches. He serves as co-director for the annual Susquehanna Valley Soccer Camp. He holds a National Diploma Coaching Certificate from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Findlay is a native of Toronto, Ontario. He and his wife, Chrissy, reside in Selinsgrove, Pa., with their daughter, Caitlyn; and son, Colin.

Brennan completed his 15th season as an assistant men's soccer coach under veteran Head Coach Jim Findlay in 2013. Brennan graduated with a Master of Science degree in physical therapy from the then-College Misericordia in 1999. He played soccer for four years for the Cougars and was a three-time Pennsylvania Athletic Conference all-academic team member. In the 1996 and 1997 seasons, Misericordia won the PAC championship. The Cougars were ECAC Division III tournament finalists in 1994 and 1997.