University of Alabama - Birmingham Men's Soccer

Cole Hunter joins UAB entering his first year of coaching after finishing a successful collegiate and semi-professional career. The Mount Juliet, Tennessee native was announced by David Lilly as the new Blazers goalkeeper coach. Hunter graduated from East Tennessee State University in December of 2023 where he played under Lilly and Findlay completing a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology as well as a graduate certificate in Sport Nutrition. Hunter started his collegiate goalkeeping career in the fall of 2018 at Lander University. After a couple seasons, Hunter completed a transfer in January 2021 to East Tennessee State University competing in NCAA Division I. Throughout his collegiate career, he played semi-professionally for Tri-Cities FC Otters, and Nona FC, both competing in USL 2. In his first season with Nona, he started 10 games while helping lead the Longhorns to a Southeast Division Championship in their first year as a USL 2 program. In the fall of 2022 for ETSU, Hunter started in 14 matches while keeping 7 clean sheets for the Buccaneers. He earned Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week for the first week of the season, and finished the season as the SoCon Goalkeeper of the Year with a spot on the SoCon 1st Team All-Conference. Hunter proceeded to play for Nona FC the following summer earning 11 starts as well as leading the Longhorns to the USL 2 playoffs for their second year in a row. In Hunters final season as a Buccaneer in the fall of 2023, he recorded 13 starts with an 8-3-2 record. Hunter kept 6 clean sheets while only conceding 8 goals. He finished the season being ranked 5th nationally in goals allowed average (0.605) and 2nd nationally in save percentage (0.871). These stats helped lead the Buccaneers to their first SoCon Regular Season Championship in over six years. Throughout the season, Hunter earned SoCon Defensive player of the Week and SoCon Defensive Player of the Month accolades. Hunter earned SoCon Goalkeeper of the Year and earned a spot on the SoCon First Team All-Conference for the second year in a row. He also earned a spot on the SoCon All-Tournament Team. Hunter finished his career as a Buccaneer as the career leader in save percentage (0.804) and goals against average (0.76). He is ranked 3rd all time in shutouts (13), 4th in wins (14), and 5th in saves (82). Hunter ranks first in single season statistics for the Buccaneers in lowest goals allowed average and save percentage.