Wayland Baptist University Men's Soccer

Going into the 2024-25 academic year, Robert Ssejjemba (Suh-GYM-buh) will be in his sixth season as WBU men's soccer head coach, having joined the Pioneers in April 2019. Ssejjemba's Wayland teams have produced a 44-30-13 record, including 23-16-6 in the Sooner Athletic Conference. Ssejjemba came to Wayland from the University of the Southwest in Hobbs, N.M., where he spent five years coaching the Mustangs. In 2015 he guided USW to an 11-6 record – the most wins for the program in at least the previous decade – and an appearance in the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament championship. Ssejjemba's USW teams qualified for the post-season three of his last four years. In 2018 he guided the Mustangs to a 7-3-1 record in the RRAC, the program's best conference record in program history.  Ssejjemba has developed multiple all-conference honorees, including the 2018 Red River Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and an NAIA All-American. He's also had multiple players receive academic and NAIA Champions of Character honors. Prior to USW, Ssejjemba coached at his alma mater, Virginia Intermont College in Bristol, Va., for five seasons and led that program to a pair of NAIA Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament appearances. As a player he was an NAIA All-American, played in two NAIA national tournaments, and remains Virginia Intermont's all-time leader in goals (75) and points (186). He was a four-time academic all-conference honoree. Ssejjemba, who was assistant coach for one season at Randolph College in Lynchburg, Va., earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Virginia Intermont and his Master's in Sports Management from USW. A native of Uganda, Ssejjemba played for the Uganda National Football Team from 1999-2006, participating in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers. His professional playing career included time with D.C. United in MLS. He also played for the Charlotte Eagles, Richmond Kickers and Kalamazoo Kingdom. Ssejjemba and his wife, Katie, have four children, Teddy, Isaiah, Mercy, and Robbie, and also serve as foster parents. He is the fourth head coach in the history of WBU men's soccer, following Shiloh Posey (current women's coach), Jamath Shoffner and Cristhian Ospina. Robert Ssejjemba As A Head Coach At Wayland: 2023: 9-7-3                  SAC: 4-4-1 (SAC Tournament Quarterfinals) 2022: 6-9-2                  SAC: 3-5-1 (SAC Tournament Quarterfinals) 2021: 9-5-3                  SAC: 5-2-2 (SAC Tournament Quarterfinals) 2020: 11-5-1                 SAC: 6-2-1 (SAC Tournament Quarterfinals) 2019: 9-4-4                   SAC: 5-3-1 (SAC Tournament Semifinals) Record: 44-30-13        SAC: 23-16-6   At University of the Southwest: 2018: 8-8-1                     RRAC: 7-3-1 (RRAC Tournament Opening Round) 2017: 9-5-3                     RRAC: 6-3-2 (RRAC Tournament Opening Round) 2016: 10-5-1                   RRAC: 4-5 (RRAC 7th Place Regular Season) 2015: 11-6                      RRAC: 4-4 (RRAC Tournament Finals) 2014:  4-12-2                  RRAC: 2-7 (RRAC 8th Place Regular Season) Record: 42-36-7             RRAC: 23-22-3   At Virginia Intermont College: 2013: 7-9-3                    AAC: 3-4-2 (AAC Tournament Finals) 2012:  8-6-3                   AAC: 3-2-2 (AAC Tournament Finals) 2011:  3-12-3                AAC: 1-6 (AAC Tournament Opening Round) 2010: 6-10-2                 AAC: 3-4 (AAC Tournament Opening Round) 2009: 0-14-0                 AAC: 0-7-0 (AAC Tournament Opening Round) Record: 24 -51-11        AAC: 10-23-4   Overall Career Record: 110-117-31 Overall Conference Record: 56-61-13  

Alex Castaneda joined the Wayland Baptist men’s soccer staff as assistant coach in the summer of 2023. Castaneda worked the 2022 season as assistant coach at Lyon College (Ark.) where he served as varsity goalkeeper coach and head coach for the men’s JV team. Prior to that he served as a volunteer coach for men’s and women’s soccer at his alma mater, Eastern Illinois University, assistant coach at Charleston High School in Illinois, and head coach of Eastern Illinois Football Club. Castaneda also has served as athletic director of team sports at Lake of the Woods and Greenwoods Camp, and coached at a youth academy and high school soccer camp. Castaneda earned his Bachelor of Science degree in recreation administration from EIU in 2020 and his Master of Science in Sports Administration from EIU in 2022.    

I have coached kids 5-12 at multiple clubs, I have had the opportunity to help run multiple high school level soccer camps. I have been a varsity coach at multiple high schools and have turned each program around. My first school had won 2 games the year prior, and we quadrupled our wins in my first year. The second school had struggled to find the playoffs in the past decade, and in my first year as head coach we made the playoffs! I am USSF grassroots certified coach and am currently working on getting my USSF D license.   I played at Simpson University in Redding, Ca. I played for two years. I eventually transferred to Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. I graduated with a Sport Management Degree, with a focus on events and hospitality.   My family is my mother Michelle Longee, my grandmother Susan Longee, and my younger sister Joi Longee. My family is everything to me, and I am thankful that they have encouraged my walk with Christ and my coaching future!