Coaches

HEAD COACH: DREW STACEY

In Fall 2008, Coach Drew Stacey will enter his fifth season as the men's soccer coach at Southeastern University.

Last season, Coach Stacey led the Fire to their second straight NCCAA II National Championship game. SEU won the title back in 2006.

Coach Stacey guided the Fire to another South Region title in 2007, his third title in four years.

In his first season, Stacey led Southeastern to its first South Region Championship in 13 years and took the team to the NCCAA II National Tournament, where it made the final four and finished fourth in the nation.

In his four seasons at Southeastern, Stacey has compiled an overall record of 60-26-3 with three South Region titles and one NCCAA II National Championship.

Stacey grew up in the youth leagues of North Lakeland, starting his soccer career at the age of seven on pre-club teams. His soccer skills grew to the point that he was often asked to play on club teams that traveled throughout Florida.

Stacey is the son of a coach. His father, Bill Stacey, launched the men's soccer program at Lake Gibson High School. Drew Stacey, a graduate of Lake Gibson, started at mid-field as a sophomore and moved into the center mid-position as a senior.

After graduation, Stacey attended Polk Community College before answering his country's call to join the Marine Corps and serve in the first Gulf War. "It was hard to find time to play soccer for the Marines," he said. "They're not really known for their sports."

Stacey finished his four years in the Marines and came home looking to play soccer again. He found the Lakeland Lions, a local men's soccer team that competed in the largest amateur league in Florida, the Florida Sun Coast League. He gained unforgettable knowledge and memories with the Lions, retiring in 2000 after the team reached the finals of the men's Florida Cup.

In 2001, Stacey was introduced to SEU as an assistant coach; while in that role, he helped Southeastern reach the NCCAA South Region Championship game in 2002 and 2003.

"I feel very blessed in the directions the Lord has taken me in my life. I've been playing soccer for the better part of 24 years, and I believe I have a lot to give back to the community and to the game," Stacey said.

Stacey believes all his soccer experiences have led him to this point. From foreign coaches who taught him newer techniques to local coaches who taught him to "never quit," Stacey has gained a wealth of skill, knowledge, and character that will help him bring steady progress to the Fire's already up-and-coming program.

"I see the younger players becoming more technical and sharp these days," he said. "Their vision is getting better, and I attribute a lot of that to TV shows like Fox Sports World, where they have a chance to watch the best of the best play. As children we learn a lot by mimicking our sports heroes on TV, whether it's the quick release throw like Dan Marino, or bending the ball like David Beckham."

"I look forward to growing with our youth and this [university]," he said. "I feel privileged to add what I have learned in the past toward the amazing possibilities and future of each [player]."

"Coach Stacey brings a wealth of knowledge and a strong passion to recruit both locally and nationally. Drew's desire to integrate his faith into a college campus is a perfect fit for Southeastern soccer," said Athletic Director Duane Aagaard.