Matthew Thorne is entering into his fourth season as head coach of the men’s soccer team after leading West Alabama to its first Gulf South Conference Tournament in just its third year as a program. Along with starting the program, he has led the Tigers to 34-19-2 overall and 21-13-1 in the GSC.
Thorne led the Tigers to their first GSC tournament championship game appearance in the program’s second year. The Tigers ended 2013 with an 11-7-1 regular season record that included a six match unbeaten streak. UWA finished 7-6-1 in conference play, ranked fifth in the regular season standings. Thorne led the team to its first ever national ranking, voted 25th by the American Soccer Coaches Association of America on Sept. 24, 2013.
With Thorne at the helm, UWA has claimed GSC Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons with Thibault Charmey earning the accolade in 2013 and 2014. The Tigers have had eight players named to the All-GSC teams, three named All-South Region and one Capital One All-American over the past two seasons.
Thorne led UWA to its longest win streak of seven games as well as a berth into the conference tournament in the programs inaugural season. The Tigers finished 12-6 during the regular season; 8-4 in conference.