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Kelly Findley
With over two decades of coaching experience, Kelly Findley took over the Liberty men's soccer program in December of 2018.
Known for player development, Findley has compiled a 133-114-33 record and led two teams to the NCAA Tournament during head coaching stints at Liberty, Mars Hill (1999-00), Butler (2006-10) and NC State (2011-16).
After seeing the 2020 season moved to the Spring of 2021, the Flames posted a 7-3-2 mark in Findley’s second year in Lynchburg. For the first time in program history, Liberty received a national ranking during the year, climbing as high as 15th in the United Soccer Coaches Poll on March 15.
The Flames opened the season with a program-record six consecutive shutouts, including the program’s first-ever win at North Carolina. Liberty went on to finish the year with eight shutouts to post the second-best shutout percentage in the nation (.667).
Off the field, the program has made its mark academically during Findley’s two seasons. The Flames posted the highest team GPA of any Liberty male sport with a 3.55 GPA during the 2020-21 season. The men’s soccer program had 24 of its 27 student-athletes post a 3.0 or better for the academic year.
Meanwhile, during a challenging and unique year due to COVID-19, the Flames had 28 of their 30 student-athletes or 93% of its roster post a 3.0 or better for the 2019-21 academic year. The Flames posted the highest GPA of any Liberty men's team during the spring semester.
In addition, senior midfielder Ruben Garcia was named to the 2019 CoSIDA Academic All-America Division I men's soccer team in program history, becoming only the third player in program history to garner selection to the prestigious squad. Garcia also was named the 2019 ASUN Men's Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Findley came to Liberty after serving as the associate head coach at Davidson during the 2018 season and a one-year term with the Sporting Kansas City Development Academy in 2017.
During his time as head coach at NC State, Findley had three nationally ranked recruiting classes, including the No. 3 ranked class by TopDrawerSoccer.com in 2014.
The Wolfpack spent multiple weeks ranked in the national polls during several different seasons. NC State was ranked during a six-week stretch in 2015, climbing as high as No. 20 in the polls, while his team was ranked as high as No. 14 in 2012.
Findley's ability to develop young talent established his program as a launching pad to the professional ranks. In 2014, Clement Simonin was the No. 9 overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft by Toronto FC and Conor Donovan was the No. 22 overall pick by the Orlando City SC. Additionally, Alex Martinez was selected in the third round of the draft in 2013.
Prior to his days in Raleigh, Findley posted a winning record during four of his five seasons as the head coach at Butler. With the Bulldogs, Findley posted a record of 59-25-15 overall and 24-7-8 in Horizon League conference play. He was named the Horizon League Coach of the Year in both 2009 and 2010, after guiding Butler to the NCAA Tournament both seasons.
His 2010 Butler squad entered the NCAA Tournament ranked No. 5 nationally and was one of only two unbeaten teams in the nation. The squad finished the year 16-1-3. He also mentored the Horizon League Player of the Year and Herman Trophy semifinalist Ben Sippola and two-time Horizon League Defender of the Year Matt Hedges.
Sippola and Hedges were named to the NSCAA All-America first team and later drafted by MLS teams. Sippola was taken by the Columbus Crew in the 2011 MLS Supplemental Draft and went on to play for the Crew. Later, he played professionally in Sweden and New Zealand.
Hedges, who was the 11th pick in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft, became the all-time leader in MLS appearances for FC Dallas in 2020. The 2016 MLS Defender of the Year, he was selected to the MLS Best IX in 2015 and 2016 and has been a MLS All-Star three times. He has also seen National Team caps.
The 2009 squad also won the Horizon League championship, and over his final three years at Butler went 18-1-5 in conference play.
Findley spent five seasons at Charlotte, serving as an assistant coach (2001-03) and associate head coach (2004-05).
During his tenure at Charlotte, the 49ers compiled a 42-40-14 record, including an 11-7-1 mark in 2004. During his third season at Charlotte, the 49ers reached the finals of the Conference USA Tournament for only the second time in school history, losing the title game on penalty kicks.
Findley jumpstarted his head coaching career at Mars Hill College where he led the program during the 1999 and 2000 seasons. He guided the Lions to a 17-22 mark over the two seasons, including a 10-8 overall record and a runner-up finish in the South Atlantic Conference in 2000.
Findley also spent one season as an assistant coach at Miami (Ohio) University (1998), two seasons as an assistant coach with the Charlotte Eagles professional soccer team (1996-97) and one season as an assistant coach at Judson College (1992). During his tenure with the Charlotte Eagles, the professional club won two South Atlantic Division Championships, made two playoff appearances and posted a national runner-up finish.
Findley was a four-time Most Valuable Player as an undergraduate on the men's soccer team at Judson University in Elgin, Ill. He graduated with a secondary education degree.
He was a three-time NAIA All-American, a three-time NCCAA All-American and a two-time NSCAA All-American as a midfielder. He was named the Northern Illinois Intercollegiate Conference Player of the Year for three consecutive seasons, and he was named Judson's Athlete of the Year in 1990.
Findley helped Judson to its first NCCAA National Tournament championship in 1991, and he finished his collegiate career in fifth place on Judson's all-time assist chart with 48 career assists. He was named to Judson's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.
Following his collegiate career, Findley played professional soccer with the Charlotte Eagles for six seasons. He helped the Eagles to three South Atlantic Division Championships, five divisional playoff appearances and two trips to the national finals.
A former North Carolina ODP State Team coach, Findley holds a USSF "A" license and an NSCAA Premier Diploma. He and his wife, Joanne and children Gabe, Elysia, Corinne, Stephen and Keane live in Lynchburg.
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