NASHVILLE - Nathan Harrell, who became the sixth women's soccer coach in Trevecca Nazarene University's history prior to the 2023 season, informed Trevecca athletic director Mark Elliott of his plans to step down as head coach of the Trojan program.
Harrell and his wife, Bess, have accepted an opportunity to join the Charlotte Eagles. The Charlotte Eagles, a part of Missionary Athletes International, are a Gospel-centered ministry that introduces people to Jesus Christ, teaches them to follow Him, and empowers them as leaders through the global environment of soccer.
Harrell said of his time on the Hill, "We are incredibly grateful for our time at Trevecca—the relationships, the growth, and the opportunity to pour into student-athletes."
Harrell continued, "Mark Elliott and the entire athletic department have been very supportive, and we are very grateful. As we step into full-time ministry with Missionary Athletes International and the Charlotte Eagles, we carry with us the lessons and memories from this special place. As a family, we're excited to continue serving Christ through the game we love. We truly believe that the Lord will continue to build the Trojan program and it will continue to bring glory to His name."
Mark Elliott said of Nathan and Bess Harrell, "When coaches move on to something that is better for their family, while we are sad to see them go, we can sincerely rejoice with them. For Nathan and Bess, full time Christian ministry has been a desire. Being able to do ministry with a soccer emphasis, is a perfect situation for them. The Charlotte Eagles are getting high quality coaches, high quality people, and a great family."
Harrell came to Trevecca after six seasons as the head coach at Emmanuel College, an NCAA Division II school in Franklin Springs, Georgia. EC is his alma mater and where he played collegiately. His wife, Bess, an assistant with the program, also graduated and played for the Emmanuel Lions.
In the fall of 2023, his first Trojan squad went 6-7-5 overall with a 6-3-5 mark in what proved to be the final year in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. One of the season highlights was battling No. 1 Ashland to a 0-0 draw. That team was paced offensively by Katelyn Keogh and her six goals. She also led the team with 13 points. Grace Oliver was second in points and first in assists with three. Oliver had four goals. Bailie Fiore was strong in goal with a 1.16 goals against average and went 6-3-5 in goal with three shutouts. The team surged after a slow start, going 6-1-3 to make the G-MAC postseason.
The 2024 team went 4-8-3 overall and 3-6-3 in the first season in the Gulf South Conference. The Trojans made noise with a 1-0-2 stretch, including a draw with West Alabama and West Florida and a 4-2 win over Auburn Montgomery. Skye Baun led the team with four goals and eight points. Kayelee Maners led the team with three assists. Bailie Fiore shined in goal with a 1.49 goals against average, going 4-8-2 in goal. She added another two shutouts.
Harrell concludes his career with a 10-15-8 mark overall and a 10-9-8 league record.
Mark Elliott begins the process of identifying the seventh Trevecca women's soccer coach, who will lead the program into its 26th season in the fall of 2025.
TROJAN COACHING HISTORY
The overall record for the program during its first 25 years is 187-225-53 with a 111-97-33 record in conference play. The NCAA Division II era conference record is 91-48-31.
Kelsey Fenix Cameron the fifth women's soccer head coach at Trevecca, followed Mark Foster, Brett Armstrong, Mark Champion, and Stan Herod and became Trevecca's all-time winningest women's soccer coach (full story) with a 2-1 win over Lake Erie College on September 17, 2022. Cameron finished her career with a 50-37-18 overall record and a 43-23-12 conference mark. Her overall and conference wins are more than any other coach amassed.
During the 2018 campaign, Cameron directed the Trojans to a 13-4-2 overall record and a 11-2-2 showing in Great Midwest Conference (G-MAC) play. At the end of the season, Cameron was awarded the G-MAC Coach of the Year.
Her 17 conference wins and the 21 overall wins in her first two seasons are the most by any previous Trevecca coach in their first two seasons. Cameron's 12 conference wins this season are the most by any coach in program history.
In her first season (2017-2018), Cameron guided the Trojans to six conference wins, the most by a first-year head coach in school history. Her 8-6-3 overall record is the best record by a first-year TNU women's soccer head coach.
Mark Foster (20170104 Press Release) continued the success he and Armstrong built and made news of his own during his tenure as top coach. During his final season, the Trojans produced the second-most season wins in program history and their second regular-season Great Midwest Athletic Conference championship. Foster finished with a historic 40-27-8 record, making him the first coach in program history to have an overall record above .500. Foster guided Trevecca to three-straight winning seasons (2014-16), including a Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) title in 2016. He was named G-MAC Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2016.
Foster moved on to become a successful coach at the NCAA Division I level first as associate head coach at South Alabama then as head coach at Arkansas Little Rock and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
Brett Armstrong (20130401 Press Release) changed the paradigm of the program on and off the pitch. Armstrong led the program to its first winning season overall and in conference play. In fact, his 16-win season in 2012-2013 is the most wins in a season for any TNU team. That team won the first-ever Great Midwest regular season and tournament championship. Armstrong finished as the winningest (44 wins) coach in program history. He brought on Mark Foster as an assistant and saw Foster replace him as head coach, providing continuity in the transition of leadership for the program. He was named the 2012 NCCAA Mid-East Coach of the Year and the 2012 Great Midwest Coach of the Year.
Mark Champion replaced Stan Herod and went 17-33-6 overall and 8-9-0 in league play.
Stan Herod started the program from scratch (2000-2001) while simultaneously restarting the men's program. He produced 20 wins in the women's program and setting the base for what was to come. He juggled leading the startup of both programs while playing and practicing off-campus. The men's program had a team for one season in 1992.
Interview w/ Nathan Harrell on University Showcase on WNSR
COACHING AT EMMANUAL
Harrell was named the coach at his alma mater, Emmanuel College, in March of 2016.
In 2017, the second-year head coach led the EC Lions to their first winning season and guided the team to an NCCAA Regional Championship and a trip to the NCCAA National Championships. Awards followed including being named the 2017 NCCAA Regional Coach of the Year.
Harrell helped guide the program to full NCAA Division II play and has helped the Lions reach the Conference Carolinas quarterfinals each season.
His assistant coach at Emmanuel is his wife Bess Harrell. Bess is also an Emmanuel graduate and former soccer player for the Lions.
PREP / CLUB COACHING EXPERIENCE
Prior to Emmanuel, Harrell was the boys' soccer director for Northview High School and the Select & Academy coach for the Atlanta Fire United from June 2013 to March 2016.
The three years prior, Harrell was the varsity assistant and junior varsity head coach for Lambert High School while serving as the Select & Academy Coach for the Concorde Fire Soccer Association.
He helped head coach Chris Wilson develop the boys' varsity team into a state powerhouse, culminating with the school's first state championship in 2012.
LEADERSHIP WORK
He served as the women's soccer chair for the Conference Carolinas and was on the United Soccer Coaches Regional Committee.
ON THE PITCH
His collegiate playing days started at Covenant College. He later transferred to Emmanuel College where he served as captain for two seasons and earned Academic All-American honors and made the NAIA Champions of Character team.
He played high school soccer for Steve Hellier at Whitefield Academy in the Atlanta area and club soccer for Steve Gummer with the Atlanta for Cobb FC (now SSA).
HARRELL AT HOME
Nathan and his wife Bess Harrell have five children. The duo invested in leading youth soccer camps and clinics for the youth in North Georgia.
HARRELL HIGHLIGHTS
Six years of experience as a collegiate head coach
Has been a coach for 14 years combined at all levels
Coached at the Georgia ODP level for two years
Has six years of club and High School coaching experience
COACHING CERTIFICATION
United Soccer Coaches
Advanced National, National, National GK
EDUCATION ROAD MAP
Emmanuel College 2007-2010
BA Secondary Education
Kennesaw State University 2007
Covenant College 2006
ON THE PITCH
Emmanuel College
Covenant College
Whitefield Academy
Cobb FC (SSA)
MORE ABOUT THE TREVECCA TROJANS
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