NASHVILLE – Kelsey Cameron, the Trevecca Nazarene University women’s soccer head coach for the last six years, announced she accepted the women's soccer head coaching position at Belmont University earlier this week. Cameron, who shared the news with the Trojan squad on Wednesday, became the program's fifth coach in 2017 and proceeded to become the winningest coach in TNU women’s soccer history.
Trevecca athletic director Mark Elliott said, “While coaching changes are always difficult, we are happy for Kelsey and Andrew for this new opportunity. Kelsey is an excellent leader and a great representative of our Christian-Scholar-Athlete model. She will personally and professionally be a blessing to the Belmont University community.”
Elliott has already started the search for the next head coach of the women's program has already begun.
Cameron is an alum of the University of Kentucky where she was a star soccer player. She arrived at Trevecca following a successful stint as an associate head coach at Lipscomb University.
Kelsey Cameron said, “I want to thank Mark Elliott and the Trevecca Athletics Department. I am so grateful for my time here. The last six seasons have allowed me to learn and grow as a head coach, and do it within an Athletic Department that prioritizes the spiritual and holistic development of the athletes. It has been an honor to work in an environment where “Christian, Scholar, Athlete” are the top priorities, in that order, as we recruit, coach, and lead these young women. Finally, I. want to thank all the players I had the privilege of coaching. Thank you for your time, work, and belief in me and this program. It has been an honor to coach each and every one of you.”
CAMERON FILE (history)
First Season | 2017-2018
50-37-18 Overall
43-23-12 Conference
In 2018-2019, Cameron led Trevecca to 13 wins, equally the second most wins in a season at Trevecca. That team won 11 conference matches, the most in program history.
Coach Kelsey Cameron 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.
Every Cameron squad produced a winning record in league play.
CAMERON ERA AWARDS | NCAA D2/GREAT MIDWEST (awards)
The 2022-23 team is represented on the all-conference team by Abbigail Legg and Makena Schlosser are on the first team, and Skye Baun made the third team - Story. Delayna Holman earned the Great Midwest Defender of the Week award twice this season from the Great Midwest (09/12/22, 09/26/22) and the Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA / 09/27/22).
The 2021-2022 team added four more all-conference members – one second team and three on the third team.
The 2020-2021 team added four to Great Midwest team – one first team, and three on the third team.
The 2019-2020 team placed three on the Great Midwest all-conference team – two on the second team and one honorable mention.
The 2018-2019 team brought home a basket full of Great Midwest hardware – the team placed two on the Great Midwest first team, one on the honorable mention team and coach Cameron was named coach of the year. Three made the D2CCA Midwest All-Region team – all three on the second team.
On her first team, the 2017-2018 team placed two on the Great Midwest first team and one on the second team.
CAMERON ERA | YEAR-BY-YEAR (history)
In her final season on the Hill, 2022-2023, Cameron became the winningest coach in program history and the first to reach 50 wins. The team was picked fifth in the preseason Great Midwest coaches’ poll, which is where they finished. Trevecca started 4-1-1 in conference play. In addition, the 5-2-1 overall start to the season is tied for the best in program history – equal to last season's start. Trevecca was ranked as high as No. 8 in the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II Midwest Region poll during the season. They started the season 6-2-2 overall. Delayna Holman capped a great career by setting the school record for clean sheets (26) and saves (409) while placing second all-time with 37 career wins. She was No. 1 in career saves among active NCAA Division II keepers as the season concluded. Her 409 career saves are the most in Great Midwest history.
The 4-0 start in conference play by the 2021-2022 team is the best conference start in program history. One better than the 2012 and 2018 teams which each began 3-0. In addition, the 5-2-1 overall start of the season also was the best in program history. At one point the Trojans were 7-3-3 overall and 6-1-2 in conference play. The team eventually advanced to the Great Midwest playoffs and won the quarterfinal on PK to advance to the semifinals and finished 9-7-4 overall and 8-4-2 in conference play.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trojans would see their fall 2020 season pushed to the spring of 2021. In a shortened season and through much adversity, Cameron guided the Trojans to a 4-5-2 overall (4-3-2 Great Midwest) finish. Through their first five matches, the Trojans earned 10 points and were in the hunt for the league's top position. As the calendar turned to April, however, the Trojans dropped points and ultimately finished sixth in the league, one spot below their preseason predicted placement of fifth. In the end, it was Cedarville who defeated the Trojans, 2-1 to put a wrap on the most unique season of Trevecca women's soccer to date. Cameron guided a first-team All-G-MAC selection in Makena Schlosser in addition to a trio of third selections in Delayna Holman, Danyel Joy, and Abbigail Legg.
Cameron tested her Trojans early in the 2019 season, collecting one of the toughest pre-conference schedules in the country. After receiving negative results against #8 West Florida and #12 Lee, the Trojans opened up G-MAC competition with a 3-1 home win over Kentucky Wesleyan. On the year, the Trojans tallied a 7-9-3 overall record with a 7-6 mark in G-MAC contests. Trevecca entered the Great Midwest Athletic Conference tournament as the number five-seeded squad. The Trojans were paired with the number four seeded Ohio Dominican Panthers, a team they had beaten just one week prior, and split contests with during the regular season. The year came to a close in the G-MAC quarterfinals for the Trojans when neither team collected a goal during 110 minutes (FT + 2OT) and the Panthers pulled through 3-2 in the shootout. Leah Hoffman and Makena Schlosser were named to the Great Midwest's Second Team all-conference while Gigi Ariola earned a place on the honorable mention squad.
During the 2018 campaign, Cameron directed the Trojans to an impressive 13-4-2 overall record and a 12-2-2 showing in Great Midwest Conference (G-MAC) play. The conference finish put the Trojans in second place for the postseason in which they hosted Davis & Elkins. After a 2-0 result over Davis & Elkins, the Trojans season ended in the G-MAC semifinals with a 2-1 OT loss to Walsh. The 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. Cameron coached the Trojan's defense to over 640 minutes of shutout soccer in October. During the unbeaten mark, the Trojans combined for six goals, five wins, and one tie during the streak. At the end of the season, Cameron was awarded the G-MAC Coach of the Year for her 13-win effort.
In her first season as Trojans head coach, Kelsey 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 also garners top honors as the best record by a first-year head coach in history.
Her first collegiate coaching victory came on September 2, 2017, with a 3-1 win over Shorter University, her first Great Midwest Athletic Conference win followed days later, on September 6th, against Kentucky Wesleyan College and her first home victory came against Sewanee on September 9th, all within a week’s timeframe.
Her Trojans enjoyed another three-game winning streak in mid-October outscoring Lake Eric College, Davis & Elkins College and Alderson Broaddus University by a combined score of 8-2.
Cameron’s first season as a head coach came to an end in the Great Midwest quarterfinals against Walsh, 2-0. Cameron coached Hannah Barney and Sophia Callis to G-MAC first-team honors as well as Diana Corzine to the second team.
HIRING OF KELSEY FENIX CAMERON
Prior to arriving at Trevecca, Fenix Cameron assisted at Lipscomb University. While coaching with Kevin O'Brien at Lipscomb University, Fenix Cameron assisted the Bisons with historic results.
The 2013 team reached the ASUN Conference Tournament for the first time. The team has reached the tournament in each of the last four years now, making the ASUN Finals in each of the last two years while collecting a total of 24 wins in that span.
In 2015 the Bisons recorded a program-best 12 wins (12-4-4) and their first appearance in an ASUN Final while going 6-1 in ASUN contests. 2016 nearly mirrored those results with a 12-5-2 record, 5-1-1 in ASUN play, and a second consecutive trip to the ASUN Finals.
TROJAN COACHING HISTORY
Fenix Cameron followed Mark Foster, Brett Armstrong, Mark Champion, and Stan Herod as the Trojan's head coach.
Brett Armstrong led the program before Foster took over after serving as his assistant for two seasons. Armstrong was the winningest (44 wins) coach in program history prior to Cameron breaking his win total. Stan Herod started the program before giving way to Mark Champion.
In Fosters' final season, the Trojans produced their second-most wins in program history and their second regular-season Great Midwest Athletic Conference championship. Foster finished with a 40-27-8 record. Foster is the first coach in program history to have an overall record above .500.
CAMERON COACHING BEFORE TREVECCA
Started coaching club soccer in 2007
Joined Lipscomb University coaching staff in March of 2012
Associate Head Coach for Kevin O'Brien for five seasons
Helped lead Lipscomb to first ASUN Conference Tournament in 2013
Bisons record during the five years w/Fenix Cameron on the sideline: 42-35-17 overall,18-14-7 ASUN
Holds a USSF National "B" License
Fenix Cameron played collegiately at the University of Kentucky from 2004-2007 where the five-foot-seven midfielder was a three-year starter with the Wildcats. Fenix Cameron Captained the 2006 SEC Championship Wildcat team. She earned first-team All-SEC honors in 2007 after earning 2006 ESPN The Magazine 1st Team Academic All-District recognition.
Fenix Cameron also played with Athletes in Action and professionally with the Charlotte Eagles.
HEAD COACH CLUB SOCCER
Jessamine (KY) Storm from 2007-2008
Winston-Salem Twins from 2009-2011
Charlotte United from 2011-2012.
Tennessee Soccer Club 98 Girls since 2012
Tennessee Soccer Club Premier Girls since 2013
CAMERON ON THE PITCH
Played for Westlake (Ohio) High School
Played at the University of Kentucky
Led UK Wildcats to 2006 SEC Championship, reaching the NCAA Tournament
Earned first-team All-SEC honors in 2007
Graduated with a bachelor of science in Kinesiology
Played semi-pro Charlotte Lady Eagles in the W-League
HIGH SCHOOL NOTES
Lettered in soccer, basketball, and softball for the Westlake (Ohio) High School
1st Team All-State OHSAA Division 1 honoree
Scored 47 goals and handed out 34 assists
2001 Conference Most Valuable Player
Two-time Greater Cleveland First Team
Three-time Cuyahoga County First Team
All-Central Region selection
Three-time Morning Journal All-Star honoree
Two-time News Sun All-Star
Cleveland Plain Dealer Fall All-Star
First-team Adidas Scholastic All-East District
First-team Scholastic All-American.
Played in the Olympic Development Program
Played club soccer for the Ohio North State Team from 1998-2002
Played for the Cleveland Internationals Soccer Club from 2002-2005
Worked with Athletes in Action as an intern for nearly two years.
Coach Kelsey Cameron and her husband Andrew reside in Nashville.
