Winter Resigns From Men's Soccer Post

ATHENS, Tenn.- Luke Winter has announced he is resigning from his position of head men's soccer coach at Tennessee Wesleyan University. Winter is leaving to become an assistant coach with the Chattanooga Red Wolves organization.

While serving as head coach at TWU, Winter has been involved with the Chattanooga Red Wolves academy system, most recently serving as the Academy Sporting Director, a position he will continue to serve in along with his coaching duties for the Red Wolves. Winter has also served as the head coach of the USL W Chattanooga Lady Red Wolves since 2021 and coached the 2023 squad to an 8-3-1 record.

Winter served as head coach for the Bulldogs for seven seasons, compiling an 82-34-18 overall record and a 57-16-6 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) record, one of the best coaching records in program history. In his tenure as head coach, Winter guided the program to three NAIA National Tournament appearances (2019, 2021, and 2023), and won one AAC Regular Season Championship. During the 2023 season, Winter led the team to the program's first-ever win in the NAIA Tournament. In his seven seasons as head coach, Winter had a winning record both overall and in the AAC every season. Winter also led the program to the highest NAIA ranking in program ranking in the 2019 season, climbing up to No. 16 in the poll. 

Winter coached 31 AAC All-Conference selections, one NAIA All-American, and three NAIA All-American Honorable Mentions. Several other accolades garnered by his teams included one AAC Player of the Year, one AAC Offensive Player of the Year, two AAC Defensive Player of the Year, and five AAC Freshmen of the Year honors. During the 2019 campaign, Winter was named the AAC Coach of the Year.

"Coach Winter was a tremendous member of our coaching staff. For seven seasons, he put excellent teams on the pitch and was very passionate about the game. Not only was he an excellent men's soccer student-athlete for us during his playing career, but he also brought that same energy and drive as our head coach," stated Vice President and Director of Athletics Donny Mayfield.

Winter graduated from Tennessee Wesleyan in 2012 and received many individual accolades during his playing career: AAC All-Tournament Team, AAC Tournament MVP, AAC All-Conference First Team, Tennessee Sports Writers Association Player of the Week, AAC Player of the Week, and NAIA All-East Region First Team. In his junior year, he finished the season ranked first in the nation for game-winning goals, third for goals per game, and fifth for total goals. As a team member, Winter was part of the first TWU team to receive its first-ever NAIA national ranking. He was a member of the 2010 AAC Regular Season Championship and 2012 AAC Tournament Championship teams. In 2012, Winter was a leading force in aiding the Bulldogs back to the NAIA National Tournament. Winter won the Athletic Director's Award for helping improve the success of the men's soccer program.

Before returning to Tennessee Wesleyan to coach, Winter attended Shorter University as a graduate assistant for the men's soccer team, where he earned his Master's Degree in Business Administration. Winter was essential in helping the team to a 10-6-2 record in 2013, a vast improvement from the 2012 record of 4-13-1. This winning season led Shorter to third place in GSC and 11th nationally in the NCCAA. Following his stint at Shorter, Winter served as an assistant coach for the men's soccer team at Bryan College for three seasons. During his time at Bryan, the team won the AAC regular-season championship in 2015 and qualified for the 2016 NAIA National Tournament.

"I want to thank Luke for his time with us and for leading the men's soccer program. We wish Luke and his family all the best with the Chattanooga Red Wolves and his future career in coaching," added Mayfield.