Clay Roberts was hired as the head coach of the men's soccer program in 2014 and has led the Fire to four trips to the NAIA National Tournament, a trio of Sun Conference Tournament Championships and a conference regular season title in 2015. Earning Sun Conference Coach of the year in that 2015 season as well as 2019.

Southeastern climbed to familiar heights in the 2024 season, despite having two games canceled due to Hurricane Helene. An 0-1-1 start was reversed as the Fire earned their way to a 13th consecutive season with a winning record, finishing the season with a 10-3-5 overall record and 5-0-2 at home. The Sun Conference handed the Fire a 5-2-1 record, as Southeastern knocked off  RV SCAD-Savannah, and tied #14 Keiser. Postseason was where the Fire kicked it into another gear, under the guidance of Roberts, collected three consecutive thrilling overtime victories. First it was Webber International in the TSC Quarterfinals 2-1 in overtime, then #14 Keiser 2-1 in double-overtime. Then the third Sun Conference Tournament Championship was claimed as Southeastern defeated a 2-0 halftime deficit, downing RV SCAD-Savannah 3-3 (5-4) in penalty kicks to secure a NAIA Opening Round berth. The Fire battled Eastern Oregon in their NAIA Opening Round opener, falling in a penalty kick heartbreaker 2-2 (4-3). Their success were met with rows of postseason accolades, William Durrance was named the Sun Conference Champion of Character, Enrico Lazzari earned Second-Team All-Sun Conference, and Victor Cavalcante earned his second consecutive First-Team All-Sun Conference. Five were named Academic All-Sun Conference and NAIA Daktronic, and four went on to be CSC Academic All-District. To top it off, on September 14th, as the Fire defeated Ave Maria 3-1 in Lakeland, Roberts passed Drew Stacy as the winningnest coach in SEU history, now sitting alone with 121 wins.

The 2023 season saw the Fire with their twelfth consecutive winning season, turning in a 11-5-3 season with a 8-4-2 Sun Conference performance. They dominated at home with a 8-2-1 record, and faced trials on the road going 3-3-2. Southeastern collected two ties against Top 15 competition, #12 Georgia Gwinnett at home and #13 Keiser on the road. The Fire knocked off Webber International in the quarterfinals of the Sun Conference Tournament 3-0 before falling in extra-time to Keiser 3-2. Victor Cavalcante earned First-Team All-Sun Conference honors, while Chris Thorpe, Eduardo Venutolo, Roque Viegas Jr., and Gianluca Contegno collected Second-Team All-Sun Conference. There were also nine student-athletes who earned Daktronics Scholar-Athlete and Sun Conference All-Academic, and William Durrance and Nico Munari earned CSC Academic All-District

In the 2022 season, the Fire posted an 11-4-4 overall record and 5-2-1 SUN record without dropping a single contest at home. The Fire managed three ties against Top 25 ranked opponents including then-ranked No. 21 Bethel University, No. 14 Lindsey Wilson College, and No. 4 St.Thomas University. In the SUN tournament, the Fire defeated SCAD-Savannah by a score of 3-0 in the quarterfinals before falling to St. Thomas in penalty kicks after a scoreless 90 minutes. Edoardo Venutolo represented the Fire on the All-Sun Conference team while Skylar Funk was taken in the first round of the Major Arena Soccer League College Draft. Roberts also had four athletes earn Daktronics Scholar-Athlete honors.

Southeastern advanced to the semifinal round of The Sun Conference Tournament for the fourth consecutive year in 2021 with a shootout win over SCAD-Savannah at home in the quarterfinal round. Julian Hall and Ben-Avir Espinal earned All-Sun Conference recognition and Hall earned his second Honorable Mention All-America nod. Additionally, Jack Miller and Colin Horn were named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team.

The Fire battled through a tough schedule in 2020, with five of their six losses coming to programs that advanced to the NAIA National Championship Quarterfinals. The 14 wins by SEU was the most by the program since 2015. Coach Roberts guided the Fire to The Sun Conference Semifinals  for a third-straight season. Junior midfielder Julian Hall was named First Team All-TSC, as well as NAIA All-American Honorable Mention. Senior forward Skylar Funk and junior center back Shawn Hardy were named Second Team All-TSC.

2019 proved to be another standout season for the Fire. Compiling an 11-5-4 record, reaching the TSC Semi-Finals before losing in penalty kicks, and securing an at-large bid into the NAIA National Tournament. The NAIA 1st Round matchup vs John Brown University would be the end of the road as the Fire were knocked out once again in penalty kicks. Numerous awards were attached to the remarkable season which saw Roberts receive his second TSC Coach of the Year Award, Jake Van Der Luit be voted 1st Team All-TSC, TSC Conference Player of the Year, and NAIA All-American Third Team. Craig Barker would also receive 1st Team All TSC, and NAIA All-American Second Team. James Paylor, Banabas Ganidekam, Julian Hall, Ben-Avir Espinal, and Skylar Funk would also receive All-TSC honors. 

Coach Roberts led the Fire to their second Sun Conference Tournament Championship in program history in 2018 with a 1-0 win over Thomas. SEU advanced to the NAIA Opening Round in which they hosted.

In 2017, Roberts led the Fire to an 8-7-1 overall, and 5-3-1 Sun Conference record. A season plagued with injuries, Roberts managed the team to a 4th place finish, which allowed another first in program history, by hosting a TSC first round tournament game. For their efforts, the Fire saw Gustavo Rodrigues and Caue Salgado selected to the TSC First Team, while Joey Dotson was selected to the TSC All-Conference Honorable Mention. Luke Marchesani and Ethan Carey were honored on the TSC Academic All-Conference team, as well as Daktronics Scholar Athletes. Tyler Gay received the TSC Champions of Character award, the first under Roberts leadership. Gustavo Rodrigues would then go on to be selected to the United Soccer Coaches All-Region Team, and also honored as an NAIA All-American Honorable Mention.

In 2016, ranked #15 in the NAIA preseason polls, the Fire faced one of the toughest schedules in the country facing ranked teams such as #2 Rio Grande, #7 Union, #9 William Carey, #13 Thomas, and Receiving Votes St.Thomas, finishing the season at 9-9 overall, and 6-3 in the Sun Conference. The Fire once again returned to the Sun Conference Tournament after finishing tied for 3rd and earning a 5th place seed, losing to Keiser 1-0, in the first round. Once again, many Fire athletes were honored for their efforts. Gerritson Craane, Pedro Ivo Dias, and Jake Van Der Luit were voted to the TSC First Team All-Conference, Kendall Crouse was the TSC Second Team All-Conference, and Jonathan Jimenez was voted to the TSC All-Conference Honorable Mention. Luke Marchesani earned the TSC Academic All-Conference, and Daktronics Scholar Athletes award. Pedro Ivo Dias again would be selected to the NSCAA All-Region team and as an NAIA All-American Honorable Mention.

The 2015 season was historic for the Fire, as Roberts guided SEU to The Sun Conference regular season title with an 8-1 league record, then defended its home pitch during The Sun Conference Tournament, claiming the first title in program history. 

For his efforts, Roberts was named The Sun Conference Coach of the Year. 

During their first appearance in the NAIA National Tournament, the Fire went on the road to Cumberland University, and came away with a thrilling 1-0 double overtime victory on a goal by freshman Jake Van Der Luit. 

The defense was a key to the season, posting nine shutouts, with freshman goalkeeper Jorge Navarrete making 88 saves to earn Sun Conference Freshman of the Year honors. 

Offensively, Pedro Ivo Dias was named The Sun Conference Player of the Year, posting 10 goals. 

During his first season, the Fire finished 10-6-1 and in sixth place in The Sun Conference. SEU was second in the conference in scoring, averaging 2.44 goals per contest. Defensively, the Fire were second in the league in saves per game at 5.2 and fifth in goals allowed per game at just 1.28.

Roberts currently also serves as the Head Coach of the Florida Tropics, a professional arena soccer team in the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL). 

Prior to Southeastern, Roberts served as the Vice President of Ocala Stampede SC of the United Soccer League. During his time with the Stampede, Roberts was involved in front office management, growth and project and team development, as well as sponsorship and community outreach projects. They competed in the PDL, which has proven to be an important stepping-stone for top professionals now playing across the globe. Roberts also has served as Director of Soccer at VSI Tampa Bay FC, operating a USL PRO franchise, PDL, and WPSL. For 3 years prior to that, Roberts served as Director of Coaching at Brandon FC. Roberts is no stranger to the area; he is a graduate of Plant City High School, and played soccer at Florida Southern College. During his career with the Florida Southern, he was named All-Sunshine State Conference three times, and was selected to the NCAA All-South Region team twice.

After his collegiate career, Roberts played professional soccer with the Charlotte Eagles of the USL PRO league and the Philadelphia KIXX of the Major Indoor Soccer League. Roberts helped each team win league championships.

Roberts resides in Lakeland with is three children, Jaden, Jace, and Joseph, and wife Darcee.