LAKELAND, Fla. – Southeastern University Athletic Director Drew Watson announced today that longtime head men's soccer coach
Clay Roberts will be stepping down from his position to take on a new role within the university.
Roberts, who has served as head coach of the Fire since 2014, has been a cornerstone of the men's soccer program, building it into a perennial contender within the Sun Conference and the NAIA. He was named Sun Conference Coach of the Year in 2015 and 2019.
"Clay has poured his heart into this program and helped shape the culture of excellence that defines Fire Athletics," said Watson. "I have been blessed to have known him and his family for 17 years and have worked with him at two different universities. He coaches with passion and integrity and cares deeply for and invests in his student-athletes. He will be missed in athletics, but I'm excited for this next chapter for him, Darcee', and the boys, and am grateful he will continue to serve Southeastern in a new capacity."
In 2024, Roberts became SEU's all-time leader in wins with 121, surpassing the previous record of 113. He concludes his collegiate coaching career with a 138-88-28 (.610) overall record. Roberts previously coached at Cairn University in 2008 and 2009.
Under Roberts' leadership, the Fire appeared in four NAIA National Championship Tournaments (2015, 2018, 2019, and 2024). SEU captured the 2015 Sun Conference regular season championship, the first in school history, and won the conference tournaments in 2015, 2018, and 2024.
During his time at SEU, Roberts coached nine NAIA All-Americans, 28 All-Sun Conference award winners, and six Sun Champions of Character award winners, as well as two Sun Conference Players of the Year (2015, 2019), a Sun Conference Defensive Player of the Year (2024), and a Sun Conference Freshman of the Year (2015). Many of his former players have gone on to play professionally.
"I will be forever grateful for my time leading the men's soccer program at SEU," said Roberts. "I want to thank Dr. Ingle and Drew Watson for believing in me years ago to guide this program with excellence on and off the field. The relationships built with the players over the years are what make this place so special. To see young men be challenged and grow in their academics, athletics, and most importantly, their spiritual walk with Christ, is what I will miss the most."
Roberts will be moving into a new role within the university that will allow him to continue investing in students during and after their time at Southeastern, while also giving him more time to spend with his family.
"As I move toward an opportunity that allows me more time to focus on my own family, I will always be praying for and supporting the men who wear the Fire men's soccer jersey," added Roberts. "Go Fire!"
In addition to his coaching duties at SEU, Roberts coached professionally, leading the Florida Tropics of the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) for seven years. He most recently served as top assistant for Bumpy Pitch, who won the TST 7v7 Million Dollar Men's World Championship in Cary, North Carolina, on June 9.
A national search for the next head men's soccer coach at Southeastern University will begin immediately.
