Paul Gilbert enters his second season at the helm of the Longwood men's soccer program in 2025 after his hiring in December 2023.
Gilbert guided Longwood to a its first Big South tournament appearance since 2021 in his first season in Farmville. Longwood finished 5-10-3 overall and 2-4-1 in the league, winning its opening-round match on the road at UNC Asheville, 4-3, on Nov. 6 and advancing to the Big South semifinals. The first-round victory was the first of its kind for the Lancers since beating Asheville on Nov. 6, 2016.
Gilbert helped senior Ethan Stevenson to a breakout 13-goal campaign to land the Clover, S.C., native on the Big South first team. Junior midfielder Aaron Asamoah joined Stevenson on the first team, while forward Brandon Bedolla earned a Big South All-Freshman Team selection.
Stevenson's goals-per-game average of 0.72 ranked 11th best in Division I and the 13 total goals were 13th overall in the country.
Gilbert came to Longwood following two highly successful seasons at Indiana Tech, but he brings success across multiple levels and stops. Including his time with the Lancers, Gilbert boasts a career record of 73-65-26 (.524) over nine seasons as a head coach, including a 32-7-13 record in his two seasons at Indiana Tech. In both years, his team made the NAIA national tournament.
"First and foremost, I want to welcome Paul, his lovely wife Erinn and their three children to the Lancer family," Longwood director of athletics Tim Hall said. "I am delighted they said 'Yes' to leading our men's soccer program.
"Paul is cut out for this opportunity through training and temperament. He is a tireless worker, an advocate for comprehensive student-athlete welfare, an educator and a highly skilled soccer tactician. I have every confidence that Paul will lead this program in a championship manner."
Gilbert guided Indiana Tech to the NAIA national tournament quarterfinals in 2023, matching the program's best run in the national tournament in team history. During the run, Indiana Tech, which won a conference title, upset the number two team in the country to advance to the round of 16.
In his first season, he led the team to the second round of the NAIA tournament while going 12-3-7 and winning the conference championship.
"I first want to thank athletic director Tim Hall and the rest of the search committee for the opportunity to become Longwood's next men's soccer coach," Gilbert said. "Throughout the interview process it was evident that the Longwood athletic department is dedicated to building and maintaining meaningful relationships while pursuing excellence in all aspects of the student-athlete experience. These two aspects made it clear that Longwood is an institution where we can thrive both on and off the soccer pitch.
"I am so excited to be on campus, meet the current players and begin building for the 2024 fall season. We will immediately begin implementing our game model with our principles, developing a unique style of play that players and fans will enjoy."
Prior to coaching at Indiana Tech, he led a young Lubbock Christian program for six years. LCU's all-time winningest men's soccer head coach with 42 victories, Gilbert won at least nine matches three times in six seasons, and he helped the program navigate the COVID-shortened 2020-21 campaign.
In his final season at Lubbock Christian, he helped the Chapparals advance to the Lone Star Conference championship game for the first time as an NCAA program.
Gilbert also headed the NPSL's Lubbock Matadors SC from 2022-24, helping that side to the third round of the U.S. Open Cup in 2024, before falling to a professional squad. The Matadors finished No. 3 nationally in 2023 at 11-2-0 overall, winning the Lone Star Coneference regular-season title, as Gilbert was named NPSL National Coach of the Year.
He began his coaching career at NCAA Division III Adrian as an assistant for two seasons before serving as a volunteer assistant coach at Michigan State. While at MSU, he assisted with all day-to-day operations while primarily working with the goalkeepers. In 2014, the Spartans advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight as the number No. 3 overall seed in the NCAA tournament.
Gilbert, a native of Rockvale, Tenn., played four years as a goalkeeper at Liberty, graduating in 2011. He posted 15 clean sheets in 45 career matches and was named 2007 Big South Freshman of the year and to the all-Big South second team.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT PAUL GILBERT:
I am very happy and excited for Paul and his new role. I know he will bring exceptional energy and work ethic to the program. His focus and dedication will have high impact on student athletes. I'm looking forward to seeing his continuing success. -- Marko Mitrovich, US Men's National Team U23 Coach
I am extremely happy and excited for both Paul Gilbert and Longwood University. Paul has been successful wherever he has gone and at all levels. He is a really talented soccer coach, but more importantly a leader with a positive attitude and high integrity. I couldn't think of a better person to lead Longwood University into its next chapter! -- Damon Rensing, Head Men's Soccer Coach, Michigan State
Paul has proven to be a sharp young coach who has led multiple programs to success and always recruits, trains, and plays with a clear identity in mind while competing for championships! Soccer aside, Paul's dedication to student-athletes and preparing them for life after college and to be successful character driven individuals is one of his greatest strengths! Looking forward to following Longwood Men's Soccer as Paul transitions over as the new Head Coach and leader of the program! -- Cale Wasserman, Head Men's Soccer Coach, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
