Matt Drapeau joined the Newberry Wolves' men's soccer program as assistant coach in July 2015.
Drapeau is a 2013 graduate of Francis Marion, where he was a two-year letterman on the soccer team and earned his bachelor of business administration in management and his bachelor of arts in mass communication with a public relations emphasis.
On the field at FMU, he was a member of the Patriots' 2008 team which won the Peach Belt Conference regular season and tournament championships and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II Tournament.
"The Newberry soccer program is excited to be welcoming Matt to the family," Slagle said. "Matt was an ideal candidate from the start. His experience coaching club and high school soccer in South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama will be an asset. His character, demeanor and desire will help us to continue to teach great men on and off the field and make a push for our best season ever."
In the coaching ranks, Drapeau has the USSF National D License and an NSCAA Goalkeeping Level 1 Diploma. His diverse coaching background includes both male and female teams at the club and high school levels.
He began coaching while still at FMU at Florence Soccer Association in 2010 where he was head coach of three boys teams, ('97, '96, '94) over five seasons. All of those teams competed in SCYSA State Cups and two finished as runners-up. While at FSA, he gained a solid foundation running training sessions, mentoring players, making game plans and managing schedules.
In 2012 and 2013, Drapeau served as the head junior varsity coach and assistant boys varsity coach at South Florence HS, which won its conference in 2013 with a 10-5-0 record. In this position, Drapeau created practices to develop younger players technical and tactical skills for the varsity team, helped with equipment management and assisted the head varsity coach in all aspects of game preparation.
After graduating from FMU, Drapeau moved back to Georgia where he served as the assistant boys varsity coach at his alma mater, Warner Robins HS. Warner Robins finished with a 12-6-0 record, which was good for third in Conference 2-AAAAA and a GHSA Elite 8 playoff appearance. He ran daily training sessions, scouted opponents, watched and discussed film with coaches and players and developed players' tactical and technical skills.
Most recently, Drapeau coached the '01 Elite boys team and assisted with the '01 and '02 Elite Blue girls teams at Birmingham (Ala.) United Soccer Association.
In February of 2016, Matt received his NSCAA Advanced National Diploma. In July of the same year, he then received his NSCAA Goalkeeping Level II Diploma. Drapeau also coaches club soccer at South Carolina United Futbol Club (SCUFC).
