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Neil Roberts has stabilized the 49ers as a consistent front-runner in Conference USA and a nationally recognized program. In his five years as head coach, the 49ers are 36-10-6 in C-USA play and they climbed to as #2 in the powerful South Region in 2002. By landing top-flight recruits, such as NSCAA high school All-Americans and former state Gatorade Players of the Year sophomore goalkeeper Shannon Huffman and freshman Lindsey Beam, and with schedules that continually test that talent against the best programs in the nation, Roberts prepares for the 49ers for the toughest of battles. The result is a program that has achieved a Top 10 national ranking, enjoyed an unbeaten regular season, claimed a C-USA championship and competed in the NCAA Tournament. Two seasons ago, he guided the 49ers to the best season in program history. The 49ers finished the season with a school record 16 wins, an unbeaten regular season, a Conference USA regular-season title and the program's second trip ever to the NCAA Tournament. Charlotte finished the season ranked a program-high second in the NSCAA South Region. The 49ers also earned the program's first-ever national rankings and finished the season ranked in all four national polls. As a result of the 49ers success, Roberts' garnered several coaching honors. He was named Conference USA Coach of the Year as well as NSCAA South Region Coach of the Year and Soccer Buzz Southeast Region Coach of the Year. Roberts has coached one All-American as well as two players that have been named C-USA Offensive Player of the Year. He has also coached 15 players in his five seasons that have earned All-Conference USA honors. He has also helped five of his players earn NSCAA All-South Region honors. Roberts took over the program on July 27, 1999, replacing Robbie Church, who started the program in 1994. He has compiled a 57-36-11 record in his five seasons at Charlotte. Roberts came to the 49ers after a four-year run at East Carolina, where he built a winning program. When he came to East Carolina in 1995, the Pirates were coming off a 2-15 season. In 1997, he led the Pirates to a 10-10 record, the most wins in the program's history. He earned Colonial Athletic Association Coach of the Year honors for his efforts. In 1998, East Carolina recorded the first winning season in school history with a 10-7-1 record. He won 30 games in his four-year career at East Carolina. Prior to taking the East Carolina coaching position, he coached the Mount Olive College men's soccer program from 1992 to 1994. In 1993, he was named the Carolinas' Conference Men's Soccer Coach of the Year. He served as head boys and girls soccer coach at New Bern High School from 1990-92. In his first season at New Bern, Roberts earned 4-A Mideastern Conference Boys' Coach of the Year honors. In 1991, he was named North Carolina Soccer Coaches Association Region III Boys' Coach of the Year. His first head coaching position was at Durham's Jordan High from 1988-90. In 1987, he graduated from Delaware with honors in health and physical education. He earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors at Delaware as a placekicker on the football team. The Abington, Pa., native has a masters of arts in physical education from UNC Chapel Hill. While he was working on his masters degree, he served as a graduate assistant soccer coach with the Tar Heels' 1987 and 1988 national championship women's soccer teams. He lives in Huntersville, N.C., with his wife, Kelly, and sons Tyler and Tanner.
email: nroberts@email.uncc.edu
