Jeremy Groves joins Tom Anagnost's staff after four years as head coach at Murray State.
Groves Joins Anagnost’s MSU Soccer Staff
January 10, 2018 | Soccer
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Honest, trustworthy, smart and loyal.
These were some of the traits Mississippi State head soccer coach Tom Anagnost was looking for in his next Associate Head Coach. He found all of those things in Jeremy Groves, who was named to the position by Anagnost on Wednesday.
Groves, a native of Leeds, England, comes to MSU after a spectacular four-year stint as head coach at Murray State, where he led the Racers to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances in 2015 and 2017.
"Jeremy Groves is an exceptional coach who has obviously done such an extraordinary job," Anagnost said. "His spectacular coaching record drew me to him and surely impressed me. However, the more I got to know him and what everyone said to me about him as a person is what sold me on him. Loyal, trustworthy, family man, smart, and honest were just some of the repeated words I would also use to describe Jeremy Groves."
Since the Murray State women's soccer program began in 2000, no coach had more success than Groves. Under his leadership, the Racers recorded an overall mark of 50-21-6 and dominated Ohio Valley Conference play with a record of 32-3-5.
"As soon as I stepped on campus I was blown away with the unbelievable facilities—the new locker room is fantastic and makes the facility one of the best in the SEC," Groves said. "Everything is in place at Mississippi State for student-athletes to compete for championships."
In just his second season in 2015, Groves' Racers won their first OVC regular season title since 2008 and its first OVC Tournament since 2009. The Racers also had a program-record 16 wins. They also became the first team in OVC history to go undefeated at 10-0.
Not only is Groves talented on the field, but he is also adept as a recruiter. His first commitment at Murray State, Harriet Withers, became the first and only three-time OVC Offensive Player of the Year. He also recruited and coached 14 players who received All-OVC honors during his four-year span as head coach.
In his final season at Murray State, Groves and the Racers put together one of the most memorable seasons in program history with a program-best record of 15-2-2, including an 11-game unbeaten streak. The Racers also climbed as high as 27th in the RPI over the course of the season and received votes for the first time in the United Soccer Coaches Top-25 poll.
G roves is no stranger to the Southeastern Conference, as he spent six seasons at his alma mater, the University of Kentucky. In his two seasons with the women's squad, he tutored the Wildcat goalkeepers and prepared scouting reports while helping UK to the 2006 SEC Tournament. His final four years in Lexington were spent with the men's team, where he served in an expanded role helping prepare team training sessions and assisting in recruiting and academics.
Before his time at Murray State, Groves served as an assistant coach at Morehead State from 2010-13. While with the Eagles, he helped lead the team to three OVC tournament title game appearances, including the 2010 OVC regular season championship and the 2010 and 2013 OVC tournament titles.
At Morehead State, he served the team in several areas, but his recruiting helped make the Eagles a great program. He helped bring talented players to MSU including the 2013 OVC Offensive Player and Freshman of the Year, Jade Flory and Angela Black.
Groves began his playing career in the academy of his hometown club, Leeds United A.F.C, after which he also played for Rotherham United and York City F.C. before moving to the United States.
"My family and I are really looking forward to moving down to Starkville," Groves said. "The city has grown so much in the two years since I was last in Starkville. When I met with Tom, Matt, John (Cohen) and Jared (Benko) and heard their vision for the program and athletics department I knew that this was where I wanted to be. I can't wait to meet the team and get going. I'm really looking forward to learning from Tom and Matt and continue my growth as a coach."
Upon his arrival in the U.S., Groves began his collegiate soccer career at Virginia Intermont for one season before transferring to Kentucky, where he helped lead the Wildcats to two-straight Mid-American Conference championships in 2003 and 2004. Groves graduated from UK with degrees in kinesiology and business.
Groves and his wife, Melissa, have two sons, Aidan and Jaxson.
"Getting a proven head coach of this caliber to join us demonstrates how special Mississippi State is and how magnetic our soccer program has become," Anagnost added. "The current and future state of Mississippi State soccer is very bright and we are so excited to welcome Jeremy to the family. Hail State!"
These were some of the traits Mississippi State head soccer coach Tom Anagnost was looking for in his next Associate Head Coach. He found all of those things in Jeremy Groves, who was named to the position by Anagnost on Wednesday.
Groves, a native of Leeds, England, comes to MSU after a spectacular four-year stint as head coach at Murray State, where he led the Racers to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances in 2015 and 2017.
"Jeremy Groves is an exceptional coach who has obviously done such an extraordinary job," Anagnost said. "His spectacular coaching record drew me to him and surely impressed me. However, the more I got to know him and what everyone said to me about him as a person is what sold me on him. Loyal, trustworthy, family man, smart, and honest were just some of the repeated words I would also use to describe Jeremy Groves."
Since the Murray State women's soccer program began in 2000, no coach had more success than Groves. Under his leadership, the Racers recorded an overall mark of 50-21-6 and dominated Ohio Valley Conference play with a record of 32-3-5.
"As soon as I stepped on campus I was blown away with the unbelievable facilities—the new locker room is fantastic and makes the facility one of the best in the SEC," Groves said. "Everything is in place at Mississippi State for student-athletes to compete for championships."
In just his second season in 2015, Groves' Racers won their first OVC regular season title since 2008 and its first OVC Tournament since 2009. The Racers also had a program-record 16 wins. They also became the first team in OVC history to go undefeated at 10-0.
Not only is Groves talented on the field, but he is also adept as a recruiter. His first commitment at Murray State, Harriet Withers, became the first and only three-time OVC Offensive Player of the Year. He also recruited and coached 14 players who received All-OVC honors during his four-year span as head coach.
In his final season at Murray State, Groves and the Racers put together one of the most memorable seasons in program history with a program-best record of 15-2-2, including an 11-game unbeaten streak. The Racers also climbed as high as 27th in the RPI over the course of the season and received votes for the first time in the United Soccer Coaches Top-25 poll.
G roves is no stranger to the Southeastern Conference, as he spent six seasons at his alma mater, the University of Kentucky. In his two seasons with the women's squad, he tutored the Wildcat goalkeepers and prepared scouting reports while helping UK to the 2006 SEC Tournament. His final four years in Lexington were spent with the men's team, where he served in an expanded role helping prepare team training sessions and assisting in recruiting and academics.
Before his time at Murray State, Groves served as an assistant coach at Morehead State from 2010-13. While with the Eagles, he helped lead the team to three OVC tournament title game appearances, including the 2010 OVC regular season championship and the 2010 and 2013 OVC tournament titles.
At Morehead State, he served the team in several areas, but his recruiting helped make the Eagles a great program. He helped bring talented players to MSU including the 2013 OVC Offensive Player and Freshman of the Year, Jade Flory and Angela Black.
Groves began his playing career in the academy of his hometown club, Leeds United A.F.C, after which he also played for Rotherham United and York City F.C. before moving to the United States.
"My family and I are really looking forward to moving down to Starkville," Groves said. "The city has grown so much in the two years since I was last in Starkville. When I met with Tom, Matt, John (Cohen) and Jared (Benko) and heard their vision for the program and athletics department I knew that this was where I wanted to be. I can't wait to meet the team and get going. I'm really looking forward to learning from Tom and Matt and continue my growth as a coach."
Upon his arrival in the U.S., Groves began his collegiate soccer career at Virginia Intermont for one season before transferring to Kentucky, where he helped lead the Wildcats to two-straight Mid-American Conference championships in 2003 and 2004. Groves graduated from UK with degrees in kinesiology and business.
Groves and his wife, Melissa, have two sons, Aidan and Jaxson.
"Getting a proven head coach of this caliber to join us demonstrates how special Mississippi State is and how magnetic our soccer program has become," Anagnost added. "The current and future state of Mississippi State soccer is very bright and we are so excited to welcome Jeremy to the family. Hail State!"
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