Soccer
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
Beginning his 13th year as a collegiate soccer coach, Andy Manners enters his eighth season at MSU, but his ninth working alongside Neil Macdonald.
Manners' duties include, but are not limited to, on-field instruction, day-to-day operations and recruiting. He is also in charge of scouting, purchasing and compliance.
"Andy brings an awful lot to the table for us," Macdonald said. "He is a very intelligent person and he knows the game of soccer inside-out. He is a very good on-field coach, and I don't know if I have ever worked with anyone better than he is. He is the type of guy that will demand greatness from his players every day."
Manners came to Starkville following a very successful coaching career in Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he was charged with the head coaching duties of both the Triton and Lady Triton soccer teams. As head coach of the nationally-ranked ICCC programs for two seasons, Manners collected a 33-6-3 record as head coach of the men's team and a 26-9-3 clip as skipper of the Lady Tritons.
Having secured the Region XI championship for the second-straight season under Manners' guidance, the ICCC men concluded the 2004 campaign with a 15-4-3 record that was stopped short on a heartbreaking overtime loss to South Suburban CC in the district tournament. The Lady Tritons finished their season with a standout 13-5-1 mark, but were stopped just shy of their seventh consecutive Region XI championship with a loss to Iowa Western in the region finals.
While in Fort Dodge, Manners coached three females and one male to NJCAA all-America accolades, while his tutelage also led to eight all-region accolades (five women) for his athletes.
Prior to his appointment as ICCC head coach, Manners served two stints (1999, 2001-02) as an assistant in Fort Dodge under Macdonald, where the duo led both squads to a pair of NJCAA national tournament berths.
"Neil and I worked alongside one another for three years in Iowa, and I am excited to be coaching with him again" Manners said. "He is an excellent coach and leader who I have learned a lot from, especially at the Division I level."
Manners played in 80 games (79 starts) during his career at George Mason (1994-97) and scored 35 points on 12 goals and 11 assists from his central defender position. While in Fairfax, Va., he helped lead the Patriots to a combined 44-32-10 record, including a trip to the 1996 NCAA Tournament. A first team all-Colonial Athletic Association selection and second team all-Virginia honoree as a junior, Manners was also a three-time recipient of CAA Scholar-Athlete laurels as well. Manners has also played soccer in England for both Watford F.C. and Sunderland A.F.C.
Manners earned his Bachelor of Science degree in health, fitness and recreation resources from George Mason in 1999 before taking a break from coaching in 2000 to earn his Master's degree in education from Augusta State in 2002. He is currently pursuing his doctorate from Mississippi State.
A native of Sunderland, England, Manners holds his 'B' coaching license from the United States Soccer Federation, an English 'C' coaching certificate and a NSCAA level 2 goalkeeping diploma. He has also served as a staff coach for the Olympic Development Programs in both Alabama and Mississippi. He is currently the lead instructor for Mississippi Soccer Association's Northern District.
Born April 17, 1976, in Sunderland, England, Andy is married to the former Shannon Coleman. The couple have two children: a daughter, Riley, and a son, Andrew.
Playing Experience
- First team all-Colonial Athletic Association and second team all-Virginia defender at George Mason University (1994-97)
- Also played professional soccer in England for both Watford F.C. (1989-91) and Sunderland A.F.C. (1991-94)
Coaching Experience
- 1999: Assistant Coach, Iowa Central Community College
- 2000-01: Assistant Coach, Augusta State University
- 2002-03: Assistant Coach, Iowa Central Community College
- 2003-05: Head Coach, Iowa Central Community College
- 2005-present: Assistant Coach, Mississippi State University
