Transylvania University

Transylvania alum and former All-American Matt Vogel enters his eighth season at the helm of the Transylvania men’s soccer program for the 2021 season.
Over the course of Vogel’s previous seven years, the Pioneers men’s soccer program has made a return to glory, a resurgence which has lasted over the past several seasons.  During the Vogel era, the Pioneers have played in four HCAC Championship Games (2014, 2017, 2018, 2020), capturing two HCAC Tournament Titles (2017, 2018) and two HCAC Regular Season Titles (2014, 2017).  

In 2017, Vogel was named the HCAC Coach of the Year, becoming the first men's soccer coach to be awarded both the HCAC Player of the Year and Coach of the Year honors during their career.

In the 2017 season, Vogel’s fourth as head coach, Transylvania won its first HCAC regular season title in three years and first HCAC tournament title in five years, advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in the Vogel era as well as for the first time since 2012.  The 2017 team set a program record for winning percentage in the NCAA era, and produced the HCAC Offensive and Defensive Most Valuable Players in Riley Calhoon and Tyler-Joy Brandon. 

The 2017 back-line became a nationally-regarded defensive juggernaut, ranking fifth nationally during the regular season in goals-against average (0.37 GAA) while sophomore goalkeeper Drew Grisham ranked eighth in the country in goals-against average. The Pioneers produced 12 clean sheets in the 2017 season, culminating in Joy-Brandon earning United Soccer Coaches First-Team All-American honors. The Pioneers won their first 11 games of the 2017 season, which eventually led to an 8-1 run through the HCAC slate and winning the HCAC regular-season and tournament championships.  The 2017 squad finished 17-2 overall, and were nationally ranked for most of the year.

In 2018, the Pioneers made back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournament as they hit their stride at the right time of the season, winning their second straight HCAC Tournament title with the 2018 conference crown.

In the COVID-shortened 2020 season, the Pioneers went 8-1 in HCAC play, advancing to the HCAC Championship Game for the third time in four years.  The Pioneers produced seven All-HCAC honorees en route to their best conference record in four years, falling just short of winning their third HCAC tournament championship in four years.

The first four years of his tenure at his alma mater enabled Vogel to make his own personal imprint upon the program, much in the same way he did during his decorated playing days at Transylvania.

In his first season, Vogel led the Pioneers to a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference regular-season title and fell just short of an NCAA tournament bid, falling in double overtime in the HCAC championship. The Transy offense was the most potent in the conference, averaging 2.5 goals per contest and tallying 31 assists. The Pioneer defense was just as effective, limiting opponents to a mere 0.94 goals per contest. The defensive unit recorded six shutouts, tying an HCAC record.

The 2016 Pioneer squad posted its best regular season in four years, finishing 12-3-3 and going 7-1-1 in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play.  With a young and talented squad boosted by a backbone of a few key upperclassmen, the Pioneers became regionally ranked by the NSCAA for the first time in five years and finished 2nd in HCAC play, just short of another conference title.

Vogel is a 2008 Transylvania graduate in exercise science and business administration and former Pioneer varsity student-athlete for three seasons. He received the prestigious 2008 Transylvania Male Athlete of the Year award, while also being a two-time All-American selection by NSCAA and D3Kicks.com, the 2007 Heartland Conference Player of the Year, a three-time NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region selection, a three-time All HCAC selection, a three-Time Transylvania Soccer MVP, and led the team to its first-ever NCAA tournament “Sweet 16” appearance in 2007. He also earned a varsity letter in 2004 from the University of Kentucky.

Vogel also excelled in the classroom while at Transylvania, maintaining an overall 3.7 GPA, receiving Dean’s list honors on three separate occasions. Using his knowledge and experience from his time at Transylvania, Vogel went on to earn a Master’s of Education in Health Promotion and Kinesiology (Exercise Physiology) with a perfect 4.0 GPA at the University of Kentucky in 2012.

Vogel also possesses a distinguished coaching resume outside of Transy. In his coaching career, Matt has earned such honors as 2012 NSCAA Div. II KY State Coach of the Year, 2012 KHSAA High School Boys Small Schools Coach of the Year, 2011 Region II Boys Competitive Coach of the Year, and the 2011 Kentucky Boys Competitive Coach of the Year. He has earned these honors as the Head Coach at Mercer County High School, Head Coach at Lexington FC, and Staff Coach with the Kentucky Olympic Development Program. In addition, Vogel earned valuable knowledge as a Graduate Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at the University of Kentucky, overseeing several athletics teams during his time there.

Vogel holds an A-Senior License from US Soccer and the Premier Diploma from United Soccer Coaches. He and his wife Katie reside in Lexington.



Matt Vogel Head Coaching Record