Jeremy Payne, a talented and highly-accomplished young coach, enters his third season as men's soccer coach at Whitworth University in 2021-22. He is 11-15-3 in his first two years leading the Pirates, including a 3-7-1 record during the COVID-afflicted season of 2020-21.
Payne came to Whitworth from Eastern University in St. David's, Pennsylvania, where he led the Eagles to a record of 42-17-5 over the last three seasons. He is a graduate of Messiah College (Pa.), where he was the NSCAA Division III Player of the Year in 2012 and 2014.
Following graduation from Messiah, Payne became a graduate assistant coach at Eastern in August of 2015 and served in that role for two seasons before he was promoted to head coach in March of 2017. He led the Eagles to a 13-4-2 record in his first season, just missing the NCAA Division III tournament. The 2018 season was a breakthrough as Eastern went 18-3-2, won the MAC Freedom Conference regular season (7-0) and the conference tournament and reached the round of 16 in the NCAA Division III tournament. In 2019 Payne directed a young Eagle squad, comprised mostly of freshmen and sophomores, back into the NCAA Division III tournament as the team peaked late in the season to win the MAC Freedom tournament.
At Eastern, Payne coached one NSCAA All-American, six All-Region players and 19 all-conference honorees. Payne and the Eastern coaching staff earned Mid-Atlantic Staff of the Year in 2018.
Outside of his role at Eastern, Payne spent 2019 as an assistant coach with West Chester United SC, a member of the USL II and NPSL.
Payne was a standout player for Messiah throughout his career, earning NSCAA Division III Player of the Year recognition in 2012 and 2014. He was the D3Soccer.com Forward of the Year in 2014 and the D3Soccer.com Midfielder of the Year in 2012 and 2013. Payne was a three-time NSCAA first team All-American (2012-14). He helped the Falcons win back-to-back NCAA Division III men's soccer crowns in 2012 and 2013.
