DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University announced the hiring of Tye Cole as its next women's soccer head coach on Tuesday.

Cole comes to Averett with a wealth of soccer coaching experience and connections after most recently serving as an assistant women's soccer coach at University of West Georgia since July 2023.

"We are thrilled to welcome Coach Cole to the Averett team" said Meg Stevens, vice president, director of athletics and campus operations. "We believe he is the right person to build on the strong foundation we've built in recent years and help us achieve success in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference."

Cole becomes the 12th coach of the Averett women's soccer program since it began play in 1993. He takes over a program that has a history of success, including a USA South Athletic Conference Championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2012, along with two USA South Player of the Year selections and one Academic All-America recipient. The Cougars are entering their third year in the highly competitive ODAC in the upcoming 2024 season after going 6-10-2 (3-7 conference) and producing one all-conference selection in 2023.

"I am honored to become the next women's soccer coach at Averett," Cole said. "I have enormous respect for this university, its history and tradition. I can't wait to start this new journey with such an amazing group of players as we look to build on the many successes that the university has achieved. I have sincere gratitude to Averett President Dr. Tiffany Franks and Meg Stevens for allowing me the opportunity to invest in the lives of the treasured student-athletes from a position of leadership. Also, I'd like to express gratitude to Deputy Director of Athletics Danny Miller for devoting such time, attentiveness and guidance to me during the entire process. Finally, I'm grateful to the staff at Averett who contributed to the interview process. I am committed to cultivating sincere bonds with the student-athletes and helping them find success both on and off the pitch."

Prior to his time as an assistant at West Georgia, Cole was the Lee County Strikers' girls' soccer head coach from June 2022-July 2023. He was the Elite Club National League technical director with Florida West FC from 2020-22, the assistant director of coaching with the Cape Coral Soccer Association from 2009-20 and worked with the New York Red Bulls' Regional Development School from 2017-18 handing training, coaching, recruiting and scouting for the MLS Academy. In 2016, he also served as the head coach of Palm City FC, a semi-professional team in the Women's Professional Soccer League, and coached with Florida's Olympic Development Program.

Cole holds a Premier license and a Director of Coaching license from the United Soccer Coaches. In addition, Cole has a USSF C License and a C License from the Scottish FA Education, as well as certificates of Preparation, Equality, Children's Wellbeing and Mental Health in Scottish Football.

"Coach Cole is a seasoned veteran with a vast knowledge of the game, which will be an asset in developing our student-athletes on and off the field," Franks said. "I'm excited for the future of our women's soccer program under his leadership."

Originally from Goodlettsville, Tennessee, Cole played collegiately at Lee University and Belmont University. He graduated from Lee in 2022, obtaining a Bachelor's of Science in theology.

Cole joins the Averett family with his wife Lisa and their four children — Collin, Madeleine, Eden and Ethan.