GORHAM, Maine – A familiar face will be returning to the University of Southern Maine as the Huskies' Department of Athletics and Athletic Director Al Bean is excited to announce Jim Hopkins '00 as the next head coach of the men's soccer program. Hopkins replaces Mike Keller who retired after leading the Huskies for 19 seasons (1992, 2005-2022). 
 
"Jim is ready for his next professional challenge, and I'm excited that he will be joining our staff as men's soccer coach," said Bean.  "Jim has a tremendous passion for the University of Southern Maine, and having the opportunity to lead the Huskies is something he has aspired to for a long time. As a former Husky student-athlete, he is familiar with the University, the athletic department and the transformational nature of the educational experience available to USM students. I anticipate Jim to hit the ground running as a recruiter, leader and member of our department."
 
A three-year captain (1997, 1998, 1999) for the Huskies and an all-conference midfielder, Hopkins earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Southern Maine in 2000. Since then, Hopkins has earned extensive experience in coaching and recruiting at the collegiate, prep and club level, and has earned his United States Soccer Federation A License.
 
"I am grateful and excited to be given the opportunity to lead this program," noted Hopkins.  "As an alumnus of the program and the University of Southern Maine, I feel honored to be back on this campus, doing the job I love, and representing the Husky athletic department and team."
 
A former Technical Director for Seacoast United SC and the head coach of the Northeast Premier Soccer League's Seacoast United Club (2017-2018), and current operator and co-founder of Top Spot Soccer Academy – a non-profit that specializes in college identification clinics, small group training and college recruiting counsel - Hopkins has a decade of collegiate head coaching experience.
 
Hopkins led Dean College men's and women's soccer programs from 2007 through 2015, managing the women's team from 2007 – 2008 before taking on the men's program from 2009 through 2015.  Hopkins left Dean finishing as second all-time in wins on the men's side.  After Dean, Hopkins served as the Huskies' Associate Head Coach for two seasons (2017, 2018) before moving on to lead the Bridgton Academy program in 2019.
 
In his role as head coach of the Wolverines, Hopkins was responsible for recruiting 22 players from across the country and globe to compete in the highest level of the New England Private School Athletic Conference, and assisting student-athletes in finding the next step in their playing and academic careers at colleges and universities all over the United States.  Hopkins program's have been nationally ranked in the last two of three years.