Founded 1921 Head coach Dave Brandt (4th year) Conference Patriot League | Location Annapolis, MD Nickname Mids, Midshipmen | |
 | ||
University United States Naval Academy Stadium Glenn Warner Soccer Facility
(Capacity: 1,600) Home ground Glenn Warner Soccer Facility | ||
The Navy Midshipmen men's soccer team represents the United States Naval Academy in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men's soccer. Navy competes as a member of the Patriot League. It used to play its home games at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, but now plays them at Glenn Warner Soccer Facility.
Contents
History
The team began play in 1921 and has competed for the NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship since the tournament began in 1959. Since 1921, the Midshipmen have acquired a total of 595 wins, 330 losses, and 119 draws.
Pre-NCAA
Before the NCAA began its tournament in 1959, the Intercollegiate Soccer Football Association (ISFA) declared the annual national champion, from 1927 to 1958. Navy was national co-champion in 1932, with the University of Pennsylvania.
The Glenn Warner years
What are considered the golden years of Navy Soccer lasted under the tenure of Coach Glenn Warner, who acted as head coach of the squad for 30 years. In those 30 years, Coach Warner guided the Midshipmen to nine NCAA Tournament appearances, four Final Four appearances, one national championship, 28 winning seasons and a record of 243-65-31.
The six most successful years of Navy Soccer took place between 1962 and 1967, wherein the team qualified six consecutive times for the NCAA Tournament. In 1962, the squad was eliminated in the first round, only to improve the next year to second place, after losing to St. Louis, 3-0, in the final. In 1964, however, they captured the championship, this time beating Michigan State in the final match, 1-0. This would mark the only NCAA Soccer Title in the Academy's history.
In 1965, the squad fell to fourth place in the tournament and were knocked out in the quarterfinals, the following year. They again achieved third place in 1966, after losing to St. Louis, 1-0, in the semi-final. The Mids would return to the Tournament three more times with Glenn Warner, but would never come close to recapturing the title.
After Glenn Warner's resignation, the Academy qualified for the Tournament in 1988, this being the only time the squad would qualify for the finals without Glenn Warner as coach. Since 1988, the Academy has been unable to qualify and has had trouble competing in the regional Patriot League.
The Patriot League
Since the initiation of the Patriot League's soccer program in 1990, the Academy has been able to produce only mediocre results. The squad has been unable to capture a regional title, despite having reached the final match three times in 1995, 1996 and 1999.
The 1995 defeat, to Lafayette of 3-2 in overtime, would only be followed by a 4-1 loss to arch-rivals Army, the following year. The team then faced Lafayette once again in 1999, and was defeated 1-0, once again in overtime. Since 1999, the Mids have been unable to rank any higher than fourth in the league, at times ranking as low as sixth or even last place. These past 7 years have been noted as the darkest in Navy Soccer.
In an attempt to revive team performance, the Academy's athletic department completed the construction of $4.5 million soccer facility. The 16,300-square-foot (1,510 m2) facility is named after Navy's legendary Men's coach, Glenn Warner.
Anders Hall of Honor
The Anders Hall of Honor — located in the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility — contains thirteen trophy cases and display areas that honor past soccer-team members who have distinguished themselves in soccer, the military, or civilian life.
The hall was given its name to commemorate retired Maj. General William A. Anders and family, who helped finance it.
Athletic Hall of Fame
For soccer players in the USNA Athletic Hall of Fame, see footnote.The Athletic Hall of Fame is located in Lejeune Hall.