Craig Appleby became the 19th head coach in the 74-year history of the men's soccer program in July 2008. He comes to Johns Hopkins after six years as the head coach at Emory & Henry College (VA). Prior to his tenure with the Wasps, he was an assistant coach at both Wofford College and Washington & Lee University.

A 1994 graduate of UNC-Charlotte, Appleby played for the 49ers from 1990 to 1992. He earned Second Team All-Metro Conference honors in 1992 and helped lead UNC-Charlotte to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 1991 and 1992. Appleby began his collegiate career at Wofford College, where he set a school freshman record with 16 goals and earned NSCAA First Team All-South honors.

Appleby continued his playing career in the German Third Division with Tus Celle. After a season in Germany, he returned to the United States to play in the USISL with the Raleigh Flyers (1995) and the National Champion Charleston Battery (1996). He then went on to play for the Richmond Kickers of the A-League (1997).

Named the South Carolina Player of the Year after leading the state in scoring in 1989, Appleby led Irmo High School to three consecutive state championships from 1987 to 1989.