Craig Appleby became the 19th head coach in the 74-year history of the men's soccer program in July 2008 and promptly turned in one of the most successful seasons by a first-year head coach in program history. He guided the Blue Jays to a 13-5-5 record, the Centennial Conference title game and the NCAA Sweet 16 in his first campaign. His 13 wins are the second most by a first-year head coach in school history. Only John Haus, who guided Hopkins to a 14-3-1 record in 1987, won more games as a first-year head coach. Appleby is the only coach in Johns Hopkins and Centennial Conference men's soccer history to guide his team to the NCAA Tournament in his first season. In Appleby's second season, the Blue Jays went 16-4-3, won their record eighth Centennial Conference title and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16. Hopkins lost to the eventual national champion, Messiah, in double overtime on the road. In 2010, he guided the Blue Jays to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the third straight time and a final record of 15-4-4 with a pair of wins over top 10 teams. The three consecutive Sweet 16 appearances are a program first. Hopkins made its 10th straight trip to the Centennial Conference Tournament, one of just two teams to make all 10 tournaments, falling in the semifinals. In his first three seasons, Appleby has coached 15 All-Centennial Conference selections, one Centennial Conference Player of the Year, six NSCAA All-Region picks and two NSCAA All-Americans. Appleby came to Johns Hopkins after six years as the head coach at Emory & Henry (VA). Prior to his tenure with the Wasps, he was an assistant coach at both Wofford and Washington & Lee. 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. Appleby and his wife, Kelli, reside in nearby Mt. Washington. The couple are the parents of a son, Luke, who will turn one in January. |
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