Head coach Philip Wilson has been at the helm of Averett University's men's soccer program since March 2014 after serving as an assistant coach at Averett for three seasons.
Wilson's teams took a step forward in each of his first three seasons, improving their win total and finish in the USA South Conference. In 2016, Averett won eight games overall and six games in the conference — both highs during Wilson's tenure. The Cougars made their eighth consecutive USA South Tournament appearance in the process. He produced one all-conference, one all-state selection and multiple players/rookies of the week.
In 2015, Wilson guided the Cougars to a 6-12 overall record with a 5-5 mark in the USA South Conference. Two players earned USA South All-Conference honors, two earned USA South Rookie of the Week recognition and one earned Academic All-District honors from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Wilson led Averett to a 4-5-1 conference record in his first season as head coach. He had two players earn USA South All-Conference honors, one player earn all-state recognition and two players earn weekly conference awards.
In his seventh season as head coach in 2020-21, Wilson and the Cougars overcame the challenges of a postponed 2020 fall season and continued to build and develop the roster. They navigated the delayed season by holding fall intrasquad scrimmages to prepare for the 2021 spring competition season. During the spring, Averett went 4-3-1 and 3-2-1 in conference play to qualify for the USA South Conference Tournament's East Division semifinals. The Cougars had three all-conference selections and one all-state selection. They followed that with a second consecutive conference tournament semifinals appearance in fall 2021 after going 9-7-2 overall and 4-1-2 in conference play. Five Cougars earned all-conference honors in fall 2021.
In 2022, Wilson helped Averett transition into the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. He had three players earn Academic All-District honors from the College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA).
In 2023, Wilson's squad upped their win total by two, making the ODAC tournament for the first time, before bowing out to tournament finalist Washington and Lee. Three players earned all-conference honors, highlighted by senior forward Daniel Starr, who was named to the second-team along with junior defender Oliver Kousholt. Sophomore defender Jonthomas Buckley was named to the third-team. For the second straight year, Wilson had multiple players earn Academic All-District honors from the College Sport Communicators.
Wilson's 2024 squad competed valiantly in a competitive ODAC, but failed to qualify for the conference tournament by the end of regular season play. The team did finish with great momentum, however, going down the stretch undefeated in four of its last five contests. For the second straight season, Wilson had multiple players nominated with All-ODAC honors, with fifth-year forward Daniel Starr and senior defender Oliver Kousholt being named to the third team. For the third consecutive year, Wilson also had multiple players earn Academic All-District honors from the College Sport Communicators.
Prior to being named head coach, Wilson helped guide the program to the USA South Conference Tournament semifinals three consecutive times as an assistant for the Cougars for three seasons. Averett had a 29-20-7 overall record during Wilson's tenure as an assistant, including an 11-6-2 mark in 2011. In 2012, he helped the Cougars go 6-2 in the conference, matching the program record for conference wins in a season.
Wilson is a 2010 graduate of Milligan College, where he played four seasons and was a two-time team captain. He received numerous accolades, including All-America Honorable Mention, First Team All-Region, First Team All-Conference and Second Team All-Conference.
A native of Middlesborough, England, Wilson also played semi-pro in England for Billingham Town FC from 2004-06, in addition to playing for Cleveland County. He also spent three summers playing in the Professional Development league (USA) for the Cary Railhawks (Raleigh, N.C.).
His soccer coaching experience includes working summer Camps for the Carolina Railhawks (USL), Duke University, North Carolina State University, East Tennessee State University and Triangle Futbol Club. Wilson also spent three months working for Premier UK in North Carolina. He holds a Football Association Level 2 certification and a Premier Skills Practice Play Level 2 diploma.
Wilson also attended the NCAA's Emerging Leaders Seminar in January 2014.
Wilson earned his bachelor's of science degree from Milligan in human performance and exercise science with an emphasis in sports management. He completed his master's of business administration degree from Averett in 2013. He lives in Danville with his wife, Rachel, and son, Julian.
| PHILIP WILSON'S YEAR-BY-YEAR COACHING RESULTS |
| Season |
Overall |
Conference |
Finish |
Postseason |
| 2014 |
6-11-1 |
4-5-1 |
6th |
USA South Tournament quarterfinals |
| 2015 |
6-12-0 |
5-5-0 |
5th |
USA South Tournament quarterfinals |
| 2016 |
8-11-0 |
6-4-0 |
4th |
USA South Tournament quarterfinals |
| 2017 |
4-11-3 |
3-6-2 |
6th East |
--- |
| 2018 |
4-13-1 |
2-9-1 |
6th East |
--- |
| 2019 |
5-11-2 |
3-8-2 |
6th East |
--- |
| 2020-21 |
4-3-1 |
3-2-1 |
3rd East |
USA South Tournament East Division semifinals |
| 2021 |
9-7-2 |
4-1-2 |
T-3rd East |
USA South Tournament semifinals |
| 2022 |
4-9-5 |
2-5-3 |
10th |
--- |
| 2023 |
6-5-7 |
3-3-4 |
8th |
ODAC Tournament Quarterfinals |
| 2024 |
5-6-6 |
2-5-3 |
10th |
--- |
| Totals |
61-99-28
(.399) |
37-53-19
(.427) |
|
|
| HEAD COACHING HIGHLIGHTS |
• 16 USA South All-Conference Selections
• 5 ODAC All-Conference Selections
• 1 Jewish Sports Review All-America Selection
• 4 Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) All-State Selections
• 10 Academic All-District Selections
• 1 NSCA All-American
• 1 ODAC Athlete of the Week
• 3 USA South Players of the Week
• 4 USA South Rookies of the Week
• 2 USA South Defensive Player of the Week
• 1 Dr. Tommy Foster Male Student-Athlete of the Year |
*Last updated on 11/19/2024
