Faulconer Garners Contract Extension Through 2025

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - University of North Florida head women's soccer coach Eric Faulconer agreed to a multi-year contract extension through Dec. 31, 2025, as announced by UNF Director of Athletics Nick Morrow.

"I am very thankful to our Director of Athletics Nick Morrow and our university's administration for their faith in me to continue to lead this program for years to come," head women's soccer coach Eric Faulconer said. "My passion for UNF is strong and I am excited about the continued growth of the institution. I am incredibly grateful for my coaching staff and for the opportunity to mentor an outstanding group of student-athletes each day. They have bought into my vision for the program, and I am proud of the progress we have made the last three seasons. We will strive to continue to raise the bar each year and look forward to building this program both on and off the field. My family and I are very happy to call Jacksonville and UNF home for the foreseeable future."

Faulconer joined North Florida women's soccer in 2017 and was promoted to associate head coach in 2018. Following the 2018 season, Faulconer was promoted to head coach, where he has thrived and brought North Florida women's soccer to new heights.

In three seasons at the helm for North Florida, Faulconer touts a 30-12-5 overall record. The 21-year head coach has an impressive 269-112-34 career record. Faulconer has earned a winning season in 20 of his 21 seasons as a head coach, while reaching at least 10 wins in 18 of those campaigns.

"After conducting a holistic review of the women's soccer program, it became very clear that the team is in good hands with Eric as the Head Coach," UNF Director of Athletics Nick Morrow said. "Women's soccer has experienced record-breaking success under his leadership and Coach Faulconer is the perfect fit to lead this program to its first ASUN Championship and NCAA Division I Tournament berth. Eric is innovative, passionate and committed to achieving great things at the University of North Florida. I look forward to supporting Coach Faulconer and the women's soccer program for many years to come."

Building from the Ground Up
A versatile and experienced head coach, Faulconer possesses the unusual attribute of having started two collegiate women's soccer programs from scratch prior to his arrival in Jacksonville. Faulconer's first coaching opportunity came at Thomas University where he built a program from the ground-up and earned five winning seasons in six years, while helping Thomas to the 2003 NAIA National Championships.

Faulconer took on a similar challenge at Armstrong State University in 2005, starting ASU's program. At ASU, Faulconer transformed the Pirates into a perennial power in the southeast region and nation, guiding ASU to a 172-54-23 record over 12 seasons. The Pirates reached the NCAA Championships nine times, won three Peach Belt Conference regular season and tournament titles, won two NCAA Southeast Region crowns and advanced to the 2011 NCAA DII Final Four. ASU went 14-5-2 in 2016, his final year leading the Pirates before the program and athletic department was eliminated with the consolidation of ASU with Georgia Southern University.

Taking UNF to New Heights
Faulconer made the trip down I95 where he has solidified UNF since his arrival in 2017 as an assistant. In three years as head coach of the Ospreys, UNF has had 15 All-ASUN honorees, six United Soccer Coaches (USC) All-Region honorees, two ASUN superlative award honorees and positioned UNF in the top 100 of the NCAA RPI.

In his first year as head coach in 2019, Faulconer led UNF to an 11-6-2 overall record and 5-2-1 mark in ASUN play, marking UNF's winningest season for overall and league play in the program's DI era. He upped the ante on that achievement in the unusual spring 2021 season, guiding UNF to an ASUN South Division crown with an undefeated conference ledger and a 10-2 overall record. UNF advanced to the ASUN Championship Semifinals for the first time in nine seasons as Thais Reiss was named ASUN Player of the Year and Mercedes Sapp earned ASUN Goalkeeper of the Year honors.

In the fall of 2021, UNF achieved its highest-ever RPI ranking in program history, coming in at No. 89. During that season, the Ospreys earned their first-ever result against a Power 5 program in a draw at Florida.

All-told for his career, Faulconer has produced 12 all-americans, 13 scholar all-americans, 65 all-region selections, 84 all-conference honorees, six conference players of the year, one conference goalkeeper of the year, two region players of the year, two freshman of the year and 19 United Soccer Coaches Team Academic awards.

Coaching Accolades

Started two women's soccer programs
Six-time NSCAA Region Coach of the Year
Top 20 for NCAA DII head coach winning percentage (.694)
Armstrong State Athletic Hall of Fame inductee (2017)
Armstrong State University Wall of Honor recognizing the top 250 employees in the history of Armstrong State
Nine NCAA Division II Championship appearances
Three Peach Belt Conference regular season titles and three Peach Belt tournament titles.
Two NCAA Southeast Region titles
2011 DII Women's Soccer Final Four appearance
Other Notable Professional Achievements
Interim AD at Armstrong State (April 1, 2009 - July 1, 2009)
NSCAA National Chair of the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer (2014-17)
NSCAA National Advocacy Committee College Coaches representative (2015-17)
Region Chair of the Southeast Ranking Committee (2011-13)
ASUN representative on the USC National Top 25 ranking committee
Co-authored three soccer training session books

Personal

Born in New Jersey
Moved to Naples, Fla., in 1979.
BS Political Science - Florida State ('92)
MS Public Administration - Florida State ('96)
Has two sons, Zachary and Ethan, with his wife, Ginger
Worked in the office for the U.S. Senator of Florida

Players Mentioned

Thais Reiss

Mercedes Sapp

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