Dustin Fonder Named Campbell Head Coach!
Date Posted: 7/21/2015
(June 9, 2015 - News Story from Campbell Men's Soccer News, please visit http://gocamels.com/sports/msoc/2014-15/releases/20150609r8qrd6)
BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Dustin Fonder has been named head men's soccer coach at Campbell University, director of athletics Bob Roller announced Tuesday. Fonder will take over the Fighting Camel program after guiding High Point University to school records for Big South Conference and overall wins during the last eight seasons.
"This is a huge day for Campbell Soccer to hire a proven winner and successful Division I head coach in Dustin Fonder," said Roller. "Campbell Soccer has a rich history and has unquestionably been one of our strongest men's sports of the last half century. Our plan is to return to those days and the first step is securing a strong leader with experience. Dustin is a tireless recruiter and worker, and his coaching record after taking over the High Point program eight years ago speaks for itself."
Twice named Big South Conference Coach of the Year, Fonder led the Panthers to a 37-14-10 (.689) record in league play and a 73-49-17 overall (.586) in eight seasons. His team won the 2010 Big South regular season title with an 8-0-0 record and has earned the school's first men's soccer Division I national ranking.
Under Fonder's guidance, High Point earned national rankings, produced three Major League Soccer draft picks and its recruiting classes have consistently been rated among the nation's best.
"I am thankful to Dr. Dennis Bazemore, Bob Roller and the entire search committee for selecting me to lead the charge of getting Campbell University men's soccer back to a place where it can compete for conference titles and national recognition," said Fonder. "Bob Roller is an aggressive and progressive leader and I expect Campbell University athletics to be a direct reflection of his leadership. Campbell University has committed the resources and support to build special programs and special environments for its student-athletes."
Since winning the inaugural Big South Conference men's soccer title in 1984, Campbell has lifted 10 league trophies, most recently the 2009 Atlantic Sun regular season crown. On seven occasions, CU finished as runner-up in its league tournament.
Campbell re-joined the Big South Conference in the fall of 2011 and has produced a 19-18-1 league record, 0-2-2 in conference tournament play. Twice, Fonder's High Point teams eliminated the Camels in the quarterfinals of the league tourney (2011, 2012).
"I embrace the opportunity to lead the men's soccer program," said Fonder. "Our goal will be to build a program that competes on the field and in the classroom with passion and class. This program will be built on the ideals of every person striving to be a great student, a great person and a great player daily. We hope this will provide the blueprint for Big South titles and national significance."
After taking over the High Point program in 2007, Fonder's teams have not suffered a losing campaign since that first year. His 2009 squad finished second in the Big South standings before claiming the regular season title and a tourney runner-up finish one year later. Over the last eight seasons, 38 High Point players have been recognized on the Big South all-conference teams.
Fonder recruited and coached three Panthers who earned Big South freshman of the year honors -- Shawn Sloan (2009), Adam Sewell (2010), Kody Palmer (2012) – plus the 2010 Big South player of the year Karo Okiomah.
Under Fonder's guidance, three High Point players have been chosen in the MLS draft – Scott Rojo (2011), Okiomah (2012) and Sloan (2013). Okiomah also became the first player to earn NSCAA All-American honors in HPU's Division I history.
Furthermore, High Point earned five-consecutive NSCAA Team Academic Awards through 2014. Sloan was a two-time Academic All-America selection by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
His 2010 squad ranked fourth in the nation in scoring and eighth in won-lost percentage (16-4-1), spurring a run of three-straight seasons in which High Point led the Big South in total attendance. High Point's 2011, 2012 and 2013 recruiting classes were ranked among the nation's best.
From 2003-2006, Fonder served as assistant coach at Elon University where he helped the program improve from an RPI of 164 in 2004 to the school's first men's soccer national ranking in 2006.
Before accepting the position at Elon, Fonder was an assistant men's and women's soccer coach at his alma mater, Roanoke College, from 1998-2002. While at Roanoke, Fonder helped lead the Maroons to three Old Dominion Athletic Conference titles and NCAA Division III tournament berths. He recruited and coached 30 All-ODAC performers, three ODAC rookies of the year and two ODAC players of the year.
Fonder, who holds the USSF "A" license, has extensive involvement in coaching at the club level. He served as director of coaching for the Burlington Soccer Club from 2003-06 before assuming responsibilities as technical director of the Piedmont Triad Football Club in 2007. He has also served as a head coach of the North Carolina Olympic Development Program.
He graduated from Roanoke College in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science degree in health and physical education. Fonder was named the 1993 NCAA Division III player of the year before going on to a professional career in the USISL and NPSL from 1995-99.
A 2006 Roanoke College Hall of Fame inductee, Fonder also played for the men's basketball team and still holds the school career record for assists.
Fonder and his wife, Kim, are parents of a daughter, Dakota.