Head men’s soccer coach, Kyle Graves, has announced his resignation from his coaching and Director of Fitness Center posts at SUNY Morrisville, effective the end of July.

Graves will be relocating to Delaware as his family pursues other career opportunities.

“The past 10 years at Morrisville have given me the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream of being a collegiate soccer coach,” Graves said.

“Morrisville is, and always will be, my home. The friendships and memories I have made with players, alumni, colleagues, and supporters of the program are something I will cherish forever.”

“I am confident that with the support of the campus community and the hard-word and dedication of the players, Morrisville soccer will continue its tradition of excellence both on and off the field.”

Over the course of his career at the helm of the program, Graves has guided the Mustangs to a 99-56-16 overall record, a 65-19-8 slate within North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) action.

Under his guidance, the Mustangs have captured three regular season and four NEAC Championship Tournament titles, while making four total appearances in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.

His 2014 squad claimed the first of what would be three straight titles, and earned the programs historical first win in NCAA post-season, a thrilling penalty kick shootout on their home turf. They remain the lone Morrisville State team to host a post-season game in the national tournament.

It was during that same season that Graves would coach the program’s first NSCAA Division III All-American in Danny Peckham, garner NEAC Coach of the Year accolades, as well as a program national poll ranking come season end by the NSCAA (27th).

Throughout his time on the Mustang sidelines, Graves has coached numerous All-Conference honorees, Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year recipients, while engaging his squad in their academic prowess as well with NEAC Scholar-Athlete recognition.

Graves’ teams’ have been actively involved in the community, participating in projects for Special Olympics, Wounded Warrior, IACKids, AYSO, Multiple Sclerosis and Operation Hat Trick’ all initiatives that benefited community organizations with a mission to help others.

“I’m still trying to envision Morrisville State men’s soccer without Kyle Graves,” Morrisville State Director of Athletics, Greg Carroll said. 

“In so many ways his teams are a reflection of him. His emphasis on ethical conduct, personal accountability, competing with class, and his realization that athletic success is nothing without academic success are the hallmarks of his program.” 

“And then there’s the soccer knowledge. I know describing someone as a “student of the game” is a euphemism, but Kyle really is. He simply loves soccer and his love for the game is infectious. His players see that and you can see it in the enthusiasm they bring to practice every day.”

“More than anything else however is his commitment to his teams as family. He embraces all his players as an extension of his own family. A lot of coaches talk about creating a family atmosphere but Kyle delivers more than any other coach we’ve had at Morrisville State. He truly is a winner.”

His replacement will be announced prior to the start of the season in August.

By martha

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