Campbell University head men's soccer coach Steve Armas has announced the hiring of Ed Joyce as assistant coach for the Fighting Camel program. Joyce joins Armas' staff after serving the last four years at Georgia State, where he earned National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) South Atlantic Region assistant coach of the year honors in 2011.
"I'm pleased to have a coach of Ed's quality joining our staff," said Armas, who has guided the Camels to a 21-16-1 record in conference games over the last four years. "He has been an integral part of positive growth at Georgia State and brings with him a wealth of experience and talents to Campbell. I look forward to Ed and his wife Ashleigh joining the Campbell family."
While at Georgia State, Joyce was involved in all phases of the Panthers program that received the program's first berth in the NCAA College Cup's main draw in 2011. The Panthers finished 13-8-1 to record the school's most victories in 25 years while posting nine shutouts to tie a school record set in 1983.
He recruited and coached the first Major League Soccer draftee in Georgia State history, Michael Nwiloh, who was chosen in the fourth round by Chivas USA in the 2014 MLS Super Draft.
A native of Shefford, England, Joyce joined the Georgia State staff prior to the 2010 campaign and helped guide the team to its first .500 finish in five years. In addition to his responsibilities at Georgia State, Joyce also coached the Inter-Atlanta FC Blues elite U-12 boys club team.
Joyce moved to GSU sfter a stint as the assistant coach for the women's soccer team at Ohio University. His duties at Ohio included recruiting, opponent scouting, game breakdown and on-field instruction. He also ran Ohio's spring and summer clinics. He completed his masters in Coaching Education from Ohio in 2010.
Joyce also served as assistant men's soccer coach and recruiting coordinator at Presbyterian College where he assisted the Blue Hose transition into Division I competition in 2007.
Prior to Presbyterian, Joyce was the head boys soccer coach at Greenville (S.C.) High School. He guided Greenville to a South Carolina state championship in 2006 when the Red Raiders finished the season with a perfect 27-0 record and were ranked No. 1 in the nation by the NSCAA in its spring rankings. Greenville set state records for shutouts, fewest goals allowed and goals given up per game. He was named both the region and state coach of the year in 2007.
A tireless worker, Joyce was an assistant coach in the U.S. Olympic Development Program (ODP) in South Carolina for the boys' 1995 team and a coach at elite soccer camps for both Wake Forest and South Carolina. He also served as the assistant camp director at Presbyterian College and was responsible for coordinating many of Ohio's camps. He worked on the Region II ODP staff working with the girls' 1997 age group in South Carolina in the summer of 2010.
Joyce competed collegiately at Erskine College in Due West, S.C. He played four years with the Flying Fleet, serving as a team captain for two seasons. He was the team's leader, and second in the Carolinas Virginia Conference in assists in 2005. He graduated with a degree in athletic training in 2007.
Joyce holds the NSCAA National, Advanced National and Premier diploma coaching certificates. He married the former Ashleigh Snook in January of 2011.
"I am very grateful to Coach Armas and the Campbell Athletic Department for giving me this opportunity," said Joyce. "Ashleigh and I are very much looking forward to joining the Campbell community."
Joyce joins a Fighting Camel program that has produced a 2-6-1 record against nationally-ranked teams over the last two years and stands 3-4-1 against Atlantic Coast Conference foes over the last four seasons. Since 2007, four Campbell players have been selected in the MLS Super Draft – Travis Golden (2014, DC United), Mitchell Cardenas (2013, Sporting KC), Richard Jata (2009, Chicago Fire), Willy Guardarrama (2007, Kansas City Wizards).
He replaces Billy Englishby, who accepted a similar position last month at Drexel University.
