Mike Babst hired as Davidson College men’s soccer head coach

DAVIDSON, N.C. (Via Davidson College) — Mike Babst has been hired as the Davidson College head men’s soccer coach, Director of Athletics Chris Clunie announced Thursday.

“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be the next head coach of the Davidson men’s soccer team,” said Babst. “I want to thank everyone involved in the search, especially Chris Clunie, for trusting me to carry out part of his vision for Davidson Athletics.”

Babst comes to Davidson after a successful six-year stint at the University of Chicago, where he led the Division III program to five NCAA Tournament appearances, including the national semifinals the last two seasons.

His teams won four conference championships and went 87-23-12, including 54-6-5 the last three years.

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“Coach Babst brings a wealth of experience and a foundation of success to Davidson,” said Clunie. “He understands an environment with high academic standards that competes to win at the highest level athletically – he exemplifies athletics done right. We are thrilled that he has joined us and we are confident he will lead the men’s soccer program to the next level.”

In Chicago, Babst coached seven of the program’s eight All-Americans, three conference players of the year, four conference rookies of the year and 30 all-conference selections.

He spent 2012-13 as an assistant coach at Northwestern, where he helped Northwestern earn its second straight Big Ten title and reach the NCAA postseason for the seventh time. While there he coached goalkeeper Tyler Miller, who is the current starting keeper for Los Angeles FC (MLS).

Babst spent the previous five years as an assistant at the University of South Carolina, where the Gamecocks reached the NCAA Tournament his final two seasons. He made other coaching stops at Duquesne and Washington & Lee.

“I have been fortunate to work at a number of great institutions, and if I could take my favorite piece of each place it would come together to look exactly like Davidson. My family is so excited to be a part of this community and this amazing educational experience. I hope to lead a team that makes everyone associated with Davidson proud, and I can’t wait to get that process started,” Babst commented.

Babst graduated from Boston College in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in economics and marketing. On the pitch, he joined the Eagles as a walk-on during his sophomore campaign and competed as a junior and senior.

In 2007, he earned a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh.