Former West Virginia Wesleyan College men’s soccer standout Daniel Smee has joined the West Virginia Alliance FC as head coach for the 2019 season.
“We are excited to announce that Daniel will be leading our club for the 2019 season,” said owner Joe Johns. “Daniel has an impressive record of success both as a player and as a coach. l have the utmost confidence that he will lead the West Virginia Alliance FC successfully.”
A native of Newcastle, England, Daniel played soccer professionally in the Scottish Premier League for Gretna PC from 2006-2008. Following his time there, Daniel won a National Championship with Tyne Metropolitan College in the UK before pursuing a collegiate career in the USA.
He ended up at West Virginia Wesleyan College, where he would go on to be a three-year captain and both an Athletic and Academic All-American. He was also named to the All-Conference and All-Region squads in all three seasons that be played.
Following his collegiate playing career, Daniel was a pivotal member of our club, the West Virginia Chaos, from 2013 to 2016. He remains the only player to record a goal for the club in US Open Cup competition.
Daniel began his coaching career at Slippery Rock University. There, he served as the Men’s Soccer Graduate Assistant for the fall of 2013 and 2014 seasons, as well as filling in as the Interim Head Coach for the spring semester of 2014.
After his time at Slippery Rock University, Daniel moved to Charleston to coach youth soccer. Shortly after, be returned to collegiate coaching landing a position as the Men’s Soccer Assistant Coach at Lees-McRae College for the 2015 season.
Thereafter, Daniel returned to West Virginia Wesleyan in the fall of 2016 to serve as the Men’s Soccer Assistant Coach.
Following his time at Wesleyan, Daniel returned to Charleston to serve as the Men’s Soccer Assistant Coach at the University of Charleston. At the University of Charleston, Daniel is an integral member of the staff that was recognized as both Regional and National Coaching Staff of the Year for 2017.
Also during ms time at University of Charleston, the program won two regular season conference championships, a conference tournament, a regional title and the 2017 NCAA Division II National Championship.
“This club, formerly the West Virginia Chaos, has had a place in my heart since I played here in 2013, so I am excited to be coaching the West Virginia Alliance FC following the recent rebrand. We are competing in a tough Great Lakes Division within the USL League Two. It’s a fresh start for the club and I’m delighted to be involved in helping it move forward” said Smee.
