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Tennant McVea
Head Coach
After seven seasons as Associate Head Coach, Tennant McVea will start his first season as Head Coach of the Old Dominion Monarchs after taking over for Alan Dawson at the end of the 2023 season. McVea returned to the staff in 2017 after being an integral part of the Men’s Soccer Staff from 2013-2015. During that time the program won the institutions first Conference USA Championship trophy in 2014.
In 2023, ODU started unbeaten in its first 10 matches and recorded wins over Radford, William & Mary, Kentucky, Coastal Carolina and Campbell. Karan Mandair and Jonas Schmalbach tied for the single season goals scored lead with five. All five of Mandair's came on penalty kicks including game-winners against Kentucky and Campbell. Michael Statham had four shutouts in goal including the win over Kentucky.
In 2022, the Monarchs rejoined one of the toughest conferences in soccer with their first season back in the Sun Belt and opened conference play with a 4-2 win at Georgia Southern. Freshman Michael Statham was a standout in goal with five shutouts, including one over 20th-ranked Campbell. ODU knocked off fourth-ranked Marshall 2-1 on October 15 behind goals from Michael Eberle and Samuel Mar Kristinsson. As a result of that win, Statham earned Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week honors, while Kristinsson was named College Soccer News Team of the Week
In the fall of 2021, Eliot Goldthorp was an All C-USA Second Team selection and an All-Freshman Team honoree, while Josh Thacker earned All C-USA Third Team honors. A total of 24 Monarchs were named to the Conference USA Honor Roll, while seven ODU Student-athletes earning a C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal.
In 2020-21, McVea helped coach Josh Thacker to a Conference USA Freshman of the Year award. Thacker was named to the All C-USA Second Team and All-Freshman Team. Djibril Doumbia was named to the All-Conference USA Third Team, while Ettore Casadei joined Thacker on the All-Freshman Team. Thacker garnered College Soccer News All-Freshman Team laurels. Additionally, Thacker and Casadei were also named to the All-State Team. A total of 19 Monarchs were named to the Conference USA Honor Roll, while seven ODU student-athletes earned a C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal.
The 2019 campaign saw the Monarchs garner victories over VCU, South Carolina and William & Mary. Senior Deniz Dogan scored a team-high five goals with two assists for 12 points and was named to the C-USA All-Academic Team. That season the Monarchs had six named to the C-USA Academic Honor Roll, while two earned C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal honors.
In 2018, McVea was instrumental in ODU finishing second place in the C-USA with a 6-2-0 mark in league play. The Monarchs returned an exciting core group from the 2017 Conference USA Championship winning team. The team lost on the final night of the season to the #3 ranked team in the nation, University of Kentucky, in a game that decided the regular season champions. The Monarchs went on to lose in the Conference USA Semifinal to the #14 ranked University of Charlotte and narrowly missed out on another trip to the NCAA National Championship.
That year the Monarchs again picked up multiple post season honors on and off the field. Niko Klosterhalfen ended his career being named to the Google Cloud Third Team Academic All American. He was the first Monarch to earn the award since Men’s Basketball’s Alex Loughton earned the honor in 2006. The German native boasted a 3.88 GPA and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in psychology. Six Monarchs tabbed places on the Conference USA end of season All Conference Teams, while 11 named to C-USA Academic Honor Roll and two earned C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal honors.
Upon his return McVea was instrumental in building the 2017 Conference USA championship winning team that advanced to the national tournament. After a standout 2-0 win at home to NC State, the Monarchs narrowly lost to NCAA finalists Indiana in the second round.
In that year Brandon Perdue was named VaSID Rookie of the year and Mertcan Akar earned VaSID All State first team honors. Akar, along with Niko Klosterhalfen, Fox Slotemaker and Max Wilschrey, also picked up United Soccer Coaches All Southeast Region honors. Seven Monarchs garnered all Conference USA awards for their efforts on the field while. Niko Klosterhalfen was one of 14 to earn a place on the Conference USA All-Academic Team gaining a 3.84 GPA.
McVea played a pivotal role in the development of defensive captain Fox Slotemaker who went on to sign a professional contract with Tasman United in his native New Zealand.
McVea spent the 2016 season as an Assistant Coach with Elon University working alongside current MLS Assistant Coach Chris Little (Colorado Rapids). While at Elon, McVea helped the Phoenix to a 7-6-4 record 3-2-3 in the CAA and coached Elijah Agu to an NSCAA All-Region Second-Team nod.
Off the field, McVea is responsible for the academic success of the Men’s Soccer student athletes. Since his return in 17 the team have consistently been one of the top-ranking men’s teams on campus. In the spring of 2023, the Program earned a 3.35 GPA tabbing them the highest male sport team GPA.
As well as his work at Old Dominion, McVea has become an integral part of the soccer community in Hampton Roads. He has been involved in coaching and mentorship of players at local ECNL club Beach FC since 2013 and has been on staff at Newport News based Lionsbridge FC (USL 2) since their formation in 2017. McVea has mentored and developed multiple players who have played professionally in the United States in the MLS, USL Championship and USL League one as well as Europe and beyond. He currently holds a B license with United States Soccer Federation (USSF) and is part of the current cohort for the prestigious USSF A Senior License with some of the top head and assistant coaches in the MLS, NWSL and USL Championship.
After a stellar collegiate career, McVea signed his first professional contract with Finnish Premier League club FC Lahti in 2010. McVea played for several clubs in the United States and Europe before retiring from playing. He was capped for his country, Northern Ireland, from the U16-U19 level and captained the team at the U17 European Championships in 2004.
McVea played collegiately at Loyola University of Maryland where he was a First Team All-American in 2008 as well as a three-time All-Region selection. McVea, was the first player to be named MAAC player of the year three times in a row and captained the team to three straight national tournament appearances from 2007-09. The Greyhounds were ranked as high as sixth in the nation in 2008. In 2009, he was a finalist for the prestigious Lowe’s Senior Class Award.
He graduated from Loyola with a degree in advertising and public relations and a minor in general business in 2009.
McVea and his wife Jaclyn live in Virginia Beach with their son Tennant and daughter Carson.
In 2023, ODU started unbeaten in its first 10 matches and recorded wins over Radford, William & Mary, Kentucky, Coastal Carolina and Campbell. Karan Mandair and Jonas Schmalbach tied for the single season goals scored lead with five. All five of Mandair's came on penalty kicks including game-winners against Kentucky and Campbell. Michael Statham had four shutouts in goal including the win over Kentucky.
In 2022, the Monarchs rejoined one of the toughest conferences in soccer with their first season back in the Sun Belt and opened conference play with a 4-2 win at Georgia Southern. Freshman Michael Statham was a standout in goal with five shutouts, including one over 20th-ranked Campbell. ODU knocked off fourth-ranked Marshall 2-1 on October 15 behind goals from Michael Eberle and Samuel Mar Kristinsson. As a result of that win, Statham earned Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week honors, while Kristinsson was named College Soccer News Team of the Week
In the fall of 2021, Eliot Goldthorp was an All C-USA Second Team selection and an All-Freshman Team honoree, while Josh Thacker earned All C-USA Third Team honors. A total of 24 Monarchs were named to the Conference USA Honor Roll, while seven ODU Student-athletes earning a C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal.
In 2020-21, McVea helped coach Josh Thacker to a Conference USA Freshman of the Year award. Thacker was named to the All C-USA Second Team and All-Freshman Team. Djibril Doumbia was named to the All-Conference USA Third Team, while Ettore Casadei joined Thacker on the All-Freshman Team. Thacker garnered College Soccer News All-Freshman Team laurels. Additionally, Thacker and Casadei were also named to the All-State Team. A total of 19 Monarchs were named to the Conference USA Honor Roll, while seven ODU student-athletes earned a C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal.
The 2019 campaign saw the Monarchs garner victories over VCU, South Carolina and William & Mary. Senior Deniz Dogan scored a team-high five goals with two assists for 12 points and was named to the C-USA All-Academic Team. That season the Monarchs had six named to the C-USA Academic Honor Roll, while two earned C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal honors.
In 2018, McVea was instrumental in ODU finishing second place in the C-USA with a 6-2-0 mark in league play. The Monarchs returned an exciting core group from the 2017 Conference USA Championship winning team. The team lost on the final night of the season to the #3 ranked team in the nation, University of Kentucky, in a game that decided the regular season champions. The Monarchs went on to lose in the Conference USA Semifinal to the #14 ranked University of Charlotte and narrowly missed out on another trip to the NCAA National Championship.
That year the Monarchs again picked up multiple post season honors on and off the field. Niko Klosterhalfen ended his career being named to the Google Cloud Third Team Academic All American. He was the first Monarch to earn the award since Men’s Basketball’s Alex Loughton earned the honor in 2006. The German native boasted a 3.88 GPA and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in psychology. Six Monarchs tabbed places on the Conference USA end of season All Conference Teams, while 11 named to C-USA Academic Honor Roll and two earned C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal honors.
Upon his return McVea was instrumental in building the 2017 Conference USA championship winning team that advanced to the national tournament. After a standout 2-0 win at home to NC State, the Monarchs narrowly lost to NCAA finalists Indiana in the second round.
In that year Brandon Perdue was named VaSID Rookie of the year and Mertcan Akar earned VaSID All State first team honors. Akar, along with Niko Klosterhalfen, Fox Slotemaker and Max Wilschrey, also picked up United Soccer Coaches All Southeast Region honors. Seven Monarchs garnered all Conference USA awards for their efforts on the field while. Niko Klosterhalfen was one of 14 to earn a place on the Conference USA All-Academic Team gaining a 3.84 GPA.
McVea played a pivotal role in the development of defensive captain Fox Slotemaker who went on to sign a professional contract with Tasman United in his native New Zealand.
McVea spent the 2016 season as an Assistant Coach with Elon University working alongside current MLS Assistant Coach Chris Little (Colorado Rapids). While at Elon, McVea helped the Phoenix to a 7-6-4 record 3-2-3 in the CAA and coached Elijah Agu to an NSCAA All-Region Second-Team nod.
Off the field, McVea is responsible for the academic success of the Men’s Soccer student athletes. Since his return in 17 the team have consistently been one of the top-ranking men’s teams on campus. In the spring of 2023, the Program earned a 3.35 GPA tabbing them the highest male sport team GPA.
As well as his work at Old Dominion, McVea has become an integral part of the soccer community in Hampton Roads. He has been involved in coaching and mentorship of players at local ECNL club Beach FC since 2013 and has been on staff at Newport News based Lionsbridge FC (USL 2) since their formation in 2017. McVea has mentored and developed multiple players who have played professionally in the United States in the MLS, USL Championship and USL League one as well as Europe and beyond. He currently holds a B license with United States Soccer Federation (USSF) and is part of the current cohort for the prestigious USSF A Senior License with some of the top head and assistant coaches in the MLS, NWSL and USL Championship.
After a stellar collegiate career, McVea signed his first professional contract with Finnish Premier League club FC Lahti in 2010. McVea played for several clubs in the United States and Europe before retiring from playing. He was capped for his country, Northern Ireland, from the U16-U19 level and captained the team at the U17 European Championships in 2004.
McVea played collegiately at Loyola University of Maryland where he was a First Team All-American in 2008 as well as a three-time All-Region selection. McVea, was the first player to be named MAAC player of the year three times in a row and captained the team to three straight national tournament appearances from 2007-09. The Greyhounds were ranked as high as sixth in the nation in 2008. In 2009, he was a finalist for the prestigious Lowe’s Senior Class Award.
He graduated from Loyola with a degree in advertising and public relations and a minor in general business in 2009.
McVea and his wife Jaclyn live in Virginia Beach with their son Tennant and daughter Carson.