Greenville, S.C. – The Furman men's soccer coaching staff has been tabbed as the 2024 United Soccer Coaches South Region Staff of the Year, it was announced on Friday.
 
Head coach Doug Allison and his staff, which includes associate head coach Bret Boulware, associate head coach/recruiting coordinator Brandon Tucker, and volunteer assistant coach Charlie Arndt, guided the Paladins to a 9-4-6 record, Southern Conference Tournament title, and NCAA Tournament second round appearance this season. The Paladin staff also includes assistant director of sports performance Joe Novotasky, athletic trainer Jeremy Page, and administrative assistant Shannon Dobbin.
 
After defeating Mercer, advancing past UNC Greensboro on penalty kicks, and downing ETSU 2-0 in the SoCon finals, Furman played to a 0-0 draw versus No. 14 North Carolina in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. The Paladins advanced past the Tar Heels, 5-3, on penalty kicks before being eliminated in the second round by eighth-ranked Marshall in Huntington, W.Va.
 
Sophomore Aaron Salinas garnered SoCon Goalkeeper of the Year honors and was joined on the All-SoCon First Team by forward Christian Kraus, and defenders Ivan Agyaakwah and Slade Starnes. Freshman Wilfer Bustamante, junior Lloyd Wamu Snell, and freshman Luke Hutzell earned second team All-SoCon honors while defender Ryan Wagner joined Bustamante and Hutzell on the SoCon All-Freshman squad.
 
Allison, who completed his 30^th season as Furman head coach, ranks 11^th among active Division I men's head coaches with 349 career victories and has guided the Paladins to 11 SoCon regular season title, 10 tournament crowns, and 10 NCAA Tournament bids. He is a nine-time SoCon Coach of the Year honoree and has been named United Soccer Coaches Region Coach of the Year three times.