Tusculum Promotes Steve Voltz To Head Men’s Soccer Coach

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. -- Tusculum College men's soccer assistant coach Steve Voltz has been promoted to head coach, announced Tusculum athletic director Frankie DeBusk Tuesday. Voltz replaces Brett Teach, who is stepping down after three seasons to accept the assistant men's soccer coach position at NCAA Division I Virginia Commonwealth University.

Voltz was an integral part of Tusculum's third straight winning season under Coach Teach in 2009, as he helped guide the Pioneers to a 10-6-2 record and its third consecutive Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament title, including a 2-1 win over 15th-ranked Carson-Newman in the semifinal round. Tusculum then posted its fourth shutout of the season in the SAC Tournament final, defeating Mars Hill 2-0 to claim the program's fourth conference tournament crown.

"We are very excited to have Coach Voltz remain at Tusculum as he takes over guiding our men's soccer program," said DeBusk. "Steve has a credibility and positive relationship with our players, staff and College community, which I feel will be beneficial to the continued success of our program. I am very happy for Steve and have every confidence in him in doing a fine job."

"I am very pleased with Coach DeBusk's decision to retain Coach Voltz as the head coach," said Teach. "He is an excellent soccer coach and a tremendous person with a great personality and an unparalleled work ethic."

"Coach Voltz will stabilize the program, and take it to even greater heights because of the high standard he holds both himself and his team to," Teach added. "I do not have enough positive words to describe Coach Voltz and I wish him nothing but the greatest of success."

Voltz came to Tusculum prior to the 2009 season from Huntingdon College, where he led the Hawks to the Great South Athletic Conference tournament in 2008, falling to eventual tournament runner-up Spelman College.

Prior to his post at Huntingdon, Voltz served as the assistant women's soccer coach at NCAA Division II member Slippery Rock University. During his tenure at the Slippery Rock, Pa. school, the Rock posted a 29-12-2 record and advanced to at least the semifinal round of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tournament each year.

"I want to thank Coach DeBusk for the opportunity to take over the men's soccer program at Tusculum," said Voltz. "I am honored by the confidence and trust he has shown in me, and what we are trying to accomplish here."

Teach guided the program to a sterling 41-18-5 record, capturing two South Atlantic Conference championships , two Food Lion SAC Tournament titles, and advancing to the NCAA Division II national tournament twice. The King College (Tenn.) graduate has transformed the program into a perennial contender at the national level, mentoring five All-Americans, eight All-Region performers, one SAC Player of the Year, and two SAC Freshmen of the Year during his tenure at the Greeneville, Tenn. school.

Coach Teach led Tusculum to its second South Atlantic Conference championship in his first season, guiding the 2007 Pioneers to an 11-9-2 record and steering TC to its third straight NCAA Tournament appearance with the program's third SAC Tournament title.

"I personally wish to thank Coach Teach for the outstanding job he did in leading our soccer program the last three seasons," DeBusk added. Brett lifted the Pioneers to national prominence and unparalleled success in one of the best three-year periods in the rich history of Tusculum soccer. He will be missed and I would like to wish Brett, Sarah and their family all the best in the future endeavors as they begin this new chapter in their lives."

Teach then took the program to new heights in 2008, guiding the Pioneers to their best record in school history with a 20-3-1 worksheet. The 2008 Pioneers swept the SAC regular season and tournament titles for a second straight year, while advancing to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Tournament for the second time in school history with a 2-0 win over No. 13 Lees-McRae in the Southeast Region final.

"I really enjoyed my three years at Tusculum and reestablishing the men's soccer program as one of the most successful programs, not only in the South Atlantic Conference, but in the nation as a whole," said Teach. "I believe Tusculum is back on firm ground now as one of the elite programs in the country, and I expect it will remain so for the foreseeable future."

"I am extremely grateful for the support and hard work given to myself and the program by Coach Voltz, former assistant Todd Eason, our players, the entire athletics staff, and most importantly, athletic director Frankie DeBusk."

"Coach Teach has set the standard at Tusculum very high in the last three years, and working with him last season has been extremely valuable in striving to maintain that high standard," said Voltz. "With the help of an outstanding athletic staff, a team of great guys and a lot of hard work, we hope to keep Tusculum College Men's Soccer competing at the highest level in the SAC."

Tusculum College, located in Greeneville, Tenn., is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, USA and is a NCAA Division II member of the South Atlantic Conference which is comprised of nine colleges and universities in Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina.