Gardner-Webb Names Mike Varga Head Women's Soccer Coach
December 10, 2013 | Women's Soccer
Varga spent the 2013 season as an assistant coach with the Runnin' Bulldogs and has 14 seasons of Division I head coaching experience under his belt. He has posted an overall career record of 236-201-37 in nearly two decades of head coaching experience.
"After our interview process concluded, Mike rose to the top of a quality pool of candidates and we are excited he accepted our offer to become the head coach," said Gardner-Webb Vice President of Athletics Chuck Burch. "Mike's approach, philosophy and overall success in his previous head coaching stops proved to be an outstanding combination."
Prior to joining the Gardner-Webb program last season, Varga served as head women's soccer coach at the University of South Alabama from 1999-2012.
"It is an absolute honor to be named head women's soccer coach at Gardner-Webb University," said Varga. "I would like to thank Dr. Bonner, Chuck Burch and Pam Scruggs for allowing me this wonderful opportunity. It is exciting to be at a Christian University that competes at the highest level. The people here at Gardner-Webb have been wonderful and welcoming, and I can't think of a better place to work.
"I look forward to working with our current student-athletes and helping them achieve their potential on the field and in the classroom. The future is bright for Gardner-Webb soccer and I am anxious to get started."
Varga won 121 matches during his time with the at South Alabama, leaving the program as its all-time leader in victories. USA captured the Sun Belt regular season title in 2000 and was league tournament runner up in 2005. The core group of student-athletes he recruited on this past season's roster led South Alabama to a Sun Belt Conference Tournament crown, a 14-win season and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
During his time in Mobile, Varga mentored 20 All-Sun Belt Conference selections, seven Sun Belt All-Tournament selections, 21 NSCAA All-Region Scholar-Athletes, three NSCAA All-Region selections and one Freshman All-America selection.
The Jaguars twice carried the Sun Belt's top GPA (2003 and 2004), and Varga's teams earned the NSCAA's National Team Academic Award ten times.
Varga's success wasn't limited to South Alabama. He started the women's soccer program at Division II Lincoln Memorial (Tenn.) University and had the Railsplitters in the NCAA Division II top-20 within five seasons.
During his time at LMU, Varga compiled a 65-25-7 overall record and led the squad to a pair of Gulf South Conference titles in 1996 and 1997. His team's combined record in 1996 and 1997 was 34-5-3 and the Gulf South Conference crowns were the school's first in any sport. His 1998 squad achieved a national top-10 ranking, the program's first.
Varga also coached the men's team at Lincoln Memorial, winning 50 matches, helping that team to a GSC title in 1998 and developing 10 All-Conference performers.
Varga graduated from Ashland (Ohio) University in 1990 with a degree in criminal justice and philosophy. He was a four-year starter and three-year captain for the Eagles, and graduated as the program's all-time leading scorer with 52 goals.
Varga has also been active with the Olympic Development Program in Tennessee, Alabama and North Carolina. He is also an associate national staff member for the National Soccer Coaches of America.
Varga and his wife, Lora, reside in Cherryville, N.C. Varga has three children: Alli (13) and twins Ethan and Kalee (10).
