Tony Setzer, one of the pillars of Gardner-Webb’smen’s soccer program during his career in Boiling Springs, isentering his 19th season as the Bulldogs’ head coach.
The Bulldogs’ career victories leader with 138, Setzer hasspearheaded the growth of soccer at Gardner-Webb University and inCleveland County. With an overall record of 138-213-23, Setzer hasspent his entire 19-year collegiate career as a head coach inBoiling Springs.
Last year, Setzer’s team had a superb season, reeling offa 5-1-1 A-Sun record and earning the No. 2 spot at the conferencechampionship. Playing at Stetson University, his squad downed thehost squad by a 2-1 score in the championship game, earning theschool’s first-ever bid to the NCAA Championship.
Playing at UAB in the opening round, the Bulldogs scored a 1-1tie and moved on to the second round due to a 3-1 margin in penaltykicks after the teams played two scoreless overtime periods. GWUfell by a 3-1 count to No. 9 Clemson in the second round, endingthe team’s hope for a third-round match.
Six of Setzer’s players were honored by making A-Sunteams. Not one for personal goals, Setzer was named the A-Sun Coachof the Year prior to the conference championship.
Under his direction, Tyler Kettering garnered more saves thananyone to ever play in GWU and A-Sun history. After his collegiatedays came to an end, Kettering signed a professional contract toman the net for the Wilmington Hammerheads.
Setzer’s 2005 Bulldogs put together a solid season as theyfinished 9-7-2 overall and improving their record by five gamesfrom the previous season. GWU started out the 2005 season4-0-2 before suffering a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to the nationallyranked No. 17 Clemson Tigers. However, the Bulldogs wouldscore their first ever victories over East Carolina, AppalachianState, Winthrop, and Florida Atlantic. The Bulldogs jumpedinto the top-10 regionally for the first time since moving to theDivision I level, as Setzer’s 2005 squad was once ranked ashigh as 8th in the NSCAA/adidas South Region poll.
Under Setzer in 2005, the Bulldogs had two individuals receiveAll-Conference honors, as senior Loren McLean was named to theSecond Team All-Atlantic Sun Conference and rookie Dirk Dittrichearned a spot on the All-Freshmen Team.
Setzer’s 2004 Bulldogs had several solid outings during a4-15-0 campaign, seeing several near misses go in favor of theopposition. A total of seven matches were lost by just one goal,and three more close calls were lost, 2-0, by the Bulldogs. Perhapsthe team’s most impressive effort came at #15 South Carolinaas GWU got goals from Brian Wentzel and Darnell Caroll to lead theGamecocks, only to see a late rally result in a 3-2 comeback winfor the nationally-ranked foe.
With Setzer’s guidance in 2004, keeper Tyler Ketteringearned second-team All-Atlantic Sun Conference honors whilerecording a career-best 134 saves and a solid 1.93 goals againstaverage.
In 2003, Setzer’s bunch forged a 10-9 record, missingqualifying for the A-Sun Championship by just one game in theleague standings. Setzer guided GWU to an incredible recovery froma winless 2002 season, andwith an 8.5-game improvement in 2003,notched the nation’s largest turnaround. Setzer also directedthe Bulldogs to the fifth 10-win season in school history, and thefirst at the Division I level. GWU was a serious contender everytime it took the field in 2003, knocking off Georgia State, thenthe No. 7 team in the region, at home, and playing eventual A-Sunchampion UCF to a 2-1 loss in overtime. The Bulldogs also put ascare into national No. 5 Wake Forest in October, 2003, forging a1-1 tie for most of the first half before eventually falling6-1.
Tough schedules are nothing new to Setzer or his team, as theBulldogs are noted for refusing to shy away from challenges. Overthe past five seasons, Gardner-Webb has played six games againstopponents ranked in the top 15 nationally, including top-rankedWake Forest in 2002.
Success is no stranger to Setzer either. In 1998, at theDivision II level, Setzer directed the Bulldogs to their firstnational top-25 ranking, as GWU reached as high as No. 21 in theDivision II poll behind a balanced attack and strong defense. Hehas coached the top three scorers in Gardner-Webb history, bothsingle-season and career, and has tutored an impressive 16All-Americans during his tenure ? including 11 AcademicAll-Americans.
Former Gardner-Webb star forward Jerome Lee Yaw, theschool’s career leader in goals and total points, became thefirst student-athlete in Gardner-Webb University’s history tobe named first-team All-American and Academic All-American in thesame season (1996).
The 2003 season marked the first time that Gardner-Webb placedplayers on the A-Sun All-Conference Team, with Sergio Lozano andCarlitos Ramirez both earning second team honors. Rookie TylerKettering also took home postseason league honors, landing a spoton the All-Freshmen Team. Senior Todd Ulrich was GWU’sPresident’s Senior Athletic Program Achievement Award winner,and was a first-team Academic All-District III and third-teamAcademic All-American performer in the classroom. Gardner-Webb also put seven players on the A-Sun All-AcademicTeam.
During Gardner-Webb’s time in the South AtlanticConference, Setzer developed 28 All-Conference performers and fiveAll-South Region choices. GWU Hall of Fame member Dennis Puckerinwas honored as SAC Player of the Year in 1990, while Lee Yaw earnedthat honor in 1995. Two players, Vince Bueno (1996) andJurgen Wagner (1998) were named SAC Freshman of the Year underSetzer. Edwin Odugba (1994 and 1995) and Lee Yaw were named SouthAtlantic Conference First Union Scholar Athlete of the Year duringtheir careers, also earning All-Conference honors during thoseseasons. Odugba also earned the SAC President’s Award in 1994and 1995 as the league’s top male student-athlete, making himthe only Gardner-Webb performer, in any sport, to earn the honortwice.
Prior to joining the Gardner-Webb family, Setzer served as anassistant coach at The Citadel under Bill Barfield. Setzer earnedhis Master’s degree from The Citadel in 1988. A 1986 graduateof Lander (S.C.) University, Setzer was a standout goalkeeper forthe annually powerful Senators and enjoyed a brief professionalplaying career with the Columbus Capitals of the APISL beforeheading to The Citadel.
Setzer, who holds a USSF “A” License, is also thefounder of the Runnin’ Bulldog Soccer Academy, and has been adriving force in the youth soccer movement in Cleveland County and,specifically, in Boiling Springs with the Greater Cleveland CountySoccer Association. On most Saturdays, thousands of youth soccerplayers descend on Gardner-Webb University’s campus tocompete in league and tournament matches.
Setzer is married to the former Kristen Lott, a four-timeAll-Conference selection for the Gardner-Webb women’s programin the mid-1990s, and the program’s second leading careerscorer with 113 points. The couple resides in Boiling Springs andhas four daughters. Madison Faye will be four years old on Nov. 20.On March 20, 2007, the couple gave birth to triplets - SydneyDianne, Morgan Jeanette and Cadence McRee.
