Men's Soccer | 12.20.2021
LUBBOCK, Texas (December 20, 2021) – Lubbock Christian University head men's soccer coach
Paul Gilbert has been selected as the head coach of the Lubbock Matadors, a new local team that will play in the National Premier Soccer League beginning in May of 2022. LCU assistant men's soccer coach Yuiry Sadula will join him on the coaching staff as well.
The two will take on coaching duties with the Matadors in addition to their responsibilities at Lubbock Christian. Joining Gilbert and Sadula on staff as an assistant coach is Gibbs Keeton, who also serves as the associate head coach of the Texas Tech women's soccer team.
The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) is one of the largest established men's soccer leagues in the United States with over 90 teams competing across the country. Lubbock's expansion team will play in the NPSL Lone Star Conference, which currently features eight other teams, including the 2021 NPSL Champion Denton Diablos.
Gilbert has led the Chaparrals for six seasons now, posting an all-time record of 42-28-10. He became the program leader in wins during the 2020 season, and he has posted three seasons of at least nine wins during his tenure. He was hired at LCU in January of 2016 as the fourth coach in program history. Prior to that, he was on the coaching staff at Michigan State.
Sadula was added as Gilbert's assistant coach in July of 2019 after a four-year playing career with the Chaparrals that saw him claim program records in games started (66) and minutes played (5,807). Sadula also already has experience with the NPSL, though as a player. After his graduation from LCU, he played for both the Midland-Odessa Sockers and Corinthians FC of San Antonio. In Sadula's three seasons on the Chap coaching staff, the team is 23-18-4.
During the 2021 season, Gilbert and Sadula led LCU to new levels of success. The Chaps finished the year 10-6-2 overall, placing third in the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and advancing all the way to the championship game of the league's postseason tournament. Lubbock Christian's stout defense recorded a program-record 10 clean sheets, while the offense averaged more than two goals per game.
Eight Chaparral players were honored with various All-Conference awards, including league Defensive Player of the Year
Ivan Muanze-Bengono and league Freshman of the Year
Tomas Casas. Muanze-Bengono was also a consensus All-South Central Region selection.
The NPSL regular season begins in early May and runs into July, followed by playoffs that can run into the first week of August, should the Matadors make a national championship run. Although the Club has not yet released information on a home stadium, inaugural season schedule or front office staff, they have plans to announce both sometime early in 2022.
