Grant Serafy - Women's Soccer Coach - Mercer University Athletics

Grant Serafy

Title:
Head Coach
Email:
serafy_gw@mercer.edu
Phone:
(478) 301-2060

Grant Serafy enters his eighth season at the helm of the Mercerwomen’s soccer program. In 2010, the Bears had arguablyone of their most successful seasons, qualifying for theirfirst-ever NCAA Women’s College Cup. The Bears incredibleseason was capped by a four-game winning streak to finish as theNo. 2 seed heading into the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament.Mercer then outscored their two opponents 6-0, en route to theirfirst Atlantic Sun Tournament Championship in program history.

Serafy has now presided over the longest sustained successfulrun in Atlantic Sun Conference play in Mercer women’s soccerhistory. The team has now put together four consecutive winningcampaigns and has qualified for the conference tournament in eachof the last five seasons. In fact, the 41 wins over the past fourseasons are the most ever for a Mercer squad in the program’s27-year history. Under Serafy, the Bears have now played in threeof the last four A-Sun Championship games and has not lost a A-Suntournament game since 2007 (losses came on penalty kicks).

Serafy led the Bears to their first-ever NSCAA Regional Rankingin 2008 and then again in 2009 and then received votes at the endof the 2010 season – distinguishing the team amongst otherDivision I programs in the southeast including the ACC and SEC.

In 2009, Serafy became the program’s all-time leader ingames coached with 113 matches to his credit with the Orange andBlack. He currently sits with a 58-61-14 overall record and is onlythe second coach in Mercer history to reach the 100-game plateau.He is now the longest tenured women’s soccer head coach atMercer surpassing that mark in 2010 (8^th season). He isalso the program’s all-time leader in total wins with 58.

Under his tutelage, Mercer has experienced new levels of success.The 2008 team set records including most conference wins (9) in aseason, tied for the most overall victories (11) with the 1991squad, and became the first Mercer women’s soccer team to winan A-Sun tournament match. They also advanced to the A-SunChampionship final.

A breakthrough campaign for Serafy and the Bears came in 2006 asMercer notched a pair of feats that had not been achieved since1998. Among the accomplishments, Mercer reached the Atlantic SunTournament and finished with a winning conference record. The Bearsalso had a player earn first-team all-conference honors for thefirst time since 2001.

Perhaps more important than the team's results, Serafy has broughtin high-caliber players. His hard work on the recruiting trail hasrevitalized the program as Mercer’s 2005 and 2008 recruitingclasses were ranked first in the conference by Soccer Buzz andearned regional recognition. Serafy’s 2006 class was rankedsecond in the Atlantic Sun by Soccer Buzz.

Not only has Serafy had success on the recruiting trail, but thoserecruits have turned in all-conference performances. Anunprecedented 12 players have been named All-Conference selectionsin Serafy’s seven years in Macon. Catie Marshalek was namedto the 2004 Atlantic Sun All-Freshman Team, leading the team inpoints and goals. Meghan Castaldo followed in Marshalek's footstepsand led the squad in points, goals and assists while earning A-SunAll-Freshman honors in 2005 along with defender Heather Manting.Castaldo’s play in 2006 earned her a spot on the All-AtlanticSun First Team while defender Erin Theobald and goalkeeper JeanWorts were named to the 2006 A-Sun All-Freshman squad. In 2007,Kacie Hudson became the first Mercer women’s soccer player toearn both First-Team All-Conference and All-Freshman recognitionafter leading the team in goals and points.

That theme continued in 2008. Current senior, Olivia Tucker wasnamed the A-Sun Freshman of the Year after leading Mercer in goalsscored, points and shots. She ranked in the top 10 in sevenconference categories. Manting finished her distinguished careerthe A-Sun Defensive Player of the Year. In 2009, Serafy helpedguide the most players ever (4)to all-conference teams includingfirst-teamer Olivia Tucker, second-teamers Kacie Hudson and SaraElliot and all-freshman performer Patricia-Anne Upson.

Serafy also emphasizes excellence in the classroom, where 75players have earned Atlantic Sun All-Academic team honors since hisfirst season, including an amazing 23 selections in 2007.Additionally, Courtney Maxey earned a spot on the 2006 NSCAA/adidasCollege Women Scholar All-South Region Honorable Mention Team, wasa finalist for the 2007 Georgia Sportswoman of the Year Award, andwas named the 2008 Atlantic Sun Female Student-Athlete of the Year.As a team, the Bears have received the NSCAA Team Academic Awardseven years under Serafy and nine-straight seasons.

"We seek student-athletes who are talented soccer players, thatare strong academically and demonstrate effort in the classroom,and that have good character," said Serafy. "Those are also thequalities we try to emphasize while our players attend Mercer. Wewant them to have the best four years of Division I soccer they canhave, we want them to graduate in four years with a solid GPA withthe degree of their choice, and we want their character to havedeveloped further."

The fifth women’s soccer coach in the program’shistory, Serafy came to Mercer on March 17, 2004, after spendingthe previous 16 years at Stratford Academy in Macon where hedeveloped both the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams intodominant forces, winning a total of 16 state championships.

After taking over the Stratford boys' soccer program in 1988,Serafy quickly built the program into a GISA power, guiding theEagles to a third-place finish in 1989, their highest finish everin the state playoffs. The Eagles followed up on their success thenext season as Serafy guided Stratford to its first statechampionship. The Eagles would be no stranger to success for theremainder of Serafy's tenure. Stratford went on to win six moreboys' state championships under Serafy's leadership and he wouldfinish with an overall boys' record of 215- 64-13.

Serafy's stay at Stratford was the beginning of one of the mostdominant girls' soccer teams in the state. In that first season,the girls' team went 10-5-1. Success for the girls' programcontinued as the Eagles continued to win state championshipsthroughout the '90s. In 1996, Stratford received its first nationalranking, coming in 17th in the Umbro/NSCAA girls' high school Top20 poll. The 2000 squad was ranked 25th in the Fab-50 rankings byStudent Sports Magazine. The undefeated 2002 squad was ranked 17thby that same publication.

Serafy's nine years of guiding the girls' soccer program atStratford resulted in nine consecutive state championships and anoverall record of 153-14-4.

Serafy holds a class "A" license from the United States SoccerFederation and a Premier Diploma from the NSCAA, the two highestforms of coaching credentials in the country. He has been a staffcoach for the Georgia State Soccer Association and a coach for theGeorgia Olympic Development Program.

Originally from Atlanta, Serafy starred at the WestminsterSchools, playing on two state championship teams before playing atHartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y., for two seasons. He completedhis collegiate career at Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C.,where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in physical education.Serafy earned a master's degree in sport management fromSpringfield College in Massachusetts and served as a graduateassistant for the men's program. He is single and resides inMacon.

Grant Serafy enters his eighth season at thehelm of the Mercer women’s soccer program. In 2010, theBears had arguably one of their most successful seasons, qualifying for their first-ever NCAAWomen’s College Cup. The Bears incredible season was cappedby a four-game winning streak to finish as the No. 2 seed headinginto the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament. Mercer then outscoredtheir two opponents 6-0, en route to their first Atlantic SunTournament Championship in program history.

Serafy has now presided over the longestsustained successful run in Atlantic Sun Conference play in Mercerwomen’s soccer history. The team has now put together fourconsecutive winning campaigns and has qualified for the conferencetournament in each of the last five seasons. In fact, the 41 winsover the past four seasons are the most ever for a Mercer squad inthe program’s 27-year history. Under Serafy, the Bears havenow played in three of the last four A-Sun Championship games andhas not lost a A-Sun tournament game since 2007 (losses came onpenalty kicks).

Serafyled the Bears to their first-ever NSCAA Regional Ranking in 2008and then again in 2009 and then received votes at the end of the2010 season – distinguishing the team amongst other DivisionI programs in the southeast including the ACC and SEC.

In 2009, Serafy became the program’sall-time leader in games coached with 113 matches to his creditwith the Orange and Black. He currently sits with a 59-50-14overall record and is only the second coach in Mercer history toreach the 100-game plateau. He is now the longest tenuredwomen’s soccer head coach at Mercer surpassing that mark in2010 (8^th season). He is also the program’sall-time leader in total wins with 59.

Grant Serafy enters his eighth season at thehelm of the Mercer women’s soccer program. In 2010, theBears had arguably one of their most successful seasons, qualifying for their first-ever NCAAWomen’s College Cup. The Bears incredible season was cappedby a four-game winning streak to finish as the No. 2 seed headinginto the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament. Mercer then outscoredtheir two opponents 6-0, en route to their first Atlantic SunTournament Championship in program history.

Serafy has now presided over the longestsustained successful run in Atlantic Sun Conference play in Mercerwomen’s soccer history. The team has now put together fourconsecutive winning campaigns and has qualified for the conferencetournament in each of the last five seasons. In fact, the 41 winsover the past four seasons are the most ever for a Mercer squad inthe program’s 27-year history. Under Serafy, the Bears havenow played in three of the last four A-Sun Championship games andhas not lost a A-Sun tournament game since 2007 (losses came onpenalty kicks).

Serafyled the Bears to their first-ever NSCAA Regional Ranking in 2008and then again in 2009 and then received votes at the end of the2010 season – distinguishing the team amongst other DivisionI programs in the southeast including the ACC and SEC.

In 2008, he led Mercer to the A-Sun regularseason conference title, the first in the program's history. Hebecame the first coach in Atlantic Sun history to win back-to-backCoach of the Year awards and saw five of his players make eitherfirst or second team All A-Sun and two others place on theAll-Freshman squad. Senior Heather Manting was named A-SunDefensive Player of the Year. The 2008 squad tied for most overallseason victories (11) in school history, yielded only 10 goals,four in conference play. The Bears finished the 2008 season rankedamong the top 10 programs in the country in goals against averageand played in the A-Sun Tournament championship game, losing aheartbreaker to Belmont on penalty kicks.

Under his tutelage, Mercer has experienced new levels of success.The 2008 team set records including most conference wins (9) in aseason, tied for the most overall victories (11) with the 1991squad, and became the first Mercer women’s soccer team to winan A-Sun tournament match. They also advanced to the A-SunChampionship final.

A breakthrough campaign for Serafy and the Bears came in 2006 asMercer notched a pair of feats that had not been achieved since1998. Among the accomplishments, Mercer reached the Atlantic SunTournament and finished with a winning conference record. The Bearsalso had a player earn first-team all-conference honors for thefirst time since 2001.

Perhaps more important than the team's results, Serafy has broughtin high-caliber players. His hard work on the recruiting trail hasrevitalized the program as Mercer’s 2005 and 2008 recruitingclasses were ranked first in the conference by Soccer Buzz andearned regional recognition. Serafy’s 2006 class was rankedsecond in the Atlantic Sun by Soccer Buzz.

Not only has Serafy had success on the recruiting trail, but thoserecruits have turned in all-conference performances. Anunprecedented 12 players have been named All-Conference selectionsin Serafy’s seven years in Macon. Catie Marshalek was namedto the 2004 Atlantic Sun All-Freshman Team, leading the team inpoints and goals. Meghan Castaldo followed in Marshalek's footstepsand led the squad in points, goals and assists while earning A-SunAll-Freshman honors in 2005 along with defender Heather Manting.Castaldo’s play in 2006 earned her a spot on the All-AtlanticSun First Team while defender Erin Theobald and goalkeeper JeanWorts were named to the 2006 A-Sun All-Freshman squad. In 2007,Kacie Hudson became the first Mercer women’s soccer player toearn both First-Team All-Conference and All-Freshman recognitionafter leading the team in goals and points.

That theme continued in 2008. Current senior, Olivia Tucker wasnamed the A-Sun Freshman of the Year after leading Mercer in goalsscored, points and shots. She ranked in the top 10 in sevenconference categories. Manting finished her distinguished careerthe A-Sun Defensive Player of the Year. In 2009, Serafy helpedguide the most players ever (4)to all-conference teams includingfirst-teamer Olivia Tucker, second-teamers Kacie Hudson and SaraElliot and all-freshman performer Patricia-Anne Upson.

Serafy also emphasizes excellence in the classroom, where 75players have earned Atlantic Sun All-Academic team honors since hisfirst season, including an amazing 23 selections in 2007.Additionally, Courtney Maxey earned a spot on the 2006 NSCAA/adidasCollege Women Scholar All-South Region Honorable Mention Team, wasa finalist for the 2007 Georgia Sportswoman of the Year Award, andwas named the 2008 Atlantic Sun Female Student-Athlete of the Year.As a team, the Bears have received the NSCAA Team Academic Awardseven years under Serafy and nine-straight seasons.

"We seek student-athletes who are talented soccer players, thatare strong academically and demonstrate effort in the classroom,and that have good character," said Serafy. "Those are also thequalities we try to emphasize while our players attend Mercer. Wewant them to have the best four years of Division I soccer they canhave, we want them to graduate in four years with a solid GPA withthe degree of their choice, and we want their character to havedeveloped further."

The fifth women’s soccer coach in the program’shistory, Serafy came to Mercer on March 17, 2004, after spendingthe previous 16 years at Stratford Academy in Macon where hedeveloped both the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams intodominant forces, winning a total of 16 state championships.

After taking over the Stratford boys' soccer program in 1988,Serafy quickly built the program into a GISA power, guiding theEagles to a third-place finish in 1989, their highest finish everin the state playoffs. The Eagles followed up on their success thenext season as Serafy guided Stratford to its first statechampionship. The Eagles would be no stranger to success for theremainder of Serafy's tenure. Stratford went on to win six moreboys' state championships under Serafy's leadership and he wouldfinish with an overall boys' record of 215- 64-13.

Serafy's stay at Stratford was the beginning of one of the mostdominant girls' soccer teams in the state. In that first season,the girls' team went 10-5-1. Success for the girls' programcontinued as the Eagles continued to win state championshipsthroughout the '90s. In 1996, Stratford received its first nationalranking, coming in 17th in the Umbro/NSCAA girls' high school Top20 poll. The 2000 squad was ranked 25th in the Fab-50 rankings byStudent Sports Magazine. The undefeated 2002 squad was ranked 17thby that same publication.

Serafy's nine years of guiding the girls' soccer program atStratford resulted in nine consecutive state championships and anoverall record of 153-14-4.

Serafy holds a class "A" license from the United States SoccerFederation and a Premier Diploma from the NSCAA, the two highestforms of coaching credentials in the country. He has been a staffcoach for the Georgia State Soccer Association and a coach for theGeorgia Olympic Development Program.

Originally from Atlanta, Serafy starred at the WestminsterSchools, playing on two state championship teams before playing atHartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y., for two seasons. He completedhis collegiate career at Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C.,where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in physical education.Serafy earned a master's degree in sport management fromSpringfield College in Massachusetts and served as a graduateassistant for the men's program. He is single and resides inMacon.