The Mississippi State University Athletic Department hired Aaron Gordon as the new head soccer coach Tuesday.
Athletic director Scott Stricklin said he zeroed in on Gordon a couple weeks ago.
“We always talk about those traits we look for in head coaches. We want people who have a great work ethic, are very competitive, who are smart and who have the leadership and charisma that it takes to recruit and to sell Mississippi State and build programs,” Stricklin said. “Aaron knocks every one of those out of the park.”
Formerly the associate head coach at Texas Tech University, Gordon helped turn the Red Raider program around in his six years there. Before Gordon arrived, the Red Raiders had won two Big 12 games the past 10 seasons. In Gordon’s first season with the team, Texas Tech won five conference games.
Gordon knows he has a tough task ahead of him as he takes over a team that finished last in the SEC this season, but he said he cannot wait to get started.
“I told the team that what we do as a program is about how we write our own story and write our own history, and together, I think we have the ability as a program and as a university to do something,” Gordon said. “It’s going to take a lot of hard work on a day-in and day-out basis. We’re going to have to go out and recruit our tails off, but we can do it because there’s a lot of things here that sell themselves for the state and for the soccer program, and I think we’ll make you proud for sure.”
Prior to his stint at Texas Tech, Gordon worked as the director of coaching for Dallas Inter Soccer Club. He also coached the Women’s Texas Lightning team of the W-League, which won back-to-back United States Amateur Championships.
He also was an assistant coach for the Atlanta Beat of the WUSA, where he served as head of scouting and video analysis.
Stricklin said Gordon’s prior experience was a big selling point for the new coach.
“Soccer is an interesting sport. Unlike a lot of sports, it has a huge club influence, and club soccer is a big part of the development of the student-athletes we get at the collegiate level,” Stricklin said. “I thought that mix of club level, professional level and collegiate level experience really benefited him, and it shows in the success he has had.”
Gordon’s wife, Ashley, will also join the coaching staff. She was an assistant coach at Texas Tech and will take on similar responsibilities at MSU. The Gordons have two daughters, 12-year-old Addison and 8-year-old Avery.
Aaron said Ashley was the first one who fell in love with MSU, and the longer they stayed, the better they felt about calling Starkville home.
“The opportunity to be able to continue this partnership professionally that I have with Ashley is very important because she’s a winner,” Aaron said. “That’s all you can ask as a coach when you come to a school is to know you’re going to get support and have people on your same wave length, and for me, that’s what sold me.”
Ashley was a four-year soccer starter at Southern Methodist University and adds even more experience to the coaching staff.
Senior Elisabeth Sullivan said she does not know what to expect with a married couple coaching the team, but she said she is excited to see the atmosphere that creates.
“He said she brings a lot of energy to team and a lot of different aspects,” Sullivan said. “He said you can’t tell that they are married when they’re coaching.”
Gordon met with the team for the first time Tuesday and has been having individual meetings with the players since then, including a two-hour meeting with Sullivan and fellow senior Morganne Grimes where he inquired about the team’s traditions and routines.
He said the team was quiet when he first met the girls, but he implored them to ask him personal questions to begin growing relationships.
“When you’re in a team situation, you’ve really got to build relationships with your players because those players have to go to battle for you, for them, for the school and for each other,” Gordon said. “That’s the first bridge I want to build is with the existing team.”
With the Gordons arriving at MSU in late fall, the coaching duo will have the whole spring semester to get to know the players and learn their strengths and weaknesses. Gordon said he plans to get right to work to make the Bulldogs a contender in the SEC.
Senior Morganne Grimes said Gordon made a great first impression on the team.
“I thought he was really enthusiastic and really excited to be here,” Grimes said. “He’s really going to shake up the program. It will be a lot of hard work, but it will be fun and keep us going in right direction.”