Virginia Tech announced on Mar. 27 the hiring of Jeff Kinney as Associate Head Coach for the Hokies men’s soccer team, bringing back a leader with significant experience in collegiate and professional soccer.
Kinney previously served as head coach at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and returns to Blacksburg after having held the Associate Head Coach position beginning in 2017, following five seasons as an assistant with Virginia Tech. During his earlier tenure, he was instrumental in rebuilding the program after recruiting restrictions, managing recruiting efforts, budgets, training sessions, and scheduling.
Under Kinney’s guidance during his prior stint at Virginia Tech, the men’s soccer team reached one of its most successful periods by advancing to the Elite Eight of the 2016 NCAA Tournament and achieving a No. 8 final national ranking—the highest since their College Cup appearance in 2007. He also played a key role in developing six All-ACC selections and coached three Major League Soccer draft picks: Devante Dubose (2014), Juan Pablo Saavedra (2017), and first-round pick Ben Lundgaard (2018).
Off the field, Kinney emphasized academic achievement and personal growth for student-athletes. The Hokies earned five NSCAA Team Academic Awards during his time there. He also established a continuous learning leadership program within athletics to support assistant coaches’ professional development.
Kinney’s coaching career includes seven years as top assistant at American University where he contributed to two outright Patriot League championships and an NCAA Tournament Second Round appearance in 2004. Beyond college programs, he served as Technical Director of New River United overseeing operations for travel teams; led D.C. United Academy’s U-18 squad to a national championship game; and directed Reston Football Club teams that achieved high national rankings.
Throughout his career, Kinney has coached or developed twenty-six professional players domestically and internationally.
