Mount Vernon Nazarene University is pleased to announced that Andrew Belleman has been hired to become the eighth head coach of the men's soccer team and a professor in the Physical Education department.

"Andrew Belleman will become a tremendous asset to both our athletic and academic programs," said Dr. Lanette Sessink, MVNU's vice president for Student Development. "It was obvious in speaking with him that he has a passion for the game of soccer. I truly believe he will assist in taking our team to the next level both on and off the field. He has an energy that the team will love. He also shared with me his excitement to assist the men's soccer team in becoming a 'force for Christ' on campus and in the community. We look forward to him becoming a part of Mount Vernon Nazarene University's family."

Belleman comes to MVNU after gaining coaching experience at several different levels. This past season, he led Dayton Christian High School to a 12-3-3 record and a Top 10 ranking in the state of Ohio. He also served as an assistant coach at Wilmington College and at Centerville High School and as the coach of the Cincinnati United Premier Soccer Club. He has worked numerous camps including starting and directing the First Touch soccer camps as well as serving as the summer camp director at Cedarville University from 2006-2010 and also working on summer camp staff at Messiah College in 2008-2009. Belleman and his wife, Tiffany, have two sons - Wesley and Eli.

Prior to starting his coaching career, Belleman was a four-year member of the men's soccer team at Cedarville. He served as a team captain during his senior season as the Yellow Jackets were ranked in the NAIA Top 25. He was also a part of two National Christian College Athletic Association Midwest Region championship teams in 2003 and 2004 with the 2003 team going on to finish third at the NCCAA National Tournament.

"I am very excited about the opportunity to take over a program rich in tradition," said Belleman. "I will look to build off of the success and strive to be a national power year in and year out. I am equally excited about working with and developing young men on and off the field on a daily basis. There are few professions where you are able to impact people like coaching, and I want to thank God for preparing me and allowing me this opportunity."

"We are pleased to add Andrew Belleman to our coaching and teaching staff," said Paul Swanson, MVNU's athletic director. "He is a high quality person who will make an excellent coach and terrific professor."

Belleman will take over a program that has posted a 244-153-32 record over the past 20 seasons for a .606 winning percentage. The Cougars have been ranked in the NAIA Top 25 in each of the past three seasons including as high as No. 4 in the 2009 preseason poll. MVNU also made the program's first appearance in the NAIA National Championship in 2008 and advanced all the way to the Final Four.

To contact Coach Belleman, you can e-mail him at andrew.belleman@mvnu.edu.


Assistant Coaches

Josh Diehl	Steve Armstrong	Justin McKee

Josh Diehl, Assistant Coach
Josh Diehl enters his first season assisting Coach Andrew Belleman and the Cougars. Diehl graduated from MVNU in 2004 with a degree in Physical and Health Education. He played for the Cougars during the 2000 and 2001 seasons and then two major knee surgeries resulted in Diehl concluding his playing career. Diehl began to gather coaching experience at a young age. In 2006, he was hired as the head coach at Olentangy Liberty High School where he posted a 53-28-11 record in five seasons. While at Olentangy Liberty, he led the program to two OCC Conference Championships and three Central District Finals appearances and was selected as Conference Coach of the Year in 2006 and 2007. During his tenure at OLHS, Diehl developed the Liberty Soccer Camps (ages 6 through 11) where he served as director.

Prior to coaching at OLHS, Diehl was the assistant soccer coach at Loudonville High School in 2004. In 2005, he was the assistant coach at New Albany High School. He also served as an Olympic Development Program coach for the state of Ohio. In addition, he has coached club soccer for Classics FC and GFC, working with their youth teams.

Coach Andrew Belleman had the following to say about Diehl. "Josh brings a wealth of knowledge and experience.  He is a true scholar of the game and team dynamics.  As an alum of MVNU, Josh truly cares about investing in the program and in each of the players on the team.  He offers tremendous perspective and is interested in the growth of each player, coach, and the entire program as a whole.  We are grateful that he wants to invest in this program and are excited to have him on staff."

In 2010, Diehl earned a Master's Degree in Coaching from Ball State University and has earned certification as a Level V Master Coach. Diehl also holds the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Premier, Advanced National, and National Diplomas along with Levels I, II, and III Goalkeeping Diplomas.

Diehl teaches Elementary Physical Education in the Olentangy Local School District. He and his wife, Chelsea, who is also a 2004 MVNU graduate, reside in Centerburg, Ohio and are expecting their first child in December.

Steve Armstrong, Graduate Assistant Coach
Steve Armstrong is entering his first year of coaching as a graduate assistant after a four-year playing career for the Cougars. Armstrong, who was part of the NAIA Final Four team in 2008, graduated from MVNU with a Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management and Exercise Studies. He is currently pursuing his Master's Degree in Education with high aspirations of teaching and coaching. Coach Andrew Belleman was very pleased with the addition of Steve to the coaching staff. "Steve brings energy, excitement, and a true willingness to do whatever it takes to help the program.  As a recent player, he offers a unique perspective, and we are thrilled to have him as a part of our coaching staff."

Armstrong has five years of experience helping with multiple camps and clinics, some of which include Cougar Soccer Camp, 4-v-4 Soccer (held at MVNU) and Mansfield Christian High School's Soccer Camp. Armstrong and his wife, Emily, are excited to announce that a new baby girl will be joining their family in January 2012.

Justin McKee, Goalkeeper Coach
Justin McKee joins the coaching staff as the team's goalkeeper coach. His primary directive is to train, develop and mentor the Cougar goalkeepers. Coach Andrew Belleman had the following to say about bringing Justin on board. "Justin brings a level of expertise at the goalkeeper position.  He has played at a very high level, and knows what it takes to train goalkeepers to get to that level.  Justin is a very passionate coach with genuine excitement and energy for the game.  Justin will be training our goalkeepers and also providing quality input for the rest of the team as well.  We are extremely fortunate to have someone of his caliber as a member of our coaching staff."

Growing up in the greater Cleveland area, McKee played for some of the more notable clubs such as Ohio Select and Croatia Cleveland as well as guest playing for clubs such as East West (Ambassadors) and Internationals. At the high school level, he received numerous honors including team MVP, GCC Conference MVP, and First Team All-Ohio. McKee went on to play for the Battlin' Bishops at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio as one of their goalkeepers. McKee plays the game regularly in several competitive men's leagues around Columbus. He has also been involved in coaching the game throughout youth programs and camps in the area.

Off the soccer field, Justin works as the senior project manager for Advantage Flooring Services. He and his wife, Megan, reside in Centerburg with their two children, Ian and Mia.