Friday, February 1, 2019
NAMPA, Idaho – Adam Pearce is ready for a challenge.
The Oregon native was hired as the Northwest Nazarene men's soccer coach Friday, joining a conference loaded with talented players and coaches across the board.
Pearce, though, is more than prepared to meet it head on.
"There are some really strong teams and there are tremendous coaches throughout the conference," he said. "That is really exciting for me as a competitor, being able to represent a great institution and to be able to compete against great programs in a part of the country I love."
Pearce takes over for Joel DeLass, who resigned in December to be an assistant coach for a USL team in Michigan.
Pearce played collegiate soccer at Concordia in Portland, then was an assistant at Concordia, Oregon State, Ohio State and Duquesne. He has head coaching experience at Spring Hill College and Embry-Riddle.
He left Embry-Riddle in 2016 to head to Ohio State for two seasons before going to Division I Duquesne in the spring of 2018.
"I don't think of it as dropping down," Pearce said. "The level at NNU and the GNAC is of a nationally-competitive standard. There are a lot of teams in Division I that their goal is at best to be competitive and make their conference tournament, but I think the competitive standards are established in the GNAC with Simon Fraser, Seattle Pacific, Western Washington and then you have a tremendous storied program from their NAIA days in Concordia.
"Those experiences in Division I soccer and BCS programs gave me the experience and knowledge to be a relentless recruiter and taught me how to prepare your team and what is required going into those big matches."
Pearce takes over a team that was beset by injuries to its defense last season, finishing 3-14-1 overall and 3-9-0 in the GNAC.
The Nighthawks return several key players, including Jake Devine, Daniel Brendel, Rafael Junqueira, Danny Cuevas, Sam Ho and many others.
"We are thrilled to have Adam Pearce take over the reins of NNU Men's Soccer," NNU Athletic Director Kelli Lindley said. "Adam clearly is a very gifted and knowledgeable soccer coach who has proven he can develop players and win at almost every level.
"What sticks out most is his desire to cultivate the heart and character in the young men he leads. I have no doubt Adam will make an impact on men's soccer both on and off the field."
Pearce will begin immediately while preparing to move to Idaho.
He will be joined by his wife, Anna, daughter Abrielle, 8, and son Aivind, 5.
"I have a long history and a direct connection from when I was a student athlete at Concordia in the late 90s," Pearce said. "(NNU) really checks a lot of boxes for me. It's a strong, faith-based school. I think that is a really important part to our mission and recruiting strategy and how we are going to develop young people."
Pearce played goalkeeper collegiately and professionally, graduating from Concordia in 2000 with a bachelor's degree and from the University of Akron in 2004 with a master's.