staff

joe kirt | Head Coach

Joe Kirt, a mainstay on the Tennessee sideline since 2007, was named UT's soccer head coach by Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White on April 29, 2022.

During his 15 seasons on Rocky Top, Kirt has helped guide the Lady Vols to two SEC Tournament championships, two SEC Eastern Division championships and seven NCAA Tournament appearances. As an assistant at Tennessee, Kirt played vital roles in goalkeeper development, technical and functional development for field players as well as constructing and implementing the program’s game model.

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"When I met with the student-athletes in our soccer program earlier this week, I asked what characteristics they valued in their next head coach," White said after agreeing to a five-year contract with Kirt. "They talked about a leader who cares about their development beyond just athletics, someone who promotes a family-oriented culture, someone who empowers them to be themselves genuinely and someone who not only listens but truly hears.

"After examining several quality candidates, it became increasingly apparent that we already had the perfect fit right here in current associate head coach Joe Kirt.

"Joe has been an integral part of building Tennessee soccer into a championship-caliber program, and we're going to support it at a level that matches those championship ambitions. We can't wait to watch Tennessee soccer rise to new heights and compete for SEC and NCAA titles under Joe's leadership."

During Kirt's tenure on staff, Tennessee has produced nine All-Americans and 33 All-SEC selections.

"First, I want to thank Danny and this administration for believing in me and giving me this opportunity," Kirt said. "I love this team and this program, and I'm so excited to see where we take it. The culture we've built here and the talent we have—with both returning and incoming players—is so special, and there's no other team I'd rather be on this journey with."

Kirt was instrumental in helping guide UT to its second straight SEC Eastern Division championship in 2021. The Vols went on to defeat top-seeded Arkansas 3-0 in the final of the SEC Tournament, bringing the trophy home for the first time since 2008 before advancing in the NCAA Tournament to the Round of 16. With a record of 20-3-0, it was the winningest team in program history.

The 2021 squad was stout defensively, posting a program-best 13 shutouts and setting a new UT shutout streak record of 633:53. Following the season, Tennessee's coaching staff was named Southeast Region Staff of the Year by United Soccer Coaches.

In 2020, Kirt helped lead Tennessee to an SEC East title, going 4-1-1 in divisional play and 4-3-1 overall in conference play. In the spring, the Big Orange recorded four more wins, three of which were shutouts, to finish the season with an 8-6-1 record and the program's the sixth-straight winning season.

Kirt mentored then-freshman goalkeeper Lindsey Romig to a record-breaking rookie campaign in 2019, as the Midlothian, Virginia, native finished the season with a 0.58 goals-against average—lowering the all-time program record set by Shae Yanez the previous season. Tennessee posted its fifth-straight winning season with a 9-6-3 record overall, and the Vols went 8-2 at Regal Soccer Stadium with shutout wins over SEC East rivals Florida, Georgia and Kentucky.

Tennessee's defensive unit saw one of the program's most successful seasons in 2018, as the Vols made their first-ever appearance in the NCAA quarterfinals. UT limited opponents to a program-best 15 goals on the season, while the Vols' 12 shutouts tied a then-Tennessee-record set in 2003.

Kirt guided Yanez to one of the program's greatest goalkeeping campaigns from a statistical standpoint in 2018, setting program records for the lowest goals-against average (0.66), highest save percentage (.856) and highest win percentage (.795) in a single season. The Downingtown, Pennsylvania, native broke UT's career record for save percentage (.820) and finished third on UT's all-time list with 21 solo shutouts, including 10 in her final year on Rocky Top.

In 2017, the Lady Vols returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five years behind a defense that recorded 10 shutouts. UT conceded less than 20 goals for the third consecutive season, logging a 0.88 goals-against average as a team, with 19 goals allowed.

Kirt helped lead Tennessee to its eighth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance and its fourth SEC Tournament title in 2008. The Big Orange posted six shutouts and recorded a 1.23 goals against average during Kirt's second year on staff.

The 2007 season saw Kirt coach Johnson and the UT defense to 11 shutouts, a 0.88 goals-against average and a new program-record 457-minute shutout streak. The Lady Vol defense became a nearly immovable force at home, giving up just three goals in nine matches and shutting out the final six opponents it faced at Regal Stadium in 2007, including two NCAA Tournament matches.

In his first year in Knoxville, Kirt helped steer the Lady Vols to their seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament and fifth NCAA Round of 16 appearance. Tennessee that Fall also reached its highest NSCAA ranking in program history (No. 6).

Kirt joined the Tennessee soccer staff in July 2007 after spending three years as the Director of Goalkeeping for the Texas Soccer Club's Challenge, a youth soccer organization comprised of 29 girls' soccer teams in Houston, Texas. During his tenure, the Challenge won a total of 14 state championships and earned a No. 14 national ranking from Soccer America magazine in 2005.

Prior to his time with the Challenge, Kirt was an assistant coach with the University of Houston from 2000-05.

Prior to joining the professional ranks, Kirt earned his degree in International Studies in 1998 from Wisconsin-Oshkosh, where he played both soccer and hockey. As a member of the Titans' soccer team, Kirt earned three varsity letters playing in goal. As a senior captain in 1997, he led the team to a 13-5-1 record, capping the season with a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Coaches Association first-team selection.

A native of Brookfield, Wisconsin, Kirt holds a National Soccer Coaches Association of America national goalkeeping diploma. Joe and his wife, Susan, an eighth-grade teacher, reside in Knoxville with their sons, Landon and Luke.

JONATHAN MORGAN | ASSOCIATE HEAD Coach

The 2022 campaign marks Jonathan Morgan's seventh season with the Tennessee soccer program, and his first in the role of associate head coach.

The Dover, Delaware, native arrived on Rocky Top in January of 2016 following a nine-year stint at the University of Maryland.

Morgan was instrumental in leading UT to its second straight SEC Eastern Division title in 2021 and first SEC Tournament Championship since 2008. The team entered the NCAA Tournament as a No. 3 seed, advancing to the Round of 16. The squad went undefeated in Regal Stadium, opening the season with seven straight shutouts to set a new single-season shutout record of 633:53 en route to a record of 20-3-0 for the program's first 20-win season. Following the 2021 season, Morgan was promoted to associate head coach

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In 2020, Morgan helped guide Tennessee to an SEC East Title, going 4-1-1 in divisional play and 4-3-1 overall in conference play. In the spring, the Big Orange recorded four more wins, three of which were shutouts, to finish the season with an 8-6-1 record and mark the sixth-straight winning season.

Morgan helped guide Tennessee to its fifth-straight winning season in 2019 with a 9-6-3 record overall. The Vols posted an 8-2 record at Regal Soccer Stadium that included shutout wins over SEC East rivals Florida, Georgia and Kentucky.

Morgan helped the Vols to a banner season in 2018, as UT reached its first-ever NCAA Quarterfinal appearance behind a 16-3-3 overall record. Tennessee’s .795 winning percentage was the highest in program history, while its three losses were the fewest in program history. The Vols earned consensus top-10 status following the historic campaign, rounding out the year with a No. 6 ranking from TopDrawerSoccer.com, No. 7 from the United Soccer Coaches and No. 8 in the NCAA RPI.

Tennessee's stout defensive unit limited opponents to a program-best 15 goals on the season, while the Vols' 12 shutouts tied a Tennessee record that has stood since 2003. UT netted 44 goals on the offensive end, marking the first time Tennessee scored 40-plus goals in back-to-back seasons since 2002-03.

Morgan’s second year on staff saw UT return to national prominence with the program’s first at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament since 2012. The Vols finished the season 15-4-2, as five players were named United Coaches All-Region and/or All-SEC in 2017. The team scored 47 goals - the third-most in program history - and posted 10 shutouts.

In his first season with the Vols, Morgan helped the program continue its strong reputation on the defensive side of the ball. UT posted eight shutouts and a 1.45 goals-against average on the year en route to an 11-9-1 overall record and a 5-5-1 mark in SEC play.

Prior to UT, Morgan worked as an assistant at Maryland from 2007-11 and helped lead the program to three-straight NCAA tournament appearances. Morgan was promoted to head coach of the Maryland women's soccer program on February 10, 2012 after former Terps head coach Brian Pensky left to take the job at Tennessee.

Morgan continued Maryland's string of successful seasons in his first as the Terrapins' head coach in 2012, leading the team to a second-place finish in the ACC and a runner-up finish in the ACC tournament. The 2012 senior class also became the first graduating class to have defeated every ACC program during their collegiate careers. The Terrapins earned their fourth-straight bid to the NCAA tournament in Morgan's first season as head coach as a No. 4 national seed.

Prior to taking over as head coach, Morgan served as an assistant coach with Terrapins for five seasons (2007-11) and helped lead a resurgence that saw the Terps earn two trips to the NCAA Sweet 16 (2009, 2011), the program's first-ever No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament (2010) and a berth in the ACC tournament championship game (2010).

In the five seasons Morgan served as an assistant coach at Maryland, the Terrapins boasted a record of 57-33-13 (.617), including a mark of 44-14-9 (.724) from 2009-11, while playing in the nation's premier women's soccer conference.

Morgan was instrumental in recruiting the 2012 freshman class, which was ranked No. 5 in the nation by TopDrawerSoccer.com and included two state Gatorade Players of the Year. He also led the recruiting effort for the 2008 freshman class, which was ranked No. 14 in the nation and featured All-American Jasmyne Spencer and Ashley Grove, who each finished among the top 10 in career goals and points at Maryland.

During his five seasons as a Terrapin assistant, Morgan was primarily responsible for coordinating and training the team's defense, which included 2010 ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Caitlin McDowell. He also helped coordinate the overall administration of the program, including academic support, scheduling, maintaining the operating budget, equipment, financial aid and fundraising.

Morgan also served as the head coach of the Bethesda Soccer Club U17 girls. During his tenure with BSC, Morgan coached current U.S. Women's National team member and Washington Spirit captain Andi Sullivan, as well as several players who have gone on to play with U.S. Youth National and USYSA Regional Teams.

Prior to coming to College Park, Morgan spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Ohio State (2005-06) where he was primarily responsible for recruiting and working with the Buckeyes' offensive attack. Under Morgan's tutelage, the Buckeyes finished third in the Big Ten with an average of 4.84 points per game.

The 2006 Buckeyes boasted the Big Ten’s statistical individual leader in goals, goals per game, points per game, assists and assists per game in Lara Dickenmann, a two-time NSCAA All-American.

Prior to coaching at Ohio State, Morgan spent three seasons as a volunteer assistant coach at Rutgers, where he helped the Scarlet Knights to postseason appearances in 2002, '03 and '04. Among his responsibilities were assisting the coaching staff in developing and organizing all individual and team training sessions, as well as helping with recruiting, including the planning and directing of all official visits. During his tenure at Rutgers, Morgan helped coach Carli Lloyd, a three-time NSCAA All-American, four-time first team All-Big East selection and U.S. National Team hero at the 2015 Women's World Cup.

From 2001-05, Morgan was a staff coach for the Players Development Academy (PDA). During his time at PDA, he coached four different teams between the ages of U12-U18. He had the privilege of coaching more than 40 future Division I student-athletes, three U.S. Youth National Team players and 10 USYSA regional team players.

A native of Dover, Del., Morgan was a four-year starter at Rowan College in Glassboro, New Jersey, serving as team captain his senior season with the Profs. After he finished his playing career, he broke into the college coaching ranks with his alma mater in 1995, helping the Rowan men's team to a 17-1-3 mark, a No. 4 national ranking and an appearance in the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Morgan has also been involved with the Olympic Development Programs in Delaware and New Jersey, leading the New Jersey ODP girl's U-17 team to the Region 1 ODP championship in 2001. The team earned a trip to the ODP National championships and placed third. During his time with the New Jersey ODP program, Morgan helped coach U.S. Women's National Team players Heather O'Reilly and Jillian Loyden.

Morgan's ODP experience also includes being a part of the USYSA Region 1 staff from 2002-05.

A USSF "B" licensed and KNVB Dutch Certificate coach, Morgan graduated from Rowan in 1996 with a bachelor's degree in Law/Justice.

Morgan and his wife, Emily, welcomed their first child, a daughter, Greer, in April 27, 2022.

becky edwards | ASSistant coach

Becky Edwards is in her first season at Tennessee, having served as an assistant coach at Penn in the two season prior, helping lead the Quakers to a 9-5-2 record in 2021 and working directly with the offense which turned in 29 goals over 16 games.

Before joining the staff at Penn, Edwards was a graduate assistant at her alma mater, Florida State, assisting the staff with training and film sessions as the Seminoles mounted an 18-6-0 record en route to a postseason run to the NCAA Quarterfinals in 2019 and capturing the ACC title in the fall of 2020, going 11-0 in conference play.

During her playing career, Edwards was an accomplished athlete at both the collegiate and professional levels. A two-time First Team All-America selection, she led Florida State to a 72-18-11 record during her four years, making NCAA Tournament appearances every season and twice advancing to the College Cup.

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HEMANT SHARMA | VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT

Hemant Sharma rejoined the Tennessee soccer coaching staff as a volunteer assistant coach in the spring of 2021. He previously served as a member of UT's coaching staff from 2004 to 2012 and served as the team's director of operations under current head coach Brian Pensky from 2012 to 2014.

In his previous stint with the Lady Vols, Sharma was a part of three SEC championship teams (2004, 05, 08) and three NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen appearances (2004, 2005, 2007). He also helped to coordinate the Lady Vol soccer team's involvement in TOPSOCCER, a program for disabled athletes.

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Between his stints at UT, Sharma worked with goalkeepers for several other Tennessee colleges, including the Maryville College men's and women's soccer teams, the UT-Chattanooga women's soccer team, the Tennessee Wesleyan women's soccer team and the Carson-Newman men's and women's soccer teams. He was a part of the Maryville College coaching staff when the men's team won conference tournament titles in 2016 and 2018, and when the women's team captured a conference tournament crown in 2019. Each of those teams appeared in the NCAA Division III Tournament. Prior to arriving in Knoxville, Hemant worked with goalkeepers for the University of Colorado women's soccer team as a volunteer assistant coach.

Sharma has worked with goalkeepers for two semi-pro men's teams, the Boulder Rapids Reserves of the Premier Development League, and the Knoxville Force of the National Premier Soccer League.

Hemant also has served as Director of Goalkeeping for the Tennessee ODP program for boys and girls since 2012, and has been a member of the South Region girls ODP staff since 2017.

He has been the Director of Goalkeeping for FC Alliance since 2009. During that time span, FC Alliance has produced more than 40 collegiate goalkeepers and sent two goalkeepers on to MLS academies.

During his playing career at Cornell University, the Short Hills, New Jersey, native earned All-Ivy League and All-Region honors, and played in the 1996 NCAA Tournament. In his senior year, he set a school record for shutouts in a season as his team finished ranked in the nation's top 25. Sharma proved equally adept in the classroom as he was a member of the Dean's List and the winner of the prestigious James E. Rice writing prize.

After college, Sharma was a draft pick of all three major professional indoor soccer leagues that existed in the U.S. in the late 1990s (NPSL, WISL, EISL). He was a first-round draft pick of the Buffalo Blizzard of the National Professional Soccer League and a fifth-round draft pick of the Arizona Thunder of the World Indoor Soccer League. He played five years of pro indoor soccer.

Sharma also held coaching positions at his alma mater, serving as an assistant coach for the Cornell women's team in 2001 and the men's team in 2000.

Hemant is a 1997 graduate of Cornell, with a bachelor of arts in English and a certificate in Financial Management. He received a PhD in Political Science from the University of Tennessee in the summer of 2009 and was the first recipient of the University of Tennessee's Otis Stephens Fellowship, granted for excellence in the study of American politics.

Sharma currently teaches in the University of Tennessee's Political Science Department and has co-authored three textbooks: An Introduction to the American Legal System, which was released by Wolters Kluwer publishers of New York; Administrative Law and Policy, published by Carolina Academic Press; and American Government: The Evolution of a Constitutional Republic, published by Great River Learning.

His published articles include one entitled "The Game is the Best Teacher," which appeared in the United Soccer Coaches' magazine Soccer Journal, and "Can’t Play Here: The Decline of Pick-Up Soccer and Social Capital in the USA,” published in a journal called Soccer and Society.

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