Danny McBride has assumed the role of assistant coach for theTornado soccer team, effective June 1, 2012. Previously he was avolunteer assistant with the team under Head Coach Simon Duffy andenters his third year with the women’s program and sixth yearat the College.
McBride helped guide the Tornado to their second straightConference Carolinas Tournament appearance in 2012. King finishedwith an overall record of 4-10-2, including a 3-6-2 mark in leagueplay. Heidi Steger was named second team All-Conference Carolinaswhile Caroline Gentry and Lauren Kist earned academicall-conference honors.
McBride, a former student-athlete on the King men’s soccerteam, is regarded as one of the area’s up-and-coming coachesat the youth and collegiate levels. His versatility as both amidfielder and defenseman during his playing days at King fostereda wide range of skills and helped develop talent up and down lastyear’s squad, including twice named All-Region selectionMorgan Shelton who led the team with 14 goals and five assists. Healso helped goalkeeper Abbey Kitts and defenseman Heidi Steger earnthird team all-conference honors.
The Dundee, Scotland native involved himself at the youth levelas a coach and area coordinator for multiple clubs in theTri-Cities area. Since 2009 McBride has served as a coach for theFusion U11 and U12 Futbol Club in Bristol (Tenn.) and is also theJunior Academy site coordinator for the Fusion Futbol Club inKingsport. Three current Fusion players are also members of U.S.National teams. He is also an active participant in the annual andwell-respected Tornado Soccer Camp held at King College as well asVanderbilt University and Samford University’s soccercamps.
McBride played for the Tornado men’s soccer team from2007-2010 as a midfielder and defenseman. He was a part of twoAppalachian Athletic Conference tournament champion teams after theTornado won titles in 2007 and 2008 and advanced to the NAIANational Tournament in 2008. In 2009, McBride was named an NCCAAScholar-Athlete and won the 2010-11 Team Hardcore Award and in thesame offseason was named Region Athlete of the Year, presented bythe Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Prior to coming to King, McBride played in the academies of twoScottish premier leagues for seven years. From 2001-2004, he playedwith the Dundee United F.C. and then moved to the Dundee F.C. wherehe played until 2007. He went on to play one season with ArboathF.C. in the Scottish Second Division where he represented TaysideRegion Select Team and the Scottish Schoolboys U18 NationalTeam.
McBride is a 2011 graduate of King College where he received hisBachelor of Arts degree in history and political science. He iscurrently pursuing his master’s degree in education from Kingand resides in Bristol (Tenn.).
