After a storied past with King College as both a player and bothan assistant and head coach, Louis Thorpe has established apermanent home as the head coach of King College Men’sSoccer. Thorpe enters his second season as the men’s headcoach following one season as the head coach of the Lady Tornadoand a pair of stints as an assistant coach with the team. He is the18th head coach in King College Men’s Soccerhistory after taking the position prior to the 2011 season.
Thorpe possesses the ability to connect and build healthy,meaningful relationships with his student-athletes in addition tohis Hall of Fame playing career. His infectious sense of humor,hard work ethic and knowledge of the game he is passionate of hasmade him a figurehead for King Soccer and a recognizable characteraround the campus.
In his first season as head coach of the men’s team, heled the squad to a postseason berth in its first year as a memberof Conference Carolinas and NCAA Division II. During the 2011season, Tom Winspear marked up the scoring charts when he led theteam with 15 goals and three assists en route to being named to theAll-Southeast Region First Team and All-Conference First Team. Fiveof his student-athletes were named to the 2011 Conference CarolinasAll-Academic Team at season’s end, as well.
A native of Gambia, Africa, Thorpe began his experience at Kingas a student-athlete in 1988. He played four years of soccer forthe Tornado, putting together career numbers that gained him entryinto the College’s Athletic Hall of Fame. He captained the1991 Tornado team that won a Tennessee-Virginia Athletic Conference(TVAC) championship and was selected as Team MVP following the 1990campaign.
Thorpe returned to King as an assistant coach for themen’s soccer program at King from 1999-2003. During thattime, he was also the interim head coach for the Lady Tornadosoccer team from 2000-2002. With the women’s team, Thorpe ledthe Lady Tornado to a 41-18-2 overall record, including an 18-winseason in 2001.
In 2003, he became a men’s soccer assistant coach atnearby Tusculum College where he stayed for four seasons beforereturning to King a second time in 2007. Thorpe’s returncould not be more perfectly timed as King began its transition fromNAIA to NCAA Division II where his leadership and steadiness provedvaluable in the move.
Upon his return, Thorpe assumed duties as an assistant of themen’s program once again where he held the position for twoseasons. After helping King to an 11-6-1 record in 2009, he assumedthe role of head coach of the Lady Tornado for a second time in hiscoaching career. In his first season back as the head coach of KingWomen’s Soccer Thorpe led his team to a NCCAA Mid-EastRegional Championship, earning them a trip to the NCCAA NationalTournament. Following his success in 2010, Thorpe was named theMid-East Region Coach of the Year.
Prior to his collegiate career at King, Thorpe played on theGambia Junior National Football team. He also has coached with theHeroes F.C., located in Washington D.C.
Thorpe graduated from King in 1992 with a degree in businessadministration.
