IRVINE, Calif. - The upcoming 2025 season will feature the start of a new era for men's soccer at Concordia University Irvine.
The CUI athletics department announced Monday the exciting addition of
Joshua Glover as its new men's soccer head coach of the Golden Eagles.
"After an extensive search and a very strong applicant pool, we are excited to welcome Joshua Glover as our next men's soccer coach," said Crystal Rosenthal, CUI Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics. "Joshua has been outstanding at every stop in his coaching journey, is a man of strong Christian character, and is highly respected throughout the soccer community. I'm confident in his leadership and vision, and I look forward to seeing where he can take our men's soccer program."
"I believe Concordia is a place that aligns with my heart to bring God, football, and family together," said Glover. "It's a Christ-centered environment where our men's soccer program will strive for
togetherness, accountability, and resilience. Concordia also offers incredible facilities, a prime location, and the infrastructure needed to build a truly successful program. We have a truly incredible group of players already on the team who I am excited to work with as we seek to establish a culture that intentionally equips our student-athletes to grow not just as players, but as men, pursuing their full potential in Jesus both on and off the field."
Glover has spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach at D1 California Baptist University, helping the Lancers rack up 27 victories and win nearly 70 percent of their home games during that span. In those three years, CBU excelled in the postseason, winning six straight WAC Tournament games and two WAC Tournament titles. This included the Lancers advancing to the NCAA Tournament twice. CBU also earned 19 clean sheets in those three years.
A former All-Conference goalkeeper at Westmont College, Glover also spent time at Biola University as a valuable assistant coach. As a member of the 2021 Biola coaching staff, he helped the Red and Black during a historic campaign that saw the squad go 11-7 overall and make the program's first-ever NCAA DII Tournament appearance. Glover began his coaching career working with the goalkeepers at Westcliff University after playing professionally for multiple years.
Everywhere he has gone, Glover has made an impact – both on and off the pitch.
"I've worked with Josh on two college staffs," explained Biola men's soccer head coach Joey O'Keefe. "Each college staff was better when he was on the sideline and each lost a great deal when he departed. Josh is the epitome of a transformational leader. He's an inspiring coach and human being - everything he does, he does with his full effort. The PacWest Conference and Concordia are getting a phenomenal leader, someone who cares more about the care of each individual student-athlete than anything else."
"Josh is passionate - he wears his heart on his sleeve," added O'Keefe. "His life goal is to make disciples of Christ using the vehicle of soccer as a tool. I cannot wait for continued battles with CUI and Biola for years to come."
"I'm a relational, transformational, and competitive coach," admitted Glover. "I lead with a deep care for people over players, building trust and accountability while holding high standards. Tactically, I believe in playing a style of football that is purposeful in possession, intensely cohesive in defending and dynamic in transition. I aim to develop intelligent, adaptable players within a system that reflects our values and commitment to excellence."
Glover hails from Norwich, England but also claims Beijing, China as a home town after spending a large chunk of his childhood there as well.
"I'm incredibly grateful to our President, Dr. Michael Thomas, and Associate Vice President of Athletics Crystal Rosenthal for the opportunity to lead this program," continued Glover. "My prayer is that Concordia men's soccer will not only be known for how we compete, but for how we love, serve, and develop the young men entrusted to us. I want to thank my wife Tiffany for all her love and support, and my extended family back home who have championed this journey every step of the way and will be happy to see me back in the green and yellow of Norwich City (even though its gold!)"
As a student-athlete at Westmont, Glover went 15-13-2 as his team's goalkeeper, collecting seven individual shutouts and combining with a teammate for two more clean sheets. He made over 100 saves in his career and allowed just 1.05 goals-per-game during his senior season in Santa Barbara.
Following two successful seasons playing at Westmont, he played in England for the Concord Rangers of the National South League and also then Lowestoft Tower of the Southern Football League. In addition, he made semi-pro stops with the Orange County Football Club (formerly of the National Premier Soccer League) and the Southern California Searhorses of United Soccer League 2.
Under Glover's leadership, the Golden Eagles are eager to prove themselves in the coming campaign and will be chasing a chance to make the new PacWest Conference Tournament for the first time in the program's history. Senior
Miguel Arroyo is the team's returning leading scorer and
made D2CCA Second Team All-Region with the Golden Eagles last fall.
The Golden Eagles kick off a new regular season beginning in the first week of September. The home opener for CUI is Saturday, Sept. 6 at 6:30 p.m. against Cal State Dominguez Hills.
CLICK HERE for the 2025 CUI men's soccer schedule
Concordia is a NCAA DII school and competes at that level in all 20 sports, with the exception of women's lacrosse which is a club team.
