Marshall University Athletics
Simoes Promoted to Full-Time Assistant Coach for Men’s Soccer
7/8/2022 4:14:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Returned to Herd in the spring of 2022
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall men's soccer head coach Chris Grassie announced on Friday that Rafa Simoes has been promoted to a full-time assistant coach.
In just his first two months back, Marshall won the College Spring League Championship with a 2-1 victory over Bowling Green. Vinicius Fernandes was named the Most Valuable Player.
Simoes returned to the Herd in early March after previously working with the team in 2018-19.
In Simoes first go-round with the Thundering Herd, the squad finished the 2018 season with an 8-9-3 record with wins over Ohio State, 2017 C-USA Champions Old Dominion and an exciting double-overtime victory at South Carolina during the regular season. Marshall then upset No. 4 seed FIU in the first round of the Conference USA Tournament to advance to the semi-finals. The Herd fell to 3rd-ranked, and No. 1 overall seed Kentucky, 2-1, as the Wildcats went on to win the title.
The building blocks for the eventual two-time league champs and the 2020 National Champions were in place.
In 2018, Marshall featured 10 different players to score a goal and six who recorded three or more goals. Then just a sophomore, Jamil Roberts scored five goals and had four assists. The Herd had five players earn All C-USA honors and two were named to the All-Tournament Team.
Simoes rejoined Marshall after coaching stints at Nova Southeastern (2021-22) and Ohio University (2019-20), both serving as an assistant coach with the women's programs.
In 2021 with Nova Southeastern, Simoes helped lead the Sharks to an 8-7-1 record overall and 6-4 in the Sunshine State Conference (Division II). The season included a 1-0 conference victory over No. 17 Florida Tech on Oct. 2. The Sharks had two players named All-Conference in Louise Matsgard and Chama Silva. Matsgard also earned D2CCA All-South Region honors as well.
In 2019 at Ohio, the Bobcats finished the season 11-9-1, including starting on a 6-match winning streak. The year ended in the Mid-American Conference Tournament semi-finals. That year, four players received All-MAC accolades. Alivia Milesky and Abby Townsend were named to the First Team, Victoria Breeden earned Second Team honors and Maddie Young was selected to the All-Freshman team. Ohio scored 38 goals in 2019 with Milesky leading the way with a career-high 10. Milesky also earned All-Region honors.
Along with coaching at the collegiate level, Simoes has led the River Valley Soccer Club, the West Virginia Olympic Development Program-Youth Soccer where he won State Cup titles in 2019 and 2021, West Virginia Football Club-Youth Soccer, the Charleston Football Club-Youth Soccer and the Tetra Brazil/Challenger Sports back in 2015. He was named the River Valley Soccer Club Coach of the Year in 2019 and 2020.
Simoes starred in his native country of Brazil, including being the top scorer in the SP State League with 26 goals in 2009 being named First Team All-State SP League the same year.
Simoes played at the University of Charleston from 2014-17, with his first three seasons playing for coach Grassie. Simoes was a member of the Division II National Runner-up in 2014, a Final Four squad in 2015, another National Runner-up in 2016 and finally the Division II National Champions in 2017. During his time with the Golden Eagles, Charleston finished with an overall record of 82-8-5.
Simoes owns a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and two Master's degrees in Physical Education and Coaching, as well as in Sports Science. He holds a USSF National C License.
For all of the latest information on the Marshall men's soccer team, follow the Herd on Twitter @HerdMSoccer, Facebook at Marshall University Soccer and on www.herdzone.com.
In just his first two months back, Marshall won the College Spring League Championship with a 2-1 victory over Bowling Green. Vinicius Fernandes was named the Most Valuable Player.
Simoes returned to the Herd in early March after previously working with the team in 2018-19.
In Simoes first go-round with the Thundering Herd, the squad finished the 2018 season with an 8-9-3 record with wins over Ohio State, 2017 C-USA Champions Old Dominion and an exciting double-overtime victory at South Carolina during the regular season. Marshall then upset No. 4 seed FIU in the first round of the Conference USA Tournament to advance to the semi-finals. The Herd fell to 3rd-ranked, and No. 1 overall seed Kentucky, 2-1, as the Wildcats went on to win the title.
The building blocks for the eventual two-time league champs and the 2020 National Champions were in place.
In 2018, Marshall featured 10 different players to score a goal and six who recorded three or more goals. Then just a sophomore, Jamil Roberts scored five goals and had four assists. The Herd had five players earn All C-USA honors and two were named to the All-Tournament Team.
Simoes rejoined Marshall after coaching stints at Nova Southeastern (2021-22) and Ohio University (2019-20), both serving as an assistant coach with the women's programs.
In 2021 with Nova Southeastern, Simoes helped lead the Sharks to an 8-7-1 record overall and 6-4 in the Sunshine State Conference (Division II). The season included a 1-0 conference victory over No. 17 Florida Tech on Oct. 2. The Sharks had two players named All-Conference in Louise Matsgard and Chama Silva. Matsgard also earned D2CCA All-South Region honors as well.
In 2019 at Ohio, the Bobcats finished the season 11-9-1, including starting on a 6-match winning streak. The year ended in the Mid-American Conference Tournament semi-finals. That year, four players received All-MAC accolades. Alivia Milesky and Abby Townsend were named to the First Team, Victoria Breeden earned Second Team honors and Maddie Young was selected to the All-Freshman team. Ohio scored 38 goals in 2019 with Milesky leading the way with a career-high 10. Milesky also earned All-Region honors.
Along with coaching at the collegiate level, Simoes has led the River Valley Soccer Club, the West Virginia Olympic Development Program-Youth Soccer where he won State Cup titles in 2019 and 2021, West Virginia Football Club-Youth Soccer, the Charleston Football Club-Youth Soccer and the Tetra Brazil/Challenger Sports back in 2015. He was named the River Valley Soccer Club Coach of the Year in 2019 and 2020.
Simoes starred in his native country of Brazil, including being the top scorer in the SP State League with 26 goals in 2009 being named First Team All-State SP League the same year.
Simoes played at the University of Charleston from 2014-17, with his first three seasons playing for coach Grassie. Simoes was a member of the Division II National Runner-up in 2014, a Final Four squad in 2015, another National Runner-up in 2016 and finally the Division II National Champions in 2017. During his time with the Golden Eagles, Charleston finished with an overall record of 82-8-5.
Simoes owns a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and two Master's degrees in Physical Education and Coaching, as well as in Sports Science. He holds a USSF National C License.
For all of the latest information on the Marshall men's soccer team, follow the Herd on Twitter @HerdMSoccer, Facebook at Marshall University Soccer and on www.herdzone.com.
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