Lincoln Memorial University Athletics

Coach Helio D’Anna — simply known as Coach L throughout the soccer world — begins his 16th season as the head men’s soccer coach at Lincoln Memorial University.
 
In his 15 seasons at LMU, D’Anna has compiled a 167-80-28 record. He also spent the previous 14 seasons prior to the 2017 campaign as the head women’s soccer coach and guided the Lady Railsplitters to a 129-97-22 record. All told, D’Anna has amassed 296 wins while roaming the LMU sideline. In addition to his 99 wins in eight seasons as the head men’s soccer coach at nearby Union College, D’Anna enters the 2018 campaign needing just five wins to reach 400 for his career.  
 
A native of Campinas, Brazil, D’Anna has guided the Railsplitters to four conference championships and three NCAA national tournament appearances. The men’s squad has also won two regional titles while making an appearance in the 2007 NCAA National Championship.
 
D’Anna nearly replicated that success on the women’s side, directing the Lady Railsplitters to four conference titles and three trips to the NCAA tournament, including a run to the regional title and an appearance in the NCAA Elite Eight in 2004.
 
The Railsplitters enter the 2018 season riding a streak of three consecutive 10-win seasons. The 2017 team went 10-5-3 overall and returned to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2007. 
 
Both the men’s and women’s programs had two conference runner-up finishes in D’Anna’s tenure. Over his 15-year career, LMU has appeared in the top-25 national rankings on multiple occasions, with the Railsplitters ranking as high as No. 1 and the Lady Railsplitters earning their highest-ever ranking at No. 8.
 
D’Anna has received numerous coaching awards in his illustrious career, earning NCAA South Region Coach of the Year distinctions with the women and Appalachian Region Coach of the Year with the men. He has produced five All-Americans on the men’s side, including one National Player of the Year, and three with the women.
 
Prior to taking over at LMU, D’Anna served as the head men’s soccer coach at nearby Union College in Barbourville, Ky. During his time at Union, D’Anna led the Bulldogs to four Mid-South Conference titles and was named Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year at the conclusion of each of those four seasons. Union made two trips to the NAIA Region XI Championship match and appeared in the top-25 rankings on multiple occasions, jumping as high as No. 3 in the nation. He recruited and coached nine Bulldogs to All-American honors.
 
D’Anna earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Unicamp-Brazil before adding a master's degree in physical education from Union. He coached and played at a variety of soccer clubs as well as the American High School of Campinas during his formative years.
 
He and his wife Debbie, who is the Vice President of Student Life and Dean of Students at Brevard College, reside in Morristown, Tenn.