Ian Spooner is entering his third year as an assistant coach with the FGCU men's soccer program in 2020. He was hired in January of 2018.
In 2019, the Eagles posted a 9-8-2 record and reached the ASUN Championship game for the fifth time in program history. In arguably the toughest schedule to date, out of the 17 teams FGCU faced in 2019, 10 of those opponents were either nationally ranked or were receiving votes in multiple polls. The Eagles defeated two ranked teams in No. 13 Michigan and No. 17 Charlotte. All said, the squad reached as high as No. 12 in 2019, just one ranking shy of the program record set back in 2016.
Spooner concluded his first season with the Eagles helping the squad to a 9-5-2 record in 2018 as they captured their seventh ASUN regular season title, including six all-conference nods. The Green and Blue reached the ASUN Tournament semifinals for the eighth-straight season (every year of eligibility).
As the team’s keeper’s coach, Spooner helped mold Gustavo Vasconcelos into the ASUN Goalkeeper of the Year in 2018, the program’s third overall winner.
Before FGCU, Spooner spent the previous 10 seasons at San Jacinto College in Texas, including the last six as the head coach of the junior college’s men’s soccer team. A Houston native, Spooner served four years as an assistant coach and was the interim head coach in 2012.
In his six seasons in charge of the Houston-based team, Spooner led San Jacinto to double-figure victories five times, made two NJCAA Final Four appearances (2013, 2016), twice set the program’s single-season wins record and produced five all-Americans. All told, Spooner – who also served as an adjunct professor during his time as the head coach – orchestrated an 80-37-4 record (.678 winning percentage).
From 2008 to 2011, Spooner was an assistant coach, helping San Jacinto to a national runner-up finish in his first season. Spooner – who worked primarily with the goalkeepers and defenders – helped the Coyotes return to the regional championship each of the next three years, coaching four all-Americans in that time in addition to the 2008 National Player of the Year.
Prior to his time at San Jacinto, Spooner was the assistant coach for Cumberland University’s men’s and women’s soccer teams from August 2006 to May 2007.
Aside from his collegiate coaching experience, Spooner has also worked as an assistant coach for the Houston Football Club (PDL), director of coaching for the Texans Soccer Club South (USSDA) and as a professional staff trainer for the Challenge Soccer Club and Space City Futbol Club (youth teams).
Spooner became a member of the United Soccer Coaches in August 2012, a U.S. National Soccer “C” Certified Coach in June 2008 and recently earned a BLS Provider Certified American Heart Certification.
A four-year starter at Western Michigan from 2001-2004, Spooner was a valuable goalkeeper for the team. While with the Broncos, he was named the club’s Most Valuable Player in 2004 and its Newcomer of the Year in 2001.
Spooner helped the Broncos to the 2003 MAC Championship crown and NCAA Tournament appearance, and a runner-up MAC Tournament finish in 2004. He holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from the Kalamazoo-based school.
