Head Men’s Soccer Coach Tony Setzer, one of the pillars of Gardner-Webb’s men’s soccer program during his career in Boiling Springs, is entering his 24th season as the Bulldogs’ head coach. The Bulldogs’ career victories leader with 163, Setzer, the face of GWU Men’s Soccer, has spent his entire 22-year collegiate career as a head coach in Boiling Springs, N.C. and has spearheaded the growth of soccer at Gardner-Webb University and throughout Cleveland County. Setzer has been vital in the Bulldogs success over three transitions, as GWU transitioned to the NCAA Division I in 2000-01, moved into the Atlantic Sun Conference in 2002-03 and then most recently moved into the Big South Conference in 2008-09.

Prior to joining the Gardner-Webb family, Setzer served as an assistant coach at The Citadel under Bill Barfield. Setzer earned his Master’s degree from The Citadel in 1988. A 1986 graduate of Lander (S.C.) University, Setzer was a standout goalkeeper for the annually powerful Senators and enjoyed a brief professional playing career with the Columbus Capitals of the APISL before heading to The Citadel.  Setzer, who holds a USSF “A” License, is also the founder of the Runnin’ Bulldog Soccer Academy, and has been a driving force in the youth soccer movement in Cleveland County and, specifically, in Boiling Springs with the Greater Cleveland County Soccer Association. On most Saturdays, thousands of youth soccer players descend on Gardner-Webb University’s campus to compete in league and tournament matches.
 
Setzer is married to the former Kristen Lott, a four-time All-Conference selection for the Gardner-Webb women’s program in the mid-1990s, and the program’s leader in goals with 49 and second leading career scorer with 113 points. The couple resides in Boiling Springs and has four daughters. Madison Faye will be seven years old on Nov. 20. On March 20, 2007, the couple gave birth to triplets - Sydney Dianne, Morgan Jeanette and Cadence McRee.

Former GWU standout and career saves leader Tyler Kettering is entering his second year as Associate Head Coach for the Gardner-Webb men’s soccer program.  Kettering, who served as an assistant coach in 2007, serves as the recruiting coordinator and contact for the Bulldogs, as well as running day to day team operations along with developing and implementing practice sessions and overseeing the goalkeeper training throughout the season. In 2009, the Bulldogs posted an 8-6-3 overall record and a 4-3-1.  GWU posted three shutouts, including a 1-0 win over Clemson in the season opener. GWU’s goalkeepers allowed only 31 goals on the season, posted a 1.75 goals against average and a 66.3 saves percentage. Starting keeper Trent Kozman led the Bulldogs with 53 saves on the season.

Kettering, who manned the goal for the Bulldogs from 2003-06, was a two-time Atlantic Sun All-Conference selection and earned a spot on the 2003 Atlantic Sun Conference All-Freshmen Team.  Kettering, who hails from Xenia, Ohio, was a three-time Atlantic Sun Conference Defensive Player of the Week recipient and led the Bulldogs in saves all four seasons he played at GWU.  Kettering, who holds both the Atlantic Sun Conference and the GWU records in career saves with 446, led the nation in saves in both 2004 and 2006.  Kettering is also second in the GWU career record books with 15 career shutouts, second in single-season shutouts with six in 2006, third in single-season goals against average with an average of 1.25 in 2005 and fourth in single season saves with 134.  After his playing days at Gardner-Webb, Kettering went on to play professionally with both the Wilmington Hammerheads (2006-07) and the Chicago Fire of the MLS (2008-09).

Kettering was married to the former Ali Labig on December 29, 2007.  The couple resides in Boiling Springs with their son Logan, who was born on March 19, 2009.

Geraci, who will help with the day-to-day operations and the goalkeeper training, manned the goal for the Bulldogs over his final two seasons with the Bulldogs, playing 2683:18 minutes over 30 matches during that span. In 2009, his first year on head coach Tony Setzer’s staff, the Bulldogs posted an 8-6-3 overall record and a 4-3-1 conference record which included its first ever win over an ACC school in 17 tries, a 1-0 win over Clemson in the season opener.  The Bulldogs also had wins over Jacksonville and Liberty, both of which were only the second ever wins over those two teams in the program’s history. GWU posted three shutouts, including a 1-0 win over Clemson in the season opener. GWU’s goalkeepers allowed only 31 goals on the season, posted a 1.75 goals against average and a 66.3 saves percentage. Starting keeper Trent Kozman led the Bulldogs with 53 saves on the season. Geraci, who backed up fellow coach Tyler Kettering in 2004-06, was vital in the Bulldogs 2006 Atlantic Sun Conference Championship season and more importantly in the Bulldogs First Round NCAA Championship College Cup Tournament win over UAB.  Geraci came off the bench to stop three penalty kicks by the Blazers in the shootout to give the Bulldogs the 3-1 win on penalty kicks in the shootout and help them advance to the second round of the NCAA Championship College Cup tournament.

A youth player at Derby County in the English Premier League, former England Futsal and World Student Games International, Jason went on to play and captain Stetson University, where he recently became a Hall of Fame Inductee.  Jason oversees the boys program at FCCA.  The former Associate Head Coach at Gardner-Webb University, Jason holds a Masters in Business Administration, a UEFA B License and multiple USSF Licenses.