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Harding University Athletics

Jon Ireland

At Harding
Jon Ireland became Harding's fifth head men's soccer coach in 2016. He had a 60-85-19 record in his 10 seasons.

    Coaching Highlights:
  • Has led Harding to a winning record in three seasons with nine wins or more.
  • Harding won the GAC regular season championship in 2017 and 2018 and won the GAC Tournament championship in 2016.
  • The 2016 team set a school record with 11 shutouts.
  • Ireland received GAC Coach of the Year honors in 2017.
  • In his 10 seasons, Harding men’s soccer players have received: one All-America, one GAC Player of the Year, 23 All-Region, 30 All-GAC, 55 Academic All-GAC, 22 CoSIDA/CSC Academic All-District and one CoSIDA/CSC Academic All-America honor.
Before Harding
Ireland returned to Harding from York College where he was the head men’s coach from 2012-15. He led York to consecutive postseason berths and directed the team to its first winning season in 13 years.

Ireland was also the head coach of Lipscomb University’s women’s program from 2007-11. He had the most wins of any Lipscomb women’s soccer coach when he took the job with York.

Ireland’s first head coaching job was at Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama. He was the women’s head coach in 2006 and led the team to its first winning season and its first postseason berth.

Following his career at Harding, Ireland was a volunteer assistant with the Harding men’s and women’s teams from 2002-05.

Ireland holds an NSCAA Level II goalkeeper diploma and a USSF National “B” coaching license. He has coached nine club teams to state championships and has coached in the Olympic Development Program for three years.

Playing Career
Ireland played soccer for Harding from 2000-02, scoring five goals and recording 12 assists in 32 career games. He earned All-Gulf South Conference and Academic All-GSC honors in 2002.

Education
Ireland graduated from Harding in May 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology.

Family
Ireland is married to the former Hailee Augsberger of Eureka, Illinois. The couple has three children: Finn, Pippa and Gemma.

Ireland's Harding Coaching Record
Year Overall Record Pct. GAC Record Pct. Finish
2016 14-6-0 .700 3-3-0 .500 t-2nd
2017 7-7-4 .500 5-1-0 .833 1st
2018 10-6-1 .618 4-2-0 .667 1st
2019 9-7-2 .556 8-5-1 .679 4th
2021S 2-3-1 .417 2-3-1 .417 5th
2021 4-7-3 .393 4-5-3 .458 5th
2022 4-11-2 .294 4-6-2 .417 5th
2023 6-11-1 .361 4-8-0 .333 5th
2024 2-13-3 .194 2-10-0 .167 6th
2025 2-14-2 .167 0-11-1 .042 7th
Total 60-85-19 .424 36-53-8 .412