Joshua Kiper enters his second season as the head soccer coach for the Fighting Koalas.
Kiper came to Columbia College from Lakeland Kathleen High
School in Lakeland, Fl, where he led the men's soccer program from
2005-07. In his last year, Kiper's leadership resulted in a showing
in the regional finals of the state tournament. Prior to coaching
at Lakeland, Joshua was the director of youth soccer leagues at the
Plant City YMCA in Tampa, FL. In 2007 Kiper received his National
Diploma coaching license from the NSCAA.
Kiper graduated from Southern Wesleyan University as a four year
starter and career record holder in assists. While competing for
the Warriors, he was also named to the all-conference team for what
is now the Southern States Athletic Conference and to the NCCAA
all-region team. Kiper also graduated from Southern Wesleyan with
four Bachelor of Science Degrees in Business Administration,
Accounting, Recreation, and Sports Management.
He received his advanced national diploma from the NSCAA
in 2009.
Joshua resides in Lexington, SC with his wife Shena and their sons
Joshua and Jaxon, and they are expecting their daughter Jordyn in
May, 2010.
Derek Gleason is entering his second season as the assistant soccer coach for the Fighting Koalas. He specializes in goal keeper training coming off of his competitive experience at Division I member Furman University.
Gleason was a goalkeeper at Furman University and the recipient of the Gray Griffin Memorial Award his senior year with the team. While at Furman, he double-majored in Spanish and History; afterwards, he attended Indiana University where he received a Master of Arts in Latin American and Caribbean Studies.
Derek and his wife Brigette live in Columbia, SC.
