ENMU tabs new men's soccer coach

PORTALES — After a year’s hiatus for the program, Eastern New Mexico University athletic director Paul Weir on Monday announced the hiring of Brandon Misuraca as the new men’s soccer coach when the Greyhounds resume play this fall.

Misuraca spent the past three seasons as the first coach of the Oklahoma Panhandle State program, leading the Aggies to an overall mark of 23-17-9. Before that he was an assistant coach at University of the Cumberlands in Florence, Ky. and the University of Houston-Victoria, both NAIA Division I programs.

Misuraca is the seventh head coach in the history of the program, which came into existence in 2004. ENMU dropped its men’s soccer program for the 2021 season, but reinstated it in January.

“I’m honored and grateful to Dr. Weir and the entire search committee for entrusting me (with) bringing back NCAA men’s soccer to the ENMU campus and the state of New Mexico,” Misuraca said in a release from ENMU. “I look forward to (moving) the program forward.”

Prior to his two NAIA stints, Misuraca gained his first coaching experience as a volunteer assistant for the women’s program at Missouri Baptist University. He has received coaching certifications from the United States Soccer Federation and United Soccer coaches.

Misuraca earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in sports management from Missouri Baptist in 2014, and went on to pursue a Master of Arts in teaching in early elementary education at Cumberlands two years later.

“We want to thank all of the coaches who applied for this position,” Weir said. “It was by far the deepest pool of qualified applicants we’ve had in any search since I’ve been here.

“At the end of the process, Brandon became the perfect fit. He will be an exceptional addition to our local community, and I can’t wait to watch him get started.”