NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt head soccer coach Darren Ambrose announced Kyle Roelke as interim assistant coach Friday afternoon. Having spent two seasons as a volunteer with the Commodores in 2015-16, Roelke returns to the team in a full-time capacity for 2022.
“We were incredibly fortunate to have Kyle be in a position to step into the role as assistant coach on such short notice,” Ambrose said. “He was a tremendous help as our volunteer for two years when we first arrived at Vanderbilt in 2015. He is passionate about the game and has significant experience coaching at the professional and academy level in the past several years.”
Staying local, Roelke most recently spent eight years with Nashville SC, serving in various coaching roles across multiple age groups. In his last position, Roelke served as assistant coach of the USL Championship team where he assisted and supported the coaching staff in planning, preparing, delivering, and evaluating coaching sessions for the first team squad. He played a key role in both the development and progression of individual players, including those coming up in the program. Roelke also contributed to the analysis of the first team while working to scout opposing teams and provide analysis of match tactics and playing style.
While with the USL Championship squad, he helped lead the team to a second-place finish in the Eastern Conference in 2019 with a record of 20-7-7 as well as a berth in the Eastern Conference playoff semifinals that same year. Under his tutelage, Roelke’s squad recorded the second-best goals against average in the league and ranked third in goal differential.
With Nashville SC, he also held stints as the U23 head coach and MLS Next Academy coach.
He also spent time as a head coach in the NPSL where he planned, prepared and implemented innovative and forward-thinking technical and tactical approaches in coaching sessions. He established both short- and long-term objectives, working towards achieving his goals through detailed trainings.
Prior to his time in the NPSL, Roelke served as head coach of Tennessee SC where he oversaw and organized all coaching sessions, as well as the design and delivery of their high-quality coaching program. Named the 2017 Tennessee State Coach of the Year, Roelke led his team to the 2017 national championship. During his tenure with the team, they also saw success claiming six state championships.
Roelke spent six years as a professional soccer player, competing internationally from 2005-11 for various teams.
In his role with the Commodores, Roelke will work primarily with the goalkeepers.
“Not only does he have a goalkeeper background, but also a bright soccer mind for the technical and tactical aspects of the game,” Ambrose added. “He is constantly educating himself as proven with the recent completion of his UEFA A licence course. He will bring new ideas and energy to our program and we are thrilled to welcome him back to our staff in this role.”
