Former National Assistant Coach of the Year Jeff Negalha re-joins UNC staff

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – North Carolina men’s soccer coach Carlos Somoano has announced the addition of Jeff Negalha to his coaching staff, joining the Tar Heels ahead of the 2024 campaign as an assistant coach.

A familiar face of the sidelines in Chapel Hill, Negalha was named the 2011 NSCAA National Assistant Coach of the Year, helping Carolina win its second national championship in program history that same season.

Negalha spent nine seasons as an assistant coach for the Tar Heels. In addition to his National Assistant Coach of the Year honor, he helped Carolina win the 2011 National Championship after three consecutive College Cup appearances in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

North Carolina qualified for eight NCAA Tournaments in nine seasons with Negalha on staff, won four ACC regular seasons championships and one ACC Tournament, while appearing in three ACC Tournament championship matches. Negalha played an integral role in securing eight-straight classes ranked within the national top-11, including the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class in 2011.

Negalha returns to Chapel Hill after serving as the associate head coach at NC State since the start of 2017 campaign. Prior to his time with the Wolfpack, Negalha had assistant coaching stops at Boston College and Pittsburgh.

Before his first stint in Chapel Hill, Negalha was the top assistant at USC Upstate from 1999-2003 and USF from 2003-05.

As a player, Negalha was a two-year starter in goal for the University of South Carolina-Spartanburg, leading the Rifles to the NCAA quarterfinal round and the NCAA national championship game in 1997 and 1998, respectfully. In his two-year career at USCS, Negalha started 47 games, while allowing just 33 goals in nearly 3,900 minutes.

A 2000 graduate of USCS, Negalha holds his bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies, with a concentration in physical education.