Florida Gulf Coast University introduces Oliver Twelvetrees as men’s soccer head coach

FORT MYERS, Fla. – A proven winner at different levels of collegiate soccer, Oliver Twelvetrees has been named the third head coach in the history of the Florida Gulf Coast University men’s soccer program.

“With great enthusiasm, I announce Oliver Twelvetrees as the new head coach of FGCU men’s soccer,” said FGCU director of athletics Colin Hargis. “Oliver is a proven champion on and off the pitch. He is ready to lead the Eagles in the next chapter of our men’s soccer program. I am confident that he will build on the tradition and history of FGCU men’s soccer.”

“I am incredibly honored and excited to accept the position of head coach of the Florida Gulf Coast University men’s soccer team,” said Twelvetrees. “This is a role that I have worked toward my entire coaching career, and I am eager to build upon the strong foundation that has been established here within a top class athletic department. I am committed to developing our student-athletes into successful soccer players who are driven to compete in the beautiful game at the highest level. We will strive for excellence on the pitch, while emphasizing academic achievement, personal growth, and community engagement.”

Twelvetrees comes with a winning pedigree, having led Colorado State University-Pueblo to the NCAA Division II national semifinals in each of the last three seasons and the national championship match in 2023 and 2022. In his five seasons with the ThunderWolves, Twelvetrees posted a 74-21-12 record. He led his squad to 15 or more wins in each of his last four seasons and will depart with the fourth-best winning percentage among active coaches in NCAA D-II.

The 2024 season saw Twelvetrees named Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Coach of the Year. Caio Oliveira would be named RMAC Offensive Player of the Year to start his list of post-season accolades for 2024. Oliveira would join RMAC Defensive Player of the Year Shjon Andrews as a Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association All-American. Oliveira would also earn United Soccer Coaches First Team All-American status, marking the third time in CSU Pueblo history that a member of the ThunderWolves was a United Soccer Coaches First Team All-American.

“I would also like to thank the whole of CSU Pueblo men’s soccer and the administration for an amazing five seasons that allowed me to get this moment in my career,” Twelvetrees said.

The posting at FGCU marks a coaching return to the Sunshine State for Twelvetrees. In 2013, he started the program at Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne. Competing in the NJCAA, EFSC finished as either conference, region or district champions and finished ranked in the final NJCAA Top 10. His squad finished second in 2019 and third in 2015 and 2018. Also, while at EFSC Twelvetrees produced 14 NJCAA All-Americans and nine United Soccer Coaches All-Americans.

Prior to Eastern Florida State, Twelvetrees was the head coach for seven seasons at Barton Community College. He would post an overall record of 124-20-5 (.849) in his time at Barton with four conference championships, four Region VI championships, and two district championships. Twelvetrees would see his side finish in the Top 15 of the rankings with at least one All-American each year. More than half of his student-athletes would move on to play at four-year institutions.

“My coaching philosophy is based on a team first environment and tactical discipline within a high performance culture,” Twelvetrees said.

Twelvetrees started his head collegiate coaching career on the women’s side at Wayne State College. He would coach at Wayne State for two seasons, posting a 9-9-3 record in his second year at the helm. Twelvetrees’ first assistant coaching position in college would be as a graduate assistant for the women’s soccer program at Bemidji State University.

FGCU’s new head coach is a native of Swansea, Wales. He played soccer for Swansea College and at the University of Brighton. He graduated from Brighton in 1999, then earned his master’s degree from Bemidji State.

Twelvetrees holds a National Soccer Coaches Association of America Premier Diploma and a USSF B License.

The Eagles went 3-3-1 in conference play in 2024 reached the Atlantic Sun Conference semifinals last season as the No. 3 seed. All-time, the Eagles have traditionally been one of the top men’s soccer programs in the league. FGCU has won four ASUN Tournaments in program history, with the most recent coming in 2016. The program also touts seven ASUN regular season championships.

Twelvetrees is grateful for the opportunity to lead the FGCU program and is ready to start work. “I want to also thank FGCU president Aysegul Timur, Colin Hargis, and the entire FGCU community for their confidence in me. I am thrilled to join the Eagle family and can’t wait to get started.”