FIU women’s soccer hires two-time NAIA national champion Mat Dunn as head coach

MIAMI – Two-time NAIA women’s soccer National Champion Mat Dunn has been named the fifth head coach in FIU women’s soccer’s program history, as announced on Thursday by FIU Athletic Director Scott Carr.

“I am extremely excited to join FIU,” exclaimed Dunn. “From the beginning of the interview process, it felt like home.”

Dunn joins the Panthers following a 14-year tenure as the head women’s soccer coach at Keiser University, which changed its name from Northwood in 2015. Possessing an extremely successful pedigree, Dunn never had a losing season at Keiser, ending his Seahawk career with a 245-42-17 record.

Hailing from Sheffield, England, Dunn took Keiser to the NAIA Postseason Tournament every year of his tenure, winning back-to-back NAIA National Championships in 2019 and 2020, and was named NAIA Coach of the Year following both campaigns.

“I can’t wait to hit the ground running and continue to build on the success of the program,” coach Dunn continued. “To my Seahawk Family, I am forever grateful. To the Panther Family, thank you for welcoming me with open arms. Paws Up, Let’s Go!”

Additionally, Dunn has guided the Seahawks to 10 Sun Conference Regular Season Championships, as well as six Sun Conference Tournament Championships. Keiser saw themselves in the NAIA Final Four six times in Dunn’s tenure, and was the national runner-up twice, including this past 2024 season. In 2024, Dunn led Keiser to an 18-2-1 record and No. 2 national ranking in the final 2024 NAIA Women’s Soccer Coaches’ Top 25 Poll.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Mat to FIU to lead our women’s soccer program,” stated Athletic Director Scott Carr. “Mat is a proven winner with sustained success who has won multiple national championships. His record speaks for itself – all he has done as a head coach is win. He is uniquely familiar with South Florida having spent the past two decades here, and has not only built championship-winning teams, but award-winning student-athletes who excel academically. He is a high-character, relationship-building coach who will continue to build upon the winning foundation and culture that FIU women’s soccer has established. Paws Up!”

Coach Dunn has a reputation of recruiting well and raising the level of his athletes, coaching 106 SUN All-Conference members, including 65 First Team selections. Dunn also saw 54 NAIA All-America selections chosen under his rule, and 59 NAIA Scholar Athletes.

Dunn was an assistant coach at his alma mater, Northwood, for both the men’s and women’s soccer programs for three seasons from 2008-2010, before transitioning to the head coach of the women’s team. They had a 46-14 record with Dunn on the staff, including two appearances in the NAIA Tournament in 2008 and 2009, making it to the second round both seasons. Coach Dunn has additional experience in budgeting, scheduling, travel planning, development training and community involvement.

“FIU has made a great hire in Coach Dunn,” said Ty Brewer, former Northwood men’s and women’s soccer head coach and current Director of Coaching at the Liverpool International Academy of South Florida. “Not only is Dunny a great tactical X’s and O’s coach, he is a player’s coach. He has a way of relating to his players to get the most of them and the players will love to play for him. Dunny is a program builder who will build on FIU’s recent success to develop a dynasty in South Florida!”

Dunn was a member and captain of the Northwood men’s soccer team, leading them to their first ever Sun Conference Championship and an appearance in the NAIA National Tournament in 2006, advancing to the elite eight that season.