After seven seasons as Associate Head Coach, Tennant McVea will start his first season as Head Coach of the Old Dominion Monarchs after taking over for Alan Dawson at the end of the 2023 season. McVea returned to the staff in 2017 after being an integral part of the Men’s Soccer Staff from 2013-2015. During that time the program won the institutions first Conference USA Championship trophy in 2014.
In 2023, ODU started unbeaten in its first 10 matches and recorded wins over Radford, William & Mary, Kentucky, Coastal Carolina and Campbell. Karan Mandair and Jonas Schmalbach tied for the single season goals scored lead with five. All five of Mandair's came on penalty kicks including game-winners against Kentucky and Campbell. Michael Statham had four shutouts in goal including the win over Kentucky.
In 2022, the Monarchs rejoined one of the toughest conferences in soccer with their first season back in the Sun Belt and opened conference play with a 4-2 win at Georgia Southern. Freshman Michael Statham was a standout in goal with five shutouts, including one over 20th-ranked Campbell. ODU knocked off fourth-ranked Marshall 2-1 on October 15 behind goals from Michael Eberle and Samuel Mar Kristinsson. As a result of that win, Statham earned Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week honors, while Kristinsson was named College Soccer News Team of the Week
In the fall of 2021, Eliot Goldthorp was an All C-USA Second Team selection and an All-Freshman Team honoree, while Josh Thacker earned All C-USA Third Team honors. A total of 24 Monarchs were named to the Conference USA Honor Roll, while seven ODU Student-athletes earning a C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal.
In 2020-21, McVea helped coach Josh Thacker to a Conference USA Freshman of the Year award. Thacker was named to the All C-USA Second Team and All-Freshman Team. Djibril Doumbia was named to the All-Conference USA Third Team, while Ettore Casadei joined Thacker on the All-Freshman Team. Thacker garnered College Soccer News All-Freshman Team laurels. Additionally, Thacker and Casadei were also named to the All-State Team. A total of 19 Monarchs were named to the Conference USA Honor Roll, while seven ODU student-athletes earned a C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal.
The 2019 campaign saw the Monarchs garner victories over VCU, South Carolina and William & Mary. Senior Deniz Dogan scored a team-high five goals with two assists for 12 points and was named to the C-USA All-Academic Team. That season the Monarchs had six named to the C-USA Academic Honor Roll, while two earned C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal honors.
In 2018, McVea was instrumental in ODU finishing second place in the C-USA with a 6-2-0 mark in league play. The Monarchs returned an exciting core group from the 2017 Conference USA Championship winning team. The team lost on the final night of the season to the #3 ranked team in the nation, University of Kentucky, in a game that decided the regular season champions. The Monarchs went on to lose in the Conference USA Semifinal to the #14 ranked University of Charlotte and narrowly missed out on another trip to the NCAA National Championship.
That year the Monarchs again picked up multiple post season honors on and off the field. Niko Klosterhalfen ended his career being named to the Google Cloud Third Team Academic All American. He was the first Monarch to earn the award since Men’s Basketball’s Alex Loughton earned the honor in 2006. The German native boasted a 3.88 GPA and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in psychology. Six Monarchs tabbed places on the Conference USA end of season All Conference Teams, while 11 named to C-USA Academic Honor Roll and two earned C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal honors.
Upon his return McVea was instrumental in building the 2017 Conference USA championship winning team that advanced to the national tournament. After a standout 2-0 win at home to NC State, the Monarchs narrowly lost to NCAA finalists Indiana in the second round.
In that year Brandon Perdue was named VaSID Rookie of the year and Mertcan Akar earned VaSID All State first team honors. Akar, along with Niko Klosterhalfen, Fox Slotemaker and Max Wilschrey, also picked up United Soccer Coaches All Southeast Region honors. Seven Monarchs garnered all Conference USA awards for their efforts on the field while. Niko Klosterhalfen was one of 14 to earn a place on the Conference USA All-Academic Team gaining a 3.84 GPA.
McVea played a pivotal role in the development of defensive captain Fox Slotemaker who went on to sign a professional contract with Tasman United in his native New Zealand.
McVea spent the 2016 season as an Assistant Coach with Elon University working alongside current MLS Assistant Coach Chris Little (Colorado Rapids). While at Elon, McVea helped the Phoenix to a 7-6-4 record 3-2-3 in the CAA and coached Elijah Agu to an NSCAA All-Region Second-Team nod.
Off the field, McVea is responsible for the academic success of the Men’s Soccer student athletes. Since his return in 17 the team have consistently been one of the top-ranking men’s teams on campus. In the spring of 2023, the Program earned a 3.35 GPA tabbing them the highest male sport team GPA.
As well as his work at Old Dominion, McVea has become an integral part of the soccer community in Hampton Roads. He has been involved in coaching and mentorship of players at local ECNL club Beach FC since 2013 and has been on staff at Newport News based Lionsbridge FC (USL 2) since their formation in 2017. McVea has mentored and developed multiple players who have played professionally in the United States in the MLS, USL Championship and USL League one as well as Europe and beyond. He currently holds a B license with United States Soccer Federation (USSF) and is part of the current cohort for the prestigious USSF A Senior License with some of the top head and assistant coaches in the MLS, NWSL and USL Championship.
After a stellar collegiate career, McVea signed his first professional contract with Finnish Premier League club FC Lahti in 2010. McVea played for several clubs in the United States and Europe before retiring from playing. He was capped for his country, Northern Ireland, from the U16-U19 level and captained the team at the U17 European Championships in 2004.
McVea played collegiately at Loyola University of Maryland where he was a First Team All-American in 2008 as well as a three-time All-Region selection. McVea, was the first player to be named MAAC player of the year three times in a row and captained the team to three straight national tournament appearances from 2007-09. The Greyhounds were ranked as high as sixth in the nation in 2008. In 2009, he was a finalist for the prestigious Lowe’s Senior Class Award.
He graduated from Loyola with a degree in advertising and public relations and a minor in general business in 2009.
McVea and his wife Jaclyn live in Virginia Beach with their son Tennant and daughter Carson.
Tennant McVea
ODU Men’s Soccer Prepares to Battle #8 Marshall in Sun Belt Conference Tournament
Old Dominion men’s soccer will fight #8 Marshall in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament after defeating JMU in the final game of the regular season
ODU Men's Soccer Defeats JMU 1-0 To Earn Bid To Sun Belt Conference Tournament
Monarchs will travel to Marshall on Sunday in the first round of the Sun Belt Tournament.
Men's Soccer Celebrates Senior Night Against JMU
The Old Dominion men’s soccer team heads into the final game of the regular season with a home contest against James Madison, resuming their TowneBank Royal Rivalry on Tuesday, November 5 at 7 p.m. for Senior Night.
First Career Goal by Wayland Lifts Men's Soccer Over Georgia Southern, 3-2
STATESBORO, Ga. – Freshman Micah Wayland made his first career collegiate goal count for Old Dominion Men’s Soccer as Wayland scored in the 83rd minute to break a 2-2 tie and lift the Monarchs to a 3-2 win at Georgia Southern on Friday night.
Men's Soccer Visits Georgia Southern Friday Night
The Old Dominion men’s soccer team heads into the final month of the regular season with a road contest at Georgia Southern on Friday, November 1 at 7 p.m.
Men's Soccer Falls 3-1 To South Carolina
Andrew Bennett's penalty kick goal proved the only tally on the night as ODU fell to South Carolina
Men's Soccer Returns Home To Face South Carolina Sunday Night
The Old Dominion men’s soccer team hits the home pitch of the ODU Soccer Stadium for the first time in three weeks on Sunday night as they entertain South Carolina in a 6 p.m. kick.
Men's Soccer Snaps Skid With 3-2 Win At Coastal Carolina
In a game that saw the teams trade goals throughout, the Old Dominion men’s soccer team got the final one and the game-winning one on Wednesday night.
Men's Soccer Ends Road Swing At Coastal Carolina Wednesday
The Old Dominion men’s soccer team will finish a three-match road swing on Wednesday night visiting Coastal Carolina for a 7 p.m. kick.
Men's Soccer Drops 2-0 Decision At UCF
The Old Dominion men’s soccer team dropped a 2-0 decision at Central Florida on Friday night in a Sun Belt Conference matchup.
Men's Soccer Continues Road Swing At UCF Friday Night
The Old Dominion men’s soccer team continues a three-match road swing on Friday as they visit UCF for a 7 p.m. Sun Belt Conference match in Orlando, Florida.
Men's Soccer Falls 1-0 At Kentucky
The men's soccer team dropped a hard-fought 1-0 decision at Kentucky on Friday night.
Men's Soccer Starts Three Match Road Swing At Kentucky Friday Night
The Old Dominion men’s soccer team starts a three-match road swing on Friday as they visit Kentucky for a 7 p.m. Sun Belt Conference match
Men's Soccer Plays Georgia State To 0-0 Draw
The Old Dominion men’s soccer team returned to the home pitch of the ODU Soccer Stadium on Saturday night and played to a 0-0 draw with Georgia State in Sun Belt Conference action.
Men's Soccer Hosts Georgia State Saturday For Military Appreciation Night
The Old Dominion men’s soccer team returns to the home pitch on Saturday night to take on the Georgia State Panthers in a Sun Belt Conference contest at 7 p.m. on Military Appreciation Night.
Men's Soccer Falls 2-1 At #7 Marshall
ODU headed to Marshall and dropped a hard fought 2-1 decision to the seventh-ranked Thundering Herd on Sunday.
Men's Soccer Visits #7 Marshall Sunday Afternoon
The Old Dominion men’s soccer team takes to the road for the first time this month as they finish the West Virginia portion of their Sun Belt Conference slate visiting seventh-ranked Marshall on Sunday afternoon at 4:30 p.m.
Men's Soccer Drops Tough 1-0 Decision To West Virginia
Men's Soccer falls 1-0 in league opener to fifth-ranked West Virginia in front of 1,767 fans Saturday night.
Men's Soccer Kicks Off Sun Belt Conference Play Saturday Hosting West Virginia
The Old Dominion men’s soccer team begins Sun Belt Conference action on Saturday, September 21 when they host fifth-ranked West Virginia at 7 p.m. inside the ODU Soccer Stadium.
Men's Soccer Uses Late Goal To Top George Mason, 1-0
Men's Soccer finishes non-conference play with a big 1-0 win over previously unbeaten George Mason Sunday night at home.
Men's Soccer Concludes Non-Conference Schedule Hosting George Mason Sunday Night
The Old Dominion men’s soccer team finishes its non-conference slate on Sunday night when they entertain George Mason at 6 p.m. inside the ODU Soccer Stadium.
Men's Soccer Blanks Tribe 2-0
The Old Dominion men’s soccer team put up a goal in each half and rode a strong defensive effort as they blanked William & Mary 2-0 on Tuesday night in a non-conference matchup.
Monarchs Host William & Mary In Men's Soccer Clash Tuesday Night
The Old Dominion men’s soccer team start a two-match week on Tuesday, Sept. 10 when they host an Interstate 64 matchup with the Tribe of William & Mary with first kick scheduled for 7 p.m.
Men's Soccer Battles UMBC To 1-1 Draw
The Old Dominion men’s soccer team battled with UMBC on Friday night to a 1-1 draw at the ODU Soccer Stadium.
Men's Soccer Entertains UMBC Friday Night
The Old Dominion men’s soccer team continues a five-match homestand on Friday, September 6 when they entertain the UMBC Retrievers for a 7 p.m. start.
Men's Soccer Completes 1-0 Home Opener Over Radford
The men's soccer team completed their home opener on Monday with a 1-0 win over Radford.
Men's Soccer Starts Home Schedule Sunday With Radford
The Old Dominion men’s soccer team hits the home pitch for the first time this season as they host Radford on Sunday, Sept. 1 in a 4 p.m. start.
Early Goal Sinks Men's Soccer In 1-0 Loss At Campbell
The men's soccer team closed out a three-match road swing to start the season with a 1-0 loss at Campbell on Thursday night.
Men's Soccer Tangles With Campbell Thursday Night On The Road
The Old Dominion men’s soccer team finishes off a three-match season opening road swing with a visit to Buies Creek, N.C. for a Thursday night matchup at Campbell.
Men's Soccer Falls 3-1 At VCU
In a game delayed at the start by 75 minutes due to heavy rain, three goals in a near eight-minute span proved to be the difference as VCU defeated Old Dominion 3-1 in men’s soccer action on Monday night at Sports Backers Stadium.
Men's Soccer Visits VCU For Monday Night Clash
The Old Dominion men’s soccer team continues a three-match season opening road swing as they head up Interstate 64 to face VCU on Monday night at 7 p.m. inside Sports Backers Stadium.
Men's Soccer Knocks Off George Washington In Season Opener, 4-2
The Tennant McVea era of ODU men's soccer opened with a bang on Thursday as Timothy Ennin had two goals and one assist in a 4-2 ODU win at George Washington.
Men's Soccer Opens 2024 Season At George Washington Thursday
The Tennant McVea era of Old Dominion men’s soccer officially begins on Thursday afternoon as the Monarchs head to Washington, D.C. to take on George Washington at 1 p.m. at the GW Soccer Field.
Men's Soccer Announces 2024 Schedule
Old Dominion first-year head men’s soccer coach Tennant McVea announced on Friday the 2024 schedule for his Monarchs. ODU will play a 16-game regular season slate and have eight games at the ODU Soccer Stadium.