Derek Neidlinger will begin his second season on staff at ODU in 2024 and his first as an assistant coach since being elevated from his previous role as a volunteer assistant in 2023.
In Neidlinger's first season on staff in 2023 ODU got off to a 10-match unbeaten streak to begin the season, the programs best start to a season since 2003. ODU 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 goals came on penalty kicks including game-winners against Kentucky and Campbell.
Neidlinger played a key role in recruiting efforts that landed the Monarchs the #40 nationally ranked recruiting class in 2024. This was ODU's first-ever nationally-ranked recruiting class.
A native of Napa, California, Neidlinger started his playing career at Santa Rosa Junior College where he played two seasons and was a second-team All-American in 2019. He transferred to Old Dominion where he played in every game in the 2020 and 2021 seasons and was a two-time Conference USA Academic Honor Roll selection.
He finished his collegiate career at Corban University in 2022 where he helped anchor a backline that allowed the least goals in the NAIA and had the most shutouts in the association.
Neidlinger graduated from ODU in 2022 with a bachelor's in sports management and earned his master's in business administration from Corban in September 2023.
He is currently in the process of obtaining his USSF D License.
"I am extremely excited that we have been able to retain Derek's services. As an alum, Derek understands the values of the program and is fully committed to the cause. He is a dedicated, hardworking and hungry young coach who has a fantastic future in this game. His energy is infectious and his passion for this program shows in everything he does," said ODU Head Coach Tennant McVea."