OKLAHOMA CITY – After Danny Frid was promoted as the Head Coach of the MACU men's soccer program last month, the Mid-America Christian Athletic Department proud to announce the addition of Niall Masterson as the program's new Assistant Coach.
"I am truly blessed and honored to receive this position at MACU," said Masterson. "As soon as I stepped foot on campus, I felt the sense of community. I know I will be surrounded by ambitious people who will strive to make themselves and this university better.
"We are extremely happy to have Niall join our staff," said Frid. "Niall had a brilliant playing career over in Ireland and here in the U.S. He is someone that really grasped what we are trying to do with the soccer program during the interview process."
Masterson comes to MACU after a four-year stint as the Youth Academy Director and Head Coach of the Cavalry Youth Soccer Club in College Station, Texas. With Cavalry, Masterson was tasked with designing and implanting new player development curriculum, interviewing and hiring coaches, marketing and promotions as well as monitor both coach and player development.
Prior to Cavalry, Masterson served as the Head Coach of the Northeast Oklahoma Football Club based out of Bartlesville, Okla. from 2016-2018. With NEOFC, Masterson designed practice sessions, applied strategies and tactics to enhance team performances as well as manage individual attitudes to create a cohesive playing environment.
Before getting into coaching, Masterson had a four-year playing career with NCAA Division II Rogers State where he played alongside former MACU Head Coach Mitchell Sowerby. Between 2012 and 2015, Masterson appeared in 53 games and made 34 starts at the midfield position. Masterson scored 16 career goals and dished out 14 career assists, recording career-highs of seven goals and eight assists during his senior campaign with the Hillcats.
Masterson completed his RSU playing career as a two-time All-Heartland Conference honoree, earning First Team honors in 2015. In Rogers State inaugural season in 2012, Masterson was named a then Sooner Athletic Conference First Team honoree.
Currently, the Mid-America Christian men's soccer program is coming off two of its most successful seasons in program history. During the split 2020-21 campaign, the Evangels finished the campaign with a 15-4-3 overall record and advanced to the NAIA National Championships final site after picking up a pair of big wins over Morningside (Iowa) and Bethel (Tenn.) in the NAIA Opening Round following their second SAC Tournament Championship.
In 2019, the Evangels won their first ever NCCAA National Championship after closing out the program's winningest year with a 20-3-1 overall record following a 5-0 victory over Grace (Ind.) in the national championship game on Dec. 7, 2019.
"In the last couple of years, the men's soccer program has been making a name for itself nationwide," said Masterson. "My goal is to help Coach Frid keep the team on a steady trajectory and win a National Championship."
"I love Niall's passion for growth, learning and excellence in all areas of his life," Frid added. "He is definitely someone we are fortunate to be influencing our young men. I'm excited for him to get started here."
The MACU men's soccer team will officially kick off the 2021 season with a home scrimmage against Cowley College (Kan.) on Aug. 16 before opening the regular season with a home match against Hastings (Neb.) on Aug. 27.
