HIGH POINT, N.C. — High Point University Men's Soccer Head Coach Zach Haines announced the promotion of Mason Marcey from Assistant Coach to Associate Head Coach in 2026. Marcey, a former player and team captain, joined the HPU staff in 2022.
"It is a dream scenario to recruit someone like Mason, have him captain your team, and then join the staff right after graduation," Haines said. "In the years since, he has established himself as a top Division I coach at HPU. He fully deserves this position."
"Every program does it differently in terms of how they manage promotions and title changes. At HPU, I have been extremely fortunate. In 2019, I was able to begin this journey with Josh Gillon as Associate Head Coach. He is without question one of the best in the game. JG and Mason as AHC's and Toney, one of the brightest young assistants in DI soccer, make up a coaching staff that I know will continue to do big things. I am extremely proud to work with them every single day as well as our entire support staff."
Marcey earns the promotion following a historic 2025 season, where the Panthers swept through the Big South Conference unblemished with two trophies to show for while earning the program's highest NCAA Tournament national seed (#10). Marcey helped coach High Point to a 14-2-4 record and the program's first-ever second round win — a 3-2 victory over West Virginia at Vert Stadium — for the very first Sweet Sixteen appearance. Winning the Big South regular-season and tournament titles behind the conference's best goal differential (30-1), Marcey coached the nation's only four-time major award winner in a different category (Jefferson Amaya) and the team's first TopDrawerSoccer Player of the Year finalist and the team's fifth MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List honoree (Daniel Lugo). The Panthers had three players drafted in the MLS SuperDraft, which is the most in one season for any Big South school ever, as Daniel Lugo (First Round), Jefferson Amaya (Second Round), and Koven Johnson (Third Round) were selected.
"I am extremely grateful to Zach for this opportunity," Marcey said. "I am fortunate to get to work with a fantastic group of players and be a part of a staff with people I genuinely enjoy working with and learning from. The growth of this program has been unbelievable to be a part of, and I only want to continue to help us achieve more in the years to come. I also want to thank my wife, Claire, for her constant support."
In four seasons as an assistant, Marcey has helped the Panthers win six Big South championships while being a part of the Panthers' first NCAA Tournament win — a 2-0 victory over North Carolina in the 2022 first round — as well as the first round of 32 win — a 3-2 victory over West Virginia in the 2025 second round — for the program's first Sweet Sixteen appearance.
As a player, Marcey transferred to High Point from Valparaiso University and played two seasons with the Panthers. Marcey was a member of HPU's first-ever Big South Tournament Championship team in 2020-21 when the Panthers swept the regular-season and tournament trophies for the first time.
Marcey started in 27 of 29 appearances and scored three goals — with a pair of game-winning scores — while tallying eight assists in 2,389 minutes played. He was a Big South All-Conference Second Team honoree and Honorable Mention as well as a two-time Big South All-Tournament Team member.
Marcey graduated with a bachelor's degree in sociology and a master's degree in communications in 2022. He was born in Sacramento, California, and then grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina while playing for the Charlotte Soccer Academy.
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