Interim coach Matt Muia helped Lady Lions to be the fifth seed in the Southland Conference Tournament. They will attempt to win their second straight SLC title.
Amber Grace Garrard/The Lion's Roar
Interim coach Matt Muia is at the head of the soccer program after the departure of eighteen year Head Coach Blake Hornbuckle.
“Hornbuckle is no longer with the university,” said Director of Sports Information Kemmler Chapple. “Matt Muia will be our interim coach for the remainder of the season. We will have a national search the permanent replacement at the end of the season.”
Muia has no previous head coaching experience at the collegiate level, but has coached club and youth soccer. Before coming to the university, Muia was a volunteer assistant coach for the Florida Atlantic staff from 2013 to 2015.
“We are excited about the future of our soccer program,” said Director of Athletics Jay Artigues.
Hornbuckle leaves the team in the middle of the season after winning the Southland Conference Championship last season. No specific reason was given as to why Hornbuckle decided to leave.
“We have just decided to go in another direction,” said Artigues.
The Athletic Department has given no further comment on the whereabouts of Hornbuckle or his departure from the university.
“I have nothing more to say than what has already been said,” said Artigues.
During his tenure with the university, Hornbuckle has lead the team to four Southland Conference Championships in the regular season and four Southland Conference Tournament Championships.
“I think he left a very rich legacy,” said Muia. “He really built a great program over the years that has been successful. This program has seen a lot of great young women come out of this program. A very high graduation rate and a lot of honor roll. That’s what it is all about. Getting great kids for the program and letting them graduate and become great people.”
The Lady Lions will play their first match of the Southland Conference Tournament tomorrow against Houston Baptist at 7 p.m.