GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's soccer alum Darren Powell was recently named the head coach of the Fort Lauderdale CF.
Powell played for UNCG from 1991-94. As a player with the Spartans, he became the first player to score more than 100 career points for UNCG at the NCAA Division I level.
He will make his season debut on Saturday, April 10 when Fort Lauderdale CF opens its 2021 USL League One season against the New England Revolution II at Inter Miami CF Stadium. The match, which will be the USL League One season opener, will air live on ESPN+.
Powell, who served as an assistant coach for Fort Lauderdale CF in 2020, has also held the role of Inter Miami CF Director of Player Development since 2020.
"It is always a pleasure to be part of a team that is striving to do well collectively and individually," Powell said. "As a head coach, I always challenge the players to have intensity on the field. Being able to be a coach at the USL level and lead the academy for an MLS club is a position I am grateful for. I always want to help and contribute to the growth of all our players both as young soccer players and also to be good strong characters in the community."
Before joining Inter Miami, Powell served as head coach of San Antonio FC in the USL Championship from 2016 to 2019. He also served as Academy Director of Orlando City SC (2014-2016), and head coach of Elon University (2005-2014) and Greensboro College (1998-2001).
The former UNCG captain was the head coach at NCAA Division III Greensboro College from 1998-2000, where he led the Pride to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances. He compiled a record of 50-12-3 in those three seasons and mentored three All-Americans, 11 All-South selections, and 24 All-DIAC performers.
His coaching success continued at Elon.
When he left Elon in 2014, Powell, a four-time SoCon Coach of the Year, was the program's all-time winningest coach with a career mark of 94-68-23, including a 37-21-3 record against league competition. Powell's .570 winning percentage ranked fifth all-time in SoCon history, while his 94 victories rank ninth in league history.
In nine seasons under Powell, the Phoenix won SoCon regular-season titles in 2008 and 2012 and tournament championships in 2011, 2012, and 2013. Powell produced 47 all-league selections, four SoCon Players of the Year, two SoCon Freshmen of the Year, and four MLS Draft picks. Elon has also been consistently ranked in the national polls under Powell, finishing the 2013 season with a national ranking of No. 22. Elon was ranked as high as No. 16 in the nation during Powell's tenure.
Powell, the captain of the team during his junior and senior seasons, led the squad to NCAA Tournament appearances in 1993 and 1994. He is currently 13th on the Spartan's all-time scoring list with 104 points, recording 41 goals and 22 assists. His goal total is 10th in UNCG history.
"Being a student-athlete at UNCG shaped me for my future," Powell said. "One of the biggest lessons I learned is to take full advantage of any opportunity you have and be the best version of yourself in all your tasks."
