Erik Temple was hired as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at Neumann University in February 2023. He is the Knights 6th Head Men’s Soccer Coach in program history.
Temple previously served as both an Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for the Knights from 2014 to 2020 under Kevin Sloan and Tim Hollenback. During that time, Neumann won two conference titles, earned one NCAA bid, and made two appearances in the ECAC Tournament.
Temple entering his fourth season in charge of the Knights in 2026, will enter the MAC Commonwealth for the first time. The Knights will look to continue their success in one of the more challenging conferences in Division 3 Men’s Soccer.
In his first three seasons at the helm, Temple has led the Knights to a record of 32-16-10 overall while winning three consecutive Atlantic East Conference Titles. The Knights also made NCAA tournament appearances under Temple in 2023, 2024, and 2025 with automatic bids from the Atlantic East Conference.
2025 Season (3rd Season)
Temple, in his third season at the helm in 2025, guided the Knights to three-peat as Atlantic East Conference Championships as the Knights returned to the NCAA Tournament for a third consecutive season. The Knights finished the 2025 campaign with an overall record of 13-4-3, including a 9-0 record in Atlantic East Conference play. The Knights went 7-0 in regular season conference play and earned the number one seed in the Atlantic East Playoffs.
In the Atlantic East Semi-Final, the Knights played host to Gwynedd Mercy University in a rematch of a physical battle that took place on October 18th. The Knights would take down the Griffins once again with a convincing scoreline of 3-0. Zion Atta-Krah got the scoring started in the 43rd minute. Jordan Illian notched his 13th goal of the season in the 61st minute and Victor John put the game away in the 83rd minute with his third goal on the campaign. AJ Henry notched the shutout making five saves.
Once again in the Atlantic East final, Neumann would clash with Marymount for the title. This game was a rematch of the 2024 final where the Knights took down the Saints 3-1 on the road to win their second consecutive title. This time the Knights would take care of business at home to win their third consecutive title and clinch another birth in the NCAA tournament. Goals by Zion Atta-Krah in the 38th minute and Conor McCarthy in 45th minute would propel the Knights to a 2-0 victory. AJ Henry once again held a shutout in goal and was named the ‘MVP’ of the Atlantic East Conference Playoffs.
The Knights entering the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season once again drew one of the top seeded teams in the country. Neumann would take on Wheaton College (Mass.) on their home field to advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament. The Knights would fall short of that goal losing 3-0 in a tough fought match. Wheaton would continue all the way to the quarterfinals and finish the season with a record of 17-2-4 with a top ten ranking in the country.
The Knights earned a variety of postseason awards for their remarkable 2025 campaign including:
Jordan Illian – Atlantic East Conference - Player of the Year
Dominic Petruzzelli – Atlantic East Conference - Defensive Player of the Year
Coaching Staff of the Year – Atlantic East Conference
1st Team Members – Jordan Illian (POY), Dominic Petrruzelli (DPOY), AJ Henry, Luke Mejia
2nd Team Members – Zion Atta-Krah, Markus Beugre, Carter Gorczyca
Additionally, the following Knights made Region V All-Region Teams:
Jordan Illian – 1st Team All-Region
Dominic Petruzzelli – 3rd Team All-Region
2024 Season (2nd Season)
Temple, in his second season at the helm in 2024, guided the Knights to back-to-back Atlantic East Conference Championships as the Knights returned to the NCAA Tournament for a second consecutive season. The Knights finished the 2024 campaign with an overall record of 10-7-4, including a 7-1 record in Atlantic East Conference play. The Knights went 5-1 in regular season conference play and earned the number two seed in the Atlantic East Playoffs.
In the Atlantic East Semi-Final, the Knights faced off against Immaculata University who they defeated in regular season play 3-0. Jake Kuzmick scored the lone goal for the Knights with Jackson Laznik earning the shutout. With the victory the Knights returned to the Atlantic East Conference Championship game for the fourth consecutive season.
In the Atlantic East Final, the Knights would face off against their conference rivals Marymount University. The Knights had fallen to Marymount just a week prior 1-0 and would head south to Arlington for a rematch of the 2022 final. Zion Atta-Krah got the Knights on the board just three minutes into the match followed by goals by Jake Kuzmick in the 15th minute and Luke Mejia in the 82nd minute. Neumann went on to win their second consecutive conference title 3-1 and would head back to the NCAA tournament.
The Knights would draw Amherst College who had lost in the NCAA National Final just the season prior in overtime. Playing one of the top programs in the country on their home field, the Knights battled but eventually fell 3-1 to Amherst ending the 2024 campaign. Amherst would eventually go on to win the 2024 D3 Soccer National Championship.
Seven members of the 2024 team earned All-Conference awards. Dominic Petruzzelli was named Defensive Player of the Year along with first team honors. Carter Gorczyca and Jake Kuzmick joined Petruzzelli on the Atlantic East First Team. Alex Duopu, Zion Atta-Krah, Luke Mejia and Jackson Laznik all earned Second Team honors for the Knights.
2023 Season (1st Season)
In his inaugural season, Temple led the Knights to an Atlantic East Conference Championship and anchored the Atlantic East Conference's Coaching Staff of the Year. He was also named the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III Men's Soccer Coach of the Year.
The Knights finished the 2023 campaign with a 9-5-3 record overall, including an undefeated record in conference play going 6-0-2 overall under Temple’s guidance. With a record of 4-0-2 the Knights earned the regular season title and the number one seed for the Atlantic East Conference tournament. In that Atlantic East Semi-Final, the Knights would meet a familiar foe as they hosted Marymount University in a rematch of the 2022 Championship Game. The Knights took down the Saints 2-1 in Double Overtime to advance to their third consecutive Atlantic East Championship Game.
In the Atlantic East Final, the Knights would welcome for the final time a long-time rival in Cabrini University. The Knights would take down the Cavaliers to win their second conference title and become the first Men’s Soccer Program to repeat as champions. Eddie Proud scored from the penalty spot to secure the title for the Knights, and the first championship for Temple as a head coach. Temple had previously helped lead the Knights to conference titles in 2014 and 2018 as an assistant coach.
Appearing in their first NCAA Tournament since 2014, the Knights were matched against the number two team in the country, Mary Washington in the tournament opener. Mary Washington in 2022 had made the NCAA D3 Men’s Soccer Semi-Final and entered the match 16-1-2 overall in 2023. Under Temple’s guidance the Knights battled the Eagles but eventually fell in Double Overtime to end their 2023 campaign.
Five Knights were honored with All-Conference awards during Temple’s first year at the helm. Alex Duopu, Jake Kuzmick, Eddie Proud and Seth Walker all garnered First Team honors. Gabe Romero was awarded Second Team honors. Alex Duopu would also be named to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Second Team.
Prior to Neumann
Collegiately, Temple played at York College of Pennsylvania, winning three conference championships, and making four appearances in the NCAA Division 3 tournament, reaching the Elite 8 twice. He was a member of program from 2006 to 2009.
Temple played high school soccer for nationally recognized Salesianum High School (DE) and was a member of the varsity program all four years. Temple was a captain his senior year when Salesianum won their second-consecutive state championship with the program accomplishing an unprecedented 40-0 record during his junior and senior year campaigns.
In 2020, Temple was a co-founder of Sporting Delaware and served as the Sporting Director and College Pathway Director. He also coached the U17 & U19 Boys who competed in the ECNL League and eventually would become members of MLS Next.
A 2012 graduate of Neumann University with a B.S. in Liberal Studies and a concentration in Business Administration. Temple earned his Master’s Degree at Neumann University in Sports Business in 2025.
