Josh Lubich named Muskingum men's soccer head coach

The Muskingum University Athletic Department has announced the hiring of Josh Lubich as head coach of the men's soccer program.

Lubich arrives in New Concord after serving as head coach of the Defiance College men's soccer program for the past two years. In 2023, Lubich led the Yellow Jackets to the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Men's Soccer Tournament. Lubich was also an assistant coach at Defiance in 2021 and helped guide the team to a program record 23-game season, an 11-win season that ranks second-most in team history, beating top-ranked Rose-Hulman in the HCAC Men's Soccer Tournament in the opening round, and reaching the HCAC Men's Soccer Tournament Championship.

"On behalf of our entire department, we welcome Josh to Muskingum Athletics," said Muskingum Director of Athletics Kari Winters. "We are thrilled to have someone with his credentials and experience join our team! His passion for leadership and cultural growth is inspiring and something that we look forward to watching play out through the lives of our young men. I look forward to watching Josh create his legacy within our program and campus community."

"It's a real privilege to be here at Muskingum. I want to thank Kari Winters, the search committee, and all the people I have met during this process," said Lubich. "I feel like I already have a great feel for what makes Muskingum so special. The desire of the University to create a unique, memorable, and rewarding college experience, develop people, and compete at the highest level athletically is incredibly attractive to me. I look forward to working with Coach Long and the team as we build this program."

At Defiance, Lubich managed all aspects of the men's soccer program, from recruiting, planning, executing training sessions, scouting and preparation, film review, and sleep/nutrition planning to alum relations and fundraising. He mentored several student-athletes to all-league honors and HCAC Player of the Week accolades and had multiple student-athletes named to the HCAC All-Academic Team.

Before Defiance, Lubich was an assistant coach for the Howland High School boys soccer team. He helped guide Howland to an Ohio High School Athletic Association Division II State Championship and a runner-up finish. Lubich has also coached with the FC Evolution Soccer Club, serving as the head coach for multiple age groups. Additionally, he spent a year as a graduate assistant for the Elmira College women's soccer team.

Lubich graduated from Hiram College in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in management and was a four-year letterwinner, team captain, and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representative for the Terrier men's soccer program.