YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | Young Harris College head men's soccer coach Dean Grey has been named the Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year, a well-deserved honor that reflects not only the Mountain Lions' outstanding 2025 campaign but also the culmination of over a decade of dedication and excellence within the program. Grey guided the Mountain Lions to their third consecutive Southwest Division title and secured the No. 2 seed in the Conference Carolinas Men's Soccer Championship. Under his leadership, Young Harris has been a fixture in the national spotlight, appearing in the United Soccer Coaches national rankings for seven consecutive weeks, climbing as high as No. 5 on October 7. The Mountain Lions currently sit at No. 12 in the nation with a stellar 12-1-3 overall record. 

This season's success is the latest chapter in what has been a remarkable coaching journey for Grey. In 2024, he led the Mountain Lions to an 11-3-4 record, once again capturing the Southwest Division crown with an 8-1-2 conference mark. That campaign followed a 2023 season in which Grey's squad went 9-3-6 overall and 8-0-4 in conference play, finishing unbeaten in league competition and advancing to the Conference Carolinas Tournament. Each year, Grey has developed top-tier talent, mentoring standout players like Thomas Kleinpenning, Sergio Llopart, Jamie Lapsley, and Pato Padilla, all of whom have earned conference accolades and contributed significantly to the program's success. 

Grey's impact on Young Harris soccer extends far beyond the past three seasons. Now in his 12th year with the program, he spent eight years as an assistant coach before being promoted to associate head coach for three seasons. During that time, he played a pivotal role in helping the Mountain Lions capture six Peach Belt Conference regular-season titles, five PBC Tournament championships, and make six NCAA Tournament appearances. Under his guidance, Young Harris reached the NCAA national quarterfinals in both 2014 and 2018, winning the Southeast Region title in the latter. The program also achieved the No. 1 national ranking in 2014, 2018, and 2021; a testament to the consistent excellence Grey has helped cultivate. 

In addition to his work with the varsity squad, Grey also served as the head coach of the Mountain Lions' junior varsity men's soccer program for seven years, further demonstrating his commitment to player development and the long-term success of Young Harris soccer. As the Mountain Lions continue their postseason journey, Coach Grey's recognition as Coach of the Year is a fitting tribute to a leader who has helped shape Young Harris into a perennial powerhouse in NCAA Division II men's soccer. 

Head coach Dean Grey spoke on his well deserved award, "It's an honor to be recognized by your peers, but this wouldn't be possible without the efforts day in day out of my staff. Charlie, Jon and Sergio grafting everyday helping guide us to our full potential as a program."