Tyson John enters his sixth season as the head women’s soccer coach at USC Upstate in 2021.
During his tenure in Spartanburg, John has lead the Spartans program to new heights. The Spartans ended the 2018 season with a Division I school record of 11 wins, besting their previous total of six wins during the 2017 campaign. USC Upstate set school records in points (93), goals (37), assists (19), shots attempted (327), goals against average (1.43) and shutouts (eight). During the 2018 season the Spartans--in their first postseason appearance in the Division I era--upset upset the Big South Tournament's No. 3 seed Longwood to notch the program’s first postseason victory at the Division I level. Upstate would battle Gardner-Webb in the semifinal round, falling on a goal in the 86th minute.
For the first time in the Division I era, the Spartans had a trio of players named to the All-Conference team as Jada Kinlaw (Greenville, S.C.), Abbie Ellis (Clemmons, N.C.) and Emelie Valenciano (Zarcero, Costa Rica) were all named Second Team All-Big South. Ellis and Valenciano were also named to the Big South All-Tournament Team, another first for the women’s soccer program. Ellis became the program’s Division I era leader in goals and was ranked nationally during the season (seventh in total goals, 18th in total points, and 10th in goals per game).
The upward trajectory in 2018 was foretold during the success of the 2017 campaign. Upstate’s 6-10-1 record set a program-high for wins and program-low for losses before being broken during the 2018 season. The Spartans scored a record-breaking 27 goals and tallied a program-best 1.59 goals per game while attempting the highest number of corner kicks in program history at 75. Upstate was strong on the backline as well, surrendering 32 goals, the second-fewest in team history while only allowing 80 corner kicks. John earned his 100th career win on Sep. 16 as the Spartans earned their first-ever win over UNC Asheville. Upstate also defeated North Florida for the first time in the Division I era with a 2-1 victory.
Prior to arriving in Spartanburg, John compiled a 74-23-4 record in five seasons at then Martin Methodist, now UT Southern, in Tennessee. His tenure included five consecutive NAIA Tournament appearances and two straight visits to the NAIA Quarterfinals. He was named the TranSouth Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2011 and 2012. As the head coach of the Redhawks, John coached 13 NAIA All-Americans and two NAIA Scholar-Athletes.
Before joining Martin Methodist, John spent two seasons at Lyon College (Ark.) where he went 22-6-3 during the 2009 and 2010 seasons. In seven seasons of coaching at the NAIA level, John put together an overall record of 96-29-7 with all 29 losses coming to teams ranked in the national top 25. In John's seven seasons at the NAIA level, he directed 17 NAIA All-Americans and had six players earn NAIA scholar-athlete honors.
A total of 12 players under John's direction at Martin Methodist and Lyon College have represented their national team. Fabiola Sanchez, a four-time All-American and 2015 Southern States Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, saw action in the World Cup and the Olympics for Costa Rica while three-time All-American and 2015 SSAC Offensive Player of the Year Jennifer Munoz started every match for Guatemala in the 2016 Olympic qualifiers.
John began his coaching career as an assistant coach with United Soccer League (USL) W-League FC Fredericksburg Gunner Women from 2007-09 and assisted the team in technical training, conditioning, fitness training and game plan preparation. During this time, John was also the head coach of the USL Women’s Super 20, USL Super Y Girls 16, USL Super Y Girls 14 and USL Super Girls 13.
A three-time NAIA All-American at Ottawa University and Southern Wesleyan University from 2005-07, John earned three All-Conference selections as well as three NAIA All-Region First Team awards. He garnered NSCAA South Region Player of the Year in 2006 and 2007. John was chosen as the Southern Wesleyan University Male Athlete of the Year in 2007.
John played professionally for five seasons in the USL/PDL as well as the PASL. He is a native of Southern California.
