Emanuel Stephens

UA Pine Bluff Athletics

The official website for the University of Arkansas at Pine bluff athletics University of Arkansas at Pine bluff Golden Lions

Title

Head Soccer Coach

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics, Chris Robinson, has announced the hiring of Emanuel Stephens as the new Head Women's Soccer Coach.

Stephens brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of program building and player development. Prior to joining UAPB, he made a lasting impact in Huntsville, Alabama, as the founder of Stephens Soccer Academy, a premier small-group training and mindset coaching program. Since its launch in 2022, the academy has become a cornerstone for youth soccer development in North Alabama and helping student-athletes unlock their full potential through structured technical sessions, personal accountability, and mental toughness training. His work has led to numerous college opportunities for players across the region.

From 2017 to 2022, Stephens served as Head Women's Soccer Coach at Alabama A&M University, where he rebuilt the program into a SWAC contender. Under his leadership, the Bulldogs posted their highest win totals in years, secured multiple SWAC Tournament appearances, produced SWAC Players of the Year, and earned him SWAC Coach of the Year honors.

Stephens also held coaching roles at Youngstown State University (Assistant Coach, 2016), Concordia College Alabama, and Talladega College, where he led both men's and women's programs. At Concordia, he guided the men's team to back-to-back USCAA National Tournament appearances—including a semifinal finish and a 13-5 record, marking one of the most successful seasons in program history. At Talladega, he launched the women's soccer program, producing an NAIA scoring leader in its inaugural season, while the men's team posted a solid 8-10 record under his leadership.

His coaching foundation was laid at Judson College and The Walker School (GA), where he helped lead high school teams to back-to-back state championships and set several program records.

Throughout his career, Stephens has mentored All-Americans, Academic All-Americans, and student-athletes who have gone on to succeed at the next level.

A native of Atlanta and raised in Powder Springs, Georgia, Stephens holds a Bachelor of Science in Recreation from Georgia Southwestern State University. Now at UAPB, he is focused on establishing a high-performance culture, developing leaders through the game of soccer, and returning the Golden Lions to the top of the SWAC.