SOCCER COACHING STAFF
Helio D'Anna
Head Soccer Coach
Coach Helio D’Anna, or simply Coach “L” (as he is known throughout the soccer world), begins his fifth season as head coach of the LMU soccer program after last season’s NCAA Division II Final Four ride with the men’s program.
After capturing men’s and women’s GSC Championships in 2005, the Lady Railsplitters advanced to the NCAA South Regional Tournament for the second consecutive year before falling in the semi-finals. Last season, it was the men’s program that earned a trip to the NCAA Appalachian Region Tournament where they defeated Lenoir-Rhyne College in a shootout to capture the regional crown. Later the Railsplitters knocked off Northern Kentucky University in the Elite-8 match to advance to the NCAA Final Four in Pensacola, Florida. The Railsplitters were eventually defeated in the national semi-finals by defending NCAA Division II Champion Fort Lewis to end the year.
A product of São Paulo, Brazil, D’Anna served as head men’s soccer coach for nearby Union College before coming to the Lincoln Memorial University program. D’Anna guided Union to four Mid-South Conference Championships and was named Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year each of those seasons. Coach D’Anna’s 1999 and 2001 teams earned trips to the NAIA Region XI Championship match, and the 2001 team finished the season ranked No. 3in the country.
D’Anna majored in physical education at UniCamp-Brazil, and coached and played at different soccer clubs in Brazil as well as the American High School of Campinas. His soccer background also includes coaching and instructing at clinics and internships such as São Paulo Club (former back-to-back world champions), Clemson University Soccer Camp, Post-to-Post Soccer, Brazilian Soccer Academy, BRUSA, Brazilian Soccer Training Center and Cincinnati- Brazil Soccer.
D’Anna now possesses an overall winning record of
226-112-22 in his collegiate career as a
head coach (167-82-17 with the men and 59-30-5 with the women).
Coach D’Anna is part of the Olympic Development Program
as a coach in the state of Kentucky. He and his wife, Debbie, reside in
Barbourville, Kentucky.
Coach Helio “L” D’Anna’s Contact Info:
Lincoln Memorial
University
Soccer Office
LMU Box 2028
Cumberland Gap Pkwy.
Harrogate, TN 37752
Office:
423-869-6245
Home: 606-546-8270
Fax: 423-869-6382
Email: helio.danna@lmunet.edu
A former women’s soccer star at nearby Union College, Paula Fantini joins the LMU coaching staff after obtaining a double major in physical education and sports management, with minors in health and general business and a masters in health and physical education. As she begins her first year as assistant coach for the LMU soccer program, Fantini will pursue her second master’s degree in business.
As a student-athlete, Fantini excelled on and off the field. She was a Dean’s List honoree every semester at Union, and was a three-time Academic All-Conference honoree, as well as a two-time All-American Scholar Athlete. She was named All-Conference and All-Region three times, and was named All-American twice.
Fantini has a strong coaching background in both club soccer (Impact USA Nike) and in college soccer (University of Campinas). “Her resume speaks for itself ,” says LMU Head Coach Helio D’Anna. “She was and still is a phenomenal player and has already proved to have tremendous coaching skills. More importantly, she is a person of excellence and that is what we always associate our program with at LMU. We are thrilled to have her on board with our men’s and women’s soccer program.”
Jon
Williams
Graduate
Assistant Coach
Jon begins his first season as graduate assistant with the LMU soccer programs after a stellar four-year career as a player for Coach D’Anna.
During four seasons under Coach “L”, Williams was part of a program that captured 48 wins, only 18 losses and seven ties, in addition to a Gulf South Conference Championship title in 2005, an NCAA Appalachian Region Championship in 2006, an NCAA Elite-8 victory in 2006 and earned the University’s first trip in men’s soccer to the NCAA Final Four in 2006.
From his defensive position, Williams played in 55 games in his collegiate career, scoring two goals and handing out two assists for a total of six career points.
As graduate assistant coach, Williams will be involved with all phases of the program including working with the keepers and will pursue a masters degree in education.
Adriano
de Moraes
Graduate
Assistant Coach
Although Adriano only played one season with the Railsplitters, his contributions are evident by last season’s Appalachian Region title, an Elite-8 victory and the Railsplitters first ever trip to the NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer Final Four.
As a graduate assistant coach, de Moraes will bring to the table a great deal of soccer knowledge, quality leadership and a work ethic that is second to none. In addition to being involved with team and individual workouts, de Moraes also work with the keepers and will pursue a master’s degree in education.