Ben Munger - Women's Soccer Coach

Ben Munger

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
bmunger@uab.edu
Alma Mater:
Maryville '15
Experience:
3rd season
Hometown:
Cullman, Ala.

Assistant Coach for 2018 and 2019 seasons

In his first season in the Magic City, he worked with Blazers' keeper Kelsey Daugherty, who would go on to become Conference USA Goalkeeper of the Year as well as being named First Team All-Conference, United Soccer Coaches All-South Region First Team and Conference USA All-Academic First Team. She was named Conference USA Goalkeeper of the Week two times while posting six shutouts.

In 2019, a pair of Blazers were recognized by Conference USA today as the league released their 2019 All-Conference teams. Junior defender Audria Wood and freshman goalkeeper Eve Beyer were named All-Conference Third Team. Beyer was also named to the All-Rookie Team. As a team, UAB was second in C-USA with a goal against average of 1.12, only surrendering 19 goals in 17 matches including seven shutouts.

Munger arrived in Birmingham after two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Akron where he worked primarily with the goalkeepers. He was instrumental in the recruitment of Akron freshman keeper Amani Jiu, who earned a spot on the MAC All-Freshman Team after leading the conference in saves (101 overall/65 MAC) and saves per game (5.32 overall/5.91 MAC). In addition, Jiu was tied for sixth in shutouts (4 overall/2 MAC) and eighth in shutouts per game (0.21).

Jiu became the first Akron keeper since 2010 with back-to-back shutouts when she accomplished the feat against Miami (Ohio) and Ball State. She is also the first Zip in program history to eclipse the 100-save mark for a single season and ended the year ranked first at Akron in single season saves and seventh in career saves.

Munger joined the Zips after serving as the men's assistant coach at Tennessee Wesleyan University in 2015. He was also the goalkeeper coach for the women’s team during the 2015 season.

A former four-year starter at Maryville College, Munger played in goal for a team that was rated as high as 14th in the nation. During his collegiate career, he was ranked third in NCAA division III in save percentage and 26th in goals against average. In 2011, he was named to the Great South Atlantic Conference All-Freshman team. Munger was a three-time USA South Academic All-Conference team selection. In 2014, he was named USA South First-Team All-Conference.

Munger earned a bachelor's degree in business with a minor in Spanish.

After his playing career ended, Munger served as the goalkeeper coach for both of Maryville High School's soccer teams, including the 2015 girls season when the team accumulated 11 shutouts in its 17-1-2 season. He has also worked with goalkeepers at both at FC Alliance and the University of Tennessee summer camps.

In addition to coaching, Munger has spent time leading trips to Nicaragua with VISIONS Service Adventures, an organization that works with high school students doing service projects abroad.