Lee men’s soccer Head Coach Derek Potteiger has selected a veteran soccer coach for his new assistant. Codi Crippen comes to Lee from Tennessee Wesleyan University where he was head coach for last two seasons and served as an assistant coach from 2019-23.
Before joining the TWU staff, Crippen spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Thomas University, ending his time with the program as the interim head coach. During his three seasons with Thomas, he helped lead the team to The Sun Conference Men's Soccer Tournament each season, including winning the 2018 The Sun Conference Regular-Season Championship along with a runner-up finish in the conference tournament that same season.
Crippen made a coaching stop at NCAA Division III school Huntingdon College from 2014-2017, where he served as an assistant coach and goalkeeper coach. While at Huntingdon, he had a goalkeeper named USA South Player of the Week four times. Crippen served as a graduate assistant for the women's soccer program at Bethel (TN) University from 2012-2014.
The Zanesville, Ohio native played at the University of Rio Grande where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sport and Exercise Studies in 2011 and a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education in 2012. While playing for Rio Grande, Crippen helped the team advance to the NAIA National Tournament all four years he played, finishing in the Round of 16 twice, as the national runner-up in 2008 and in the semifinals in 2009, compiling a 69-13-8 overall record. He served as a volunteer assistant at Rio Grande from 2010-2012.
Crippen holds a United States Soccer Federation National C and D Licenses along with a Premier Diploma, Advanced National Diploma, and Goalkeeping Level one and two from the United Soccer Coaches.
Said Coach Potteiger, "I am grateful that Codi and his wife, Lila, were confident in me and the athletic department here at Lee to make this change and want to be a part of what we are doing here. This is just another reason I cannot wait to get started in August!"
