Eric Masters | Associate Head Coach

Troy women’s soccer head coach Stuart Gore officially named Eric Masters as the new Associate Head Coach / Recruiting Coordinator Tuesday morning, reuniting after spending two seasons with two programs.

“I am very excited that Eric has joined us at Troy,” Gore said. “Eric is a proven soccer mind with an exceptional eye for talent. He’s one of the best goalkeeper coaches in the country, and it’s fantastic to continue working alongside him.”

Effective immediately, Masters will oversee the recruiting process for the program while working primarily with the goalkeeper unit after over a decade of experience coaching and playing the position.

“I would like to thank Stu for his continued support and belief in my ability,” Gore said. “I look forward to working alongside both him and Kayla at Troy. I would like to thank my family for their support, especially my wife, Margie. The Troy executive staff and coaches have been super supportive of what we want to achieve here at Troy. We look forward to creating new history and heights for the women’s soccer program at Troy University.”

The Masters / Gore connection returns for the third time after both coaches spent the 2020 season together at North Dakota before Northwestern State in 2022.

While at Northwestern State, Masters helped Gore bring the team to a 12-4-3 overall record and 8-2-2 in the Southland Conference for second in the regular season race. The Lady Demons went to the semifinals, riding a seven-game win streak before falling in overtime, 3-2.

Gore also coached seven players to Southland All-Conference honors, including the Player and Newcomer of the Year, Gracie Armstrong, and the All-Conference Second Team goalkeeper, Chloe DeShazer. In 2022, Northwestern State led the league in shots, points and goals. On the defensive end, Gore coached the Lady Devils to the second-most shutouts in the league at seven and a 76.6 percent save percentage – second in Southland.

Before the Lady Devils, Masters coached one season at Colorado State, where he led the team to four shutouts and held 12 of its 17 opponents to one goal or less. In addition, the Long Island University-Brooklyn graduate coached his freshman goalkeeper, Shayna Ross, to the All-Mountain West Newcomer team that season.

For the 2020 season, Masters coached the Fighting Hawks of North Dakota to a 5-9 record with three shutouts alongside Gore.

The levels range for Masters as he coached in the high school and club soccer scene for 10 seasons in Nevada before hitting the collegiate coaching circuit.

His playing career peaked at the professional level when he served with Capital Soccer Club, Carson FC, Northern Nevada ODP and the United Soccer Club. The former goalkeeper brought Carson to one regular-season title in his two years.

In his collegiate playing career at LIU-Brooklyn, Masters propelled the Blackbirds to a conference championship that included a 2004 NCAA Tournament appearance and two additional runner-up finishes.

While leading his team to titles, Masters graduated in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science before obtaining his masters in exercise science in 2006 as a Graduate Assistant coach for LIU-Brooklyn.

Joining Masters in his journey to Troy is his wife, Margie, daughters, Shay and Mia and son, Maddox.