Count from 1 to 300. Go ahead. We’ll wait. You’ll soon realize it’s a bigger number than it sounds: It’s going to take a while.
That should give you an appreciation of the 300 victories racked up by Ralph Lundy in his 29 seasons as the head coach of the men’s soccer team. It all started with a 3-1 victory over Pfeiffer College in 1987. Since then, games against Ohio State, South Carolina, Wake Forest and many others were added to the W column. He’s also led the College to five conference championships and five appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Pretty impressive.
And that’s not even counting the 131 prior wins he collected as head coach at Erskine College. Sure, his 431 career victories rank Lundy fifth among active NCAA Division I men’s soccer coaches in wins, but there is more to coaching than wins and losses. Much, much more.
“The impact Coach Lundy has had on so many young men in the program’s history is unparalleled,” says former All-American player Troy Lesesne ’04. “I contact Coach when I need advice or guidance, and he has this type of relationship with so many alumni. Make no mistake, the wins are the byproduct of the relationships he creates with his players.”
And Lundy knows it: “I am so blessed to have been at the College and have all these great players over the years,” he says. “I love College of Charleston, and that win means a lot to me.”
