MORRIS, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris has announced the hiring of Blake Ordell as the new head coach of men's soccer. Ordell becomes just the third head coach in Cougar men's soccer's 19-year history.

"Coach Ordell's background across various levels of intercollegiate soccer set him apart in our applicant pool," said Director of Athletics Matt Johnson. "Blake has a proven track record in his previous stops and he has a vision for the future of Cougar men's soccer that aligns with my own. I am confident his impact on the program will be immediate and I am excited to have him join us here in Cougar Athletics."

A seven-year head men's soccer coach at Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Mo., Ordell most recently was the Director and Head Men's Soccer Coach of UDA New Mexico State University, a pathway program that allows individuals to compete nearly year-round in soccer while not being classified as student-athletes under the NCAA umbrella. Competing in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL), Ordell's group won the 2023 West Texas Conference regular season title and made it to the final eight of the UPSL national tournament. Taking part in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, UDA New Mexico State won its first-round match before falling to New Mexico United of the United Soccer League (USL) in the second round. The USL is the American professional soccer league one rung below Major League Soccer.

Prior to his time in New Mexico, Ordell has brief stints as the head men's and women's soccer coach at Lincoln Trail College, a junior college program in Illinois, as well as a season as an assistant men's soccer coach at NCAA Division II program Quincy University. From 2013-20, Ordell was the head men's soccer coach for NAIA program Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Mo. As the head coach of the Wildcats, Ordell had 24 All-Scholar Athletes and a pair of Academic All-Americans. His teams broke a program record for most wins in a season in 2014, most shutouts in 2018, and had two individuals that set the school's all-time records for career goals and single-season goals.

Before becoming a head coach at Culver-Stockton, Ordell had stops at Rochester College and MacMurray College, while also spending time as the owner of 'Sc'Ordell Soccer Academy and coaching high school and youth programs in and around the Detroit area. Ordell's professional playing career included stops in the USL, the Major Indoor Soccer League, the Canadian Professional League, the Swedish Division III, the Professional Arena Soccer League, Major Arena Soccer League, and as a member of the United States National Arena team.

"I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the student-athletes in the men's soccer program at UMN Morris," Ordell remarked. "I am grateful for the trust that Matt Johnson and Vice Chancellor Sandy Olson-Loy have put in me. I am very excited to start my journey with these young men while embracing teamwork, respect, work ethic, and discipline to build a great soccer culture."

Ordell was a 2007 graduate of Westminster College (Pa.), where he earned all-conference recognition in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) all four seasons. He later added a Master's degree from Wilmington University in Delaware. Advancing through the coaching certification process through the years, Ordell now has a United States Soccer Federations (USSF) 'A' License, a Level III United Soccer Coaches National Goalkeeping Diploma, and a United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma.