Clay Roberts

Caleb Roberts
Personal information
Place of birth Plant City, Florida, United States
Position(s) Defender
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2003 Florida Southern Moccasins
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2006 Charlotte Eagles
2005–2009 Philadelphia KiXX (indoor) 67 (1)
Managerial career
2008–2010 Philadelphia Biblical Crimson Eagles
2014– Southeastern Fire
2016–2023 Florida Tropics SC
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Clay Roberts is the head coach of the Southeastern Fire in Lakeland, Florida[1] and a consultant for the Empire Strykers of the Major Arena Soccer League.[2] Roberts has also served as Director of Soccer at VSI Tampa Bay FC,[3] and director of coaching at Brandon FC.[4]

As a player, Roberts attended Florida Southern College.[5] Professionally, he played for the Charlotte Eagles and the Philadelphia KiXX,[6] where he was a part of their 2007 MISL championship.[7]

As a coach and administrator, Roberts has been the vice president of the Ocala Stampede in the PDL, the director of VSI, director of Brandon FC, both women's and men's head coach at Philadelphia Biblical University (now Cairn University),[8] the Buxmont Torch FC of the WPSL, and an assistant at Palm Beach Atlantic University.[9][10]

In his first year at Southeastern University, Roberts was named the Sun Conference 2015 soccer coach of the year[11] as the team won the school's first-ever conference championship.[12]

Roberts was named the first head coach of the Florida Tropics in the Major Arena Soccer League before the team began play in 2016.[13][14]

Roberts again won the Sun Conference Coach of the Year award in 2019.[15] Just months later, Roberts was also honored as Coach of the Year for the Major Arena Soccer League, having led the Florida Tropics to their first winning record and an Eastern Conference Championship with an 18–3 record.[16]

Clay's brother, Cheyne, is also a coach, most recently with the USL Championship's Tampa Bay Rowdies.

  1. ^ "Craane, Ivo Dias Sign with Florida Tropics". 15 February 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  2. ^ Berndt, Gunnar (6 January 2024). "STRYKERS HEAD COACH WRIGHT BRINGS IN CLAY ROBERTS AS CONSULTANT". TheEmpireStrykers.com. Empire Strykers. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  3. ^ Shopes, Rich (28 March 2013). "Plant City looks to lease stadium for soccer tournaments". Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  4. ^ Fredericksen, Brady (3 May 2016). "Florida Tropics SC to bring indoor soccer to The Lakeland". The Ledger. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Carsley and Clingerman Named to All-SSC Men's Soccer Team". 3 November 2016. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  6. ^ "ROSTER SET KiXX ad four more". 13 November 2008. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  7. ^ Bennett Jr, James (3 February 2017). "Tropics coach Roberts signs former teammate playoff push". Lakeland Ledger. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  8. ^ "PBU CRIMSON EAGLE SOCCER SCHOOL". 10 December 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  9. ^ "SAILFISH WIN STREAK MOVES TO THREE AS PBA TAKES DOWNS FLORIDA SOUTHERN". 20 October 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  10. ^ "FIRE SOCCER ACADEMY EXCELLENCE THROUGH DEVELOPMENT". Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  11. ^ "THE SUN CONFERENCE 2015 MEN'S SOCCER AWARDS ANNOUNCED". 6 November 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  12. ^ Beasock, Ray (10 November 2015). "Southeastern wins first Sun Conference title in school history". The Ledger. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  13. ^ "TROPICS ANNOUNCE SIGNINGS FOR UPCOMING SEASON". July 27, 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  14. ^ "Press Conference Live". www.facebook.com. Florida Tropics FC. Retrieved 20 August 2024.[user-generated source]
  15. ^ "Van Der Luit and Roberts Lead Way in TSC Yearly Honors". Fire.SEU.edu. Southeastern University. 7 November 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  16. ^ Ackley, Brian. "Clay Roberts named Major Arena Soccer League Coach-of-the-Year". FLTropics.com. Retrieved 15 April 2020.