Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics

Doug Socha was named the 24th head football coach of Lenoir-Rhyne University prior to the 2024 season and begins his second season at the helm of the program in 2025.

Coach Socha had a successful first year with the Bears, leading them to a 10-3 record and a spot in the second round of the NCAA Playoffs. Their NCAA Playoffs opening round victory over West Alabama was just the third road playoff victory in school history. Nine Bears were named to the All-SAC Team while Nic Cheeley was named a D2CCA and Academic All-American. Jalen Ferguson set a new record for single-season passing yards and Adonis McDaniel became just the sixth receiver in program history to total 1,000 receiving yards in a season.

Socha came to Hickory from Keiser University (Florida) where he served as the head football coach for six years, accumulating a 55-15 record on his way to winning the NAIA National Championship in 2023.  

Socha, who started the football program at Keiser, led the Seahawks to their first national championship in 2023 with a 12-2 record. After the title-winning season, Socha was named the 2023 AFCA NAIA Coach of the Year.  He was also named The Sun Conference Coach of the Year four times during his six-year tenure at Keiser. 

During his time in West Palm Beach, Socha led the program to a .786 winning percentage and a .916 winning percentage in The Sun Conference. Socha led the Seahawks to five straight conference titles and appeared in the NAIA playoffs five consecutive seasons, including a semifinal appearance in 2020 and back-to-back national championship appearances in 2022 and 2023. 

Socha's teams at Keiser produced impressive numbers on both sides of the ball, including an average of 402.8 yards per game, 218.3 rushing yards per game, 184.6 passing yards per game, and 35.6 points per game. His 2023 Seahawks team registered a school-record 3,169 yards on the ground with 47 rushing touchdowns. The defense held its opponents to 18.5 points per game, 90.3 rushing yards per game, and 28.5% completion rate on third-down conversions. The Seahawks were ranked number one in NAIA in forced fumbles and number two in sacks and fumble recoveries.   

During his tenure with the Seahawks, Socha coached 24 All-America honorees and 76 all-conference players. He also coached 14 conference major award winners. Socha also led the team with excellence off the field during his time with Keiser. During his six years, the Seahawks received 123 Academic All-Conference awards, 59 NAIA Scholar-Athletes, 19 CSC Academic All-District selections, and five CSC Academic All-Americans.  

Before Keiser, Socha served as an NFL offensive quality control coach for the Buffalo Bills in the 2016 season and assisted with coaching the running backs and scout team defense. In that role, he worked directly under Greg Roman and Anthony Lynn while being responsible for the organization and distribution of the offensive game plan.  

At the high school level, Socha served as a coach for nearly a decade. At Oxbridge Academy, Socha launched the program in 2012 and served as head coach for three years, leading the ThunderWolves to a 28-6 record, two independent championships and one district title. He was recognized as the 2015 Sun-Sentinel Coach of the Year and the 2014 Gold Coast Coach of the Year.  

While at American Heritage School, Socha served as the athletic director and head football coach of the school from 2010-12. In his two seasons, he led the Stallions to a 22-5 record and a state championship title, a state runner-up, and two district titles. Prior to becoming the head coach at the American Heritage School, Socha was the program's offensive coordinator for four seasons. In the position, he was responsible for the No. 1 ranked offense in Florida in 2007. During his time as offensive coordinator, the program won the district championship in all four years, including two state championships.  

In addition to his most recent college coaching success, Socha was the recruiting coordinator and wide receivers coach at the University of Buffalo. From 2000-05, Socha oversaw the overall planning and implementation of recruiting efforts while also being responsible for the development of the wide receiver group. He got his start in collegiate coaching at the College of the Canyons as a defensive backs coach in 1998.  

Socha is a graduate of California State University-Northridge where he received his bachelor's degree in kinesiology. Prior to graduating, he played football at Los Angeles Valley College and Mesa State as a defensive back. As a renowned speaker, Socha has presented at multiple events, including the Glazier and Nike Coach of the Year Clinics.  

Socha and his wife, Carrie, are proud parents of six beautiful children, including two who have graduated college and have joined the coaching ranks. Their son Cade is currently the offensive analyst at University of Hawaii and their daughter Camryn is an assistant women's soccer coach at Nova Southeastern. They have two high school age daughters, Ana and Monica, who enjoy playing soccer; and two elementary age sons, Kolbe and Gabriel, who are avid hockey players.  

Doug Socha File:  

• 2024-Present: Lenoir-Rhyne University  - Head Coach    
• 2017-2023: Keiser University  - Head Coach  
• 2016: Buffalo Bills  - Offensive Quality Control  
• 2012-2015: Oxbridge Academy  - Head Football Coach  
• 2010-2012: American Heritage School  - Head Football Coach/Athletics Director  
• 2006-2010: American Heritage School  - Offensive Coordinator  
• 2001-2005: University of Buffalo  - Recruiting Coordinator/Wide Receivers  
• 2000: University of Buffalo  - Defensive Graduate Assistant/Inside Linebackers  
• 1998-2000: College of the Canyons  - Defensive Backs Coach  
• 1997: Grand Junction High School  - Defensive Backs Coach 

Doug Socha Lenior-Rhyne Year-by-Year Record