Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics

Jake Natola joined the Lenoir-Rhyne men's soccer program as an assistant coach prior to the 2026 season.

Natola came to Lenoir-Rhyne after building a coaching résumé across both the collegiate and pre-professional levels. Most recently, he served as an assistant coach with Skidmore College Men's Soccer during a historic 2025 campaign that saw the program finish 10-4-3 overall, earn the No. 2 seed in the Liberty League for the first time in program history, and achieve the program’s highest win percentage since 2006. He coached six all conference players, including the Liberty League rookie of the year Jacob Huminey.

Prior to Skidmore, Natola helped guide Rivier University Men's Soccer in 2024 to its first winning season since 2000, while setting program records for shutouts and fewest goals allowed. Natola is also in his second season with Black Rock FC in USL League Two, where he was recently promoted to Associate Head Coach. At Black Rock, he has coached many Division I, international, and former and current professional players, including former first-round Major League Soccer draft pick Ifunanyachi Achara and Puerto Rico national football team captain Juani O'Neil.

As a player, Natola competed at New England College from 2019-2023, appearing in more than 4,000 career minutes and serving two seasons as team captain while helping lead the Pilgrims to two conference championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances. Natola graduated summa cum laude, and earned academic all conference and academic all district honors numerous times. Originally born in Massachusetts and raised in southern New Hampshire, Natola earned his degree in Business Administration with a minor in Sports and Recreation Management in 2023.