Gardner named new Hinds men’s soccer coach

Robert Gardner (Courtesy of Jacksonville State Athletics)

By Datti Jinkiri

Hinds Community College announced that it has chosen Robert Gardner to be the new head men’s soccer coach. Gardner comes to Raymond after spending three years as the assistant women’s soccer coach and recruiting coordinator at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama.

Gardner is replacing Doug Williams, who retired after spending a successful 21-year stint with the Eagles. He will be taking over a team which tallied seven wins last season and advanced to the conference semifinals. The Eagles also had nine all-conference selections and an all-region selection (Gregory Anderson) last season.

Gardner’s tenure with the Gamecocks ended with a seven-win season, which was the program’s most wins since 2015. The team qualified for the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament in its first season in the league.

Before his stint in Alabama, Gardner was the head coach of the boys’ and girls’ soccer programs at Jackson Academy. He won three MAIS Girls’ Soccer Championships in a row (2016-2018), while also leading the boys to two consecutive MAIS Championship Game appearances (2017-2018).

Gardner also previously held coaching positions with Starkville Soccer Association as well as Center Hill High School, Mississippi Brilla FC, and Mississippi Blues SC. He holds six coaching certifications.

To read the full release on the Hinds Athletics website, click HERE.