FREDERICK, Md. - After the winningest six-year period for the Hood College men's soccer program, head coach Kenny Putnam has announced his resignation.
Putnam won at least eight matches in each of his six seasons, a feat that occurred only twice prior to his arrival. He won 10 games in a season three times, the only double-digit win totals in program history. Putnam is the Blazers' all-time wins leader in men's soccer with a record of 57-49-7 (.535).
Hood will conduct a national search to find its next men's soccer coach.
"Kenny has led our men's team to reach new levels of success in soccer, but what makes me most proud is what he has done to develop the personal side of his athletes," Director of Athletics Dr. Susan Kolb said. "He was a player's coach and I know he will be missed as a coach, but also as a mentor and role model. I appreciate the work that he has put in over the years and I wish him all the best in his next chapter."
Among his highlights as Hood's head coach are a 12-win season in 2015, in which the men's soccer team set season (53) and single-match (15) goal-scoring marks, while leading Division III in shots per game (23.28). The following year, the Blazers made their first appearance in the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth Championships. He coached two MAC Commonwealth Offensive Players of the Year in Drew Demich (2015) and Clay Smith (2019) with Smith receiving the 2016 conference rookie of the year award. Both players were honored with all-region accolades, the first two players in Blazer history, while Demich was a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American.
"I'm departing with my heart full of fond memories of players, wins, bus ride karaoke, training trips to the UK, and a program culture that I am proud to have built," said Putnam. "I'm moving into the next phase of life to focus on the athletic pursuits of my own children as they reach high school and are looking towards college."
Putnam's players combined for 14 All-MAC Commonwealth certificates over his six seasons. A total of 60 student-athletes earned MAC Academic Honor Roll spots, including four Academic All-MAC selections. His teams qualified for the ECAC Championships on three different occasions.
Prior to joining the Blazers' coaching staff, the Jefferson, Maryland native served as the varsity head coach at nearby Brunswick High School. During his final season with the Railroaders, he guided them to the 1A/2A Maryland State Championship. The state title earned him his third straight Frederick County Coach of the Year accolade. In 2011, he earned coach of the year honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, and was the Maryland Association of Coaches of Soccer Coach of the Year in 2010. His Brunswick squads won back-to-back Antietam Conference titles in 2011 and 2012, and also were the conference champions in 2006. The 2009 and 2010 squads each won the 1A North Region championship, with the 2010 squad advancing to the state championship match.
Putnam coached the U13-U17 team of the FC Frederick Soccer Club from 1999-2014 with great success. The 2012 team was a State Cup finalist and his 2013 and 2014 clubs advanced to the semifinals.
He was an assistant coach at Frederick High School from 2000-04 and at Tuscarora High School in 2004-05 before taking over at Brunswick.
Putnam has a United States Soccer National 'C' License and a MSYSA 'D' License.
A member of the Frederick County Soccer and Frederick Community College halls of fame, he was a three-time all-county and all-state selection at Brunswick and his scoring record with the Railroaders stood for 17 years. Putnam went on to play at FCC and was named first team all-conference and all-region in both of his seasons. In 1995, he earned All-America Third Team honors and set the school records for points and goals in a career, season, and game.
"Thanks and best wishes for seasons to come to my fellow athletic coaches. It has been a pleasure to work alongside you to building athletes into strong young adults," Putnam said. "Special thanks to my coaching staff for building the culture of the men's soccer program over the years with me—Josh Gilmore, Kyle Bulgarelli, Bob Viti, Matt Putnam, Conor Prachar, Al Lescalleet, James Derse, and Doug Raftery. Extra thanks go to Gilmore who has been by my side for better or for worse for the past seven years. Lastly to my players past and present—thank you for the hard work and trust in my vision to make the Hood Men's Soccer program what it is today. It is a journey I will never forget."
