Staff
Matt Cosinuke, Head Coach
Matt Cosinuke was hired as the head coach of the Eastern Kentucky University soccer program on January 3, 2019.
Cosinuke comes to EKU following five successful seasons as an assistant coach / recruiting coordinator at the University of Cincinnati (2014 to 2018). He helped lead the Bearcats to the 2015 American Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament championship and a trip to the 2015 NCAA Tournament.
“I’d like to thank Stephen Lochmueller, James Downer and Rachel Park for believing in me to lead this program,” Cosinuke said. “I’d also like to especially thank Neil Stafford for helping to shape me into the coach I am today. Richmond is a wonderful town and EKU is an exceptional university. I feel blessed to be given this opportunity, and I look forward to the challenge. My wife Alexis, my daughter, Iris, and I are ready to be part of the community and extended EKU Family. Go Big E!”
During Cosinuke’s five seasons at Cincinnati, the Bearcats’ RPI rose from No. 237 to No. 11.
UC recorded five consecutive losing seasons (2009 to 2013) before Cosinuke joined the staff. In Cosinuke’s first four seasons in Cincinnati (2014 to 2017), the Bearcats went 46-23-14 (18-13-5 AAC).
Cincinnati notably finished the 2015 season with a record of 13-6-5 (5-3-1 AAC), giving the Bearcats their best league finish since 2002. UC then stormed through the AAC Tournament and stunned USF in a penalty-kick shootout in the title game to win its first ever conference championship and earn its first NCAA bid since 2010.
In 2017, Cosinuke helped guide Cincinnati to a record of 12-4-3 (5-2-2 AAC).
In addition to his duties as recruiting coordinator, Cosinuke worked primarily with UC’s goalkeepers and defenders. During the championship season of 2015, the Bearcat defense recorded 12 shutouts, second-most in a season in the history of the American Athletic Conference. In 2017, UC notched 11 clean sheets, third most in conference history.
In 2017, UC keeper Natalie Smith led the AAC in shutouts during conference play (five) and ranked second in the league in goals-against average (0.82).
“We are thrilled to welcome Matt, Alexis and Iris to the EKU family,” Lochmueller said. “Matt brings a unique energy and passion to coaching that I think will spill over to our players and fans. He also played Division-I soccer, so he knows first-hand the preparation and hard-work that goes into competing on the highest collegiate level. Finally, Matt has extensive recruiting connections in this region, which will only bolster our strong soccer program.”
Prior to joining the women’s soccer coaching staff at Cincinnati, Cosinuke was a volunteer goalkeepers coach for the UC men’s soccer program from 2012 to 2013. During that time, he instructed a goalkeeper who led the Big East in shutouts and ranked 21st in the country in saves.
Cosinuke experienced great success as a volunteer goalkeepers coach for the Dartmouth College men’s soccer program from 2010 to 2012. During the 2010 season, the Big Green reached the NCAA Sweet 16 before falling to No. 8 UCLA, 2-1, in double overtime. In 2011, Cosinuke helped lead Dartmouth to the Ivy League title and back to the NCAA Tournament. He mentored goalkeeper Noah Cohen to honorable mention All-Ivy League honors in 2011.
Before arriving at Dartmouth, Cosinuke spent one season as a volunteer goalkeepers coach at his alma mater, Florida Atlantic University, in 2009.
A native of Lebanon, New Hampshire, Cosinuke graduated from Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, New Hampshire before going on to play Division-I soccer at FAU.
Cosinuke holds an Advanced National Goalkeeping License from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and several licenses from the U.S. Soccer Federation.
He graduated from FAU with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He also holds a master’s degree in sport management (certificate in athletic administration) from the University of Southern New Hampshire.
Cosinuke and his wife, Alexis, have one daughter, Iris.
What Others Are Saying About Matt Cosinuke …
“Matt Cosinuke is, first and foremost, a great person. He has impeccable character, cares for others, and places great emphasis on building positive relationships. Matt is passionate, positive, and has a magnetic personality. I was fortunate enough to work alongside Matt for over three years, and witnessed his work-ethic and willingness to grind first-hand. He will provide an immediate infusion of energy into the program. I can’t overstate how excited I am for Matt, as he is fully deserving of this great opportunity. I firmly believe that EKU made a great hire!”
- Nate Lie, Head Coach, Xavier University
“Matt Cosinuke is a tremendous hire for EKU. Matt has an incredible work ethic and isn’t afraid to grind, and he is one of the hardest working coaches on the recruiting trail. He knows how important it is to bring the right people, not just good players, into the program and he will work tirelessly to get the right people on board that will establish the foundation for a winning culture, both on and off the field. Matt has a very bright future ahead of him as a head coach, and EKU will experience a great deal of success and be a contender in the OVC under his watch. Matt and his family will be a great addition for EKU.”
- Stefanie Golan, Head Coach, University of Minnesota
“EKU made a fantastic hire in Matt Cosinuke. Matt is one of the bright young coaches out there in the college game today. Matt’s a player’s coach, talented, ambitious and hard working with a good knowledge of the game. Matt has a passion for people and I have no doubt that he will make all those around him better for it. The lessons the student-athletes will learn from Matt, on and off the field and in and out of the classroom, will be invaluable during their post-collegiate careers. I’m excited to watch and see the heights that Matt takes EKU.”
- Neil Stafford, Head Coach, University of Cincinnati
Mitch Hepburn, Assistnat Coach
Mitch Hepburn joined the EKU soccer staff in the summer of 2020.
In his first season with the program, Hepburn helped oversee great improvement, especially on the attacking end.
After averaging 0.67 goals-per-game in 2019, EKU averaged 1.4 goals-per-game in 2020.
After going 1-7-1 at home in 2019, Eastern went 3-1-0 at home in 2020, including shutout wins over rival Morehead State and Belmont and a Senior Day victory over then-unbeaten Southeast Missouri.
Katie Shaffer (first team All-OVC) and Michaela Iacono (second team All-OVC) earned all-conference honors during Hepburn's first season with the program.
Hepburn came to EKU from the University of Dayton, where he served as the women's soccer Director of Operations for the 2019 season.
"We are thrilled to add Mitch to our family," head coach Matt Cosinuke said upon his hire. "He was impressive during our national search, and he caught our eye with his attention to detail and ability to create genuine relationships. We were looking for a gritty, hungry personality and Mitch has that. I see big things in Mitch's future. He is going to be great for the EKU soccer family."
During his time with the Flyers, Hepburn was involved with several aspects of the program, including team travel, film, nutrition, fitness, load management reports, assisting with yearly periodization, recruiting visits and camps/clinics.
He helped Dayton qualify for the Atlantic-10 Tournament in 2019. Three Flyers earned all-conference honors at the conclusion of the season.
Hepburn has a good pulse on the youth soccer landscape as he attended a number of ECNL events while working on the ECNL National Events staff. Hepburn has also served as an Olympic Development Program Events Administrator for the Midwest, Southern, and Far West Regions since 2016, working a number of regional, national, and international events.
Hepburn arrived at Dayton in the summer of 2019 following two years at his alma mater, the University of Akron, where he was a director of operations graduate assistant for the women's swimming and diving team. During his time at Akron, the Zips were crowned the 2019 Swimming and Diving Mid-American Conference champions and won the 2019 National Invitational Championship.
In the fall of 2016, Hepburn served as the men's soccer Director of Operations for the Zips, who were the 2016 MAC regular season and tournament champions and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Hepburn also served as an ID Camp, Day Camp, and Soccer School Camp coach for the Zips men's program from 2015 to 2018.
Hepburn has high school coaching experience at Stow High School in Ohio, as well as club coaching experience at Cleveland FC, Ohio Fusion and Stow Youth Soccer Club. He was also a foot skills coach for the Everest Soccer Club.
"I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to join Matt, Kristen and the Big E family," Hepburn said. "I am eager to work alongside the entire staff and continue to learn and grow in this role."
Hepburn competed collegiately at Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina in 2013, before transferring to Akron where he was a member of the nationally-ranked Zips program in 2014-2015.
Hepburn has a USSF "D" coaching license. He has also earned the National Federation of State High School Association Fundamentals of Coaching Certification.
He graduated from Akron in May of 2017 with a bachelor's degree in sport management. Hepburn earned a master's degree in sport science/coaching/sport administration from Akron in May of 2019.
Jordan Nash, Assistant Coach
Meagan Ryan, Volunteer Assistant Coach
Donna Fishter, Leadership Consultant
Donna Fishter is consulting for Eastern Kentucky University soccer as their Leadership Coach & Team Architect. Donna’s primary role is building a strong team culture & providing leadership training. She also provides assistance in player development strategies and focuses on coaching our coaches!
In today's society it is the coach that has the greatest impact in an athlete's life. This is why Donna is so passionate about educating coaches on how to connect better with players and build mentally and emotionally strong athletes. This intrinsic focus filters into how a team’s culture functions. Donna teaches that the beliefs and behaviors of players can be mobilized in such a way to create increased ownership in the team. In the end, this is a competitive advantage.
Donna coached soccer for over 20 years at all levels, from youth to the college game. She stepped out of the x's and o's so that she could focus entirely on leadership training and culture development for coaches, teams, and athletes across the country.
This intense focus on the intangible side of the game began at what she now calls her "laboratory,” the University of Central Florida (UCF). Donna spent 13 years at UCF coaching with World Cup Champion and Olympian Amanda Cromwell. Donna was the catalyst to the leadership development program and was the architect behind the team culture that moved UCF from #145 (NCAA RPI final ranking) in 2000 to a consistently recognized Top 25 program by 2007. Donna left with a career record of 187-77-25, eight Conference Championship Titles and ten NCAA Post-Season Appearances.
Donna mentors coaches & athletes at all levels and consults for NCAA collegiate teams in several different sports. Donna has programs consistently compete in post-seasons including…one National Champion and two Runner-Up National Champions.
Donna is a certified Leadership Coach with the John Maxwell Coaching Team. "John C. Maxwell is an internationally recognized leadership expert, speaker, and author who has sold more than 13 million books. Every year he speaks to Fortune 500 companies, international government leaders, and organizations as diverse as the United States Military Academy at West Point, the National Football League, and ambassadors at the United Nations." (excerpt from JohnMaxwell.com)
Donna is the heart of what it means to be an educator, motivator, and mentor.
She resides in Orlando, FL with her All-American dog Condi. www.donnafishter.com
Dr. Karina Christopher, Nutrition Consultant
