Oakland City, IN - The former assistant coach, and past Mighty Oaks standout player,
Adam Sell has been named the Oakland City University men's soccer head coach.
Elliott Spruell, who has served as the OCU head coach for the past six seasons, will remain on the coaching staff as an assistant coach.
Coach Sell begins his tenure at the helm of the Mighty Oaks following a season on the OCU sidelines, serving as an assistant coach for the 2021 campaign. A native of Oxford, England, Sell anchored the defensive back line for the Oaks during his playing career in the blue and white, graduating in 2014. He played for the Oaks for three seasons, serving as a team captain for his final two years, earning NCCAA All-Region honors in 2011 and 2013 and NCCAA All-American honors during his senior campaign in 2013.
"Firstly, I would like to thank the administration for the opportunity," Sell said. "I feel privileged and excited to be entrusted with continuing the growth of the Oakland City University men's soccer program. From my time playing here 10 years ago to assisting Coach Spruell last season, it is fantastic to witness the positive changes and the exciting direction the school is moving forward in.
"The most important goal for me is to continue the academic excellence the program has achieved, while adding to the already exciting style of soccer that we brought out last year on the field in order to compete at the highest level."
After graduating from OCU, Sell was an assistant coach for the Oaks for the 2014 season before joining the Malone University coaching staff as an assistant for the women's soccer program.
For the 2017-18 seasons, Sell played professionally in Sweden for Strands IF before returning to the states where he was an assistant coach for a year at Washington Catholic High School. His most recent position before returning to OCU was spent as an assistant coach for the University of Providence in Great Falls, Montana, where he coached under the Argos head coach and OCU alumnus Matt Ball.
Coach Spruell, who has accepted a position with United States Soccer, finished with an overall coaching record of 45-56-4, including three runner-up finishes in the NCCAA Regional Championship, two runner-up finishes in the River States Conference Tournament, and an appearance at the NCCAA National Tournament in 2021, the first time since 2011. Under his direction, the Oaks finished with a record of 13-9-1 in 2021, the most wins in team history.
"I want to thank Oakland City University for the opportunity to lead the men's soccer program over the past six years," stated Spruell. "I am extremely thankful and blessed to have been involved in the lives of these young men, both on and off the field. The relationships I have established while in this role will be cherished and remembered with the greatest appreciation and fondness.
"While I look back and find myself proud of what this group has been able to accomplish and the strides we have made since 2016, I am even more excited about its future. As a great soccer coach, represetative of OCU, and young man, Coach Sell is the perfect selection to lead this team. His work ethic, attention to detail, and soccer knowledge will undoubtedly allow this program to continue to grow and take strides to become the national contender we know it can be. More importantly, his love and his caring for the young men in our program will allow them to truly feel at home at Oakland City University."
