Sean Fraser was named ULM soccer head coach in January 2020.
In two seasons, Fraser has lifted ULM soccer to new heights, including an eight-win season in 2021, marking the fifth-most wins in program history. The Warhawks advanced to the semifinals of the Sun Belt Conference Championship for the first time in program history after defeating Troy, 1-0, in the first round and top-seed Arkansas State, 2-1, in the quarterfinals. ULM had a five-match winning streak in the final month of the season, including the Warhawks’ first-ever win over South Alabama, 3-1, on Oct. 10. The club set single-season program records for points (146), goals (53) and shots (383).
Individually, Fraser coached senior Theoni Zerva and junior Courtney Marten to First-Team All-Louisiana and Second-Team All-Sun Belt Conference selections, while freshman Mara Grutkamp was an honorable mention All-Louisiana selection. Zerva and Marten’s selection to the All-Louisiana First Team was the first for ULM soccer since 2013 and the second time in program history to have two First-Team selections.
Zerva started all 20 matches in 2021, setting the program single season records with 32 points and 10 assists. Her 11 goals ranked second in a single season. She led the SBC and ranked 24th in NCAA Division I in points, led the SBC and ranked 25th nationally in assists and led the conference in assists per game (0.50) and shots on goal per game (1.75).
Marten played in 18 matches with six starts in 2021 but made gigantic impact in her time on the pitch. She set the single-season program record with 14 goals and five game-winning goals. Her 29 points ranks second in a single season behind Zerva. She led the SBC and ranked eighth nationally in goals per game (0.78) and was 14th nationally in total goals. She also led the SBC and ranked 23rd nationally in points per game (1.61).
Grutkamp played in 19 matches with 18 starts, scoring six goals with five assists for 17 points. She was named to the SBC All-Tournament Team after scoring a goal and adding an assist in ULM’s run to the SBC semifinals. Her five assists rank sixth in ULM single-season history and her 17 points were ninth in a season in program history.
The resurgence of the Warhawks started in the extended spring season in 2021 after much of the 2020 fall schedule was abbreviated due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
ULM went 5-3 in the non-conference spring schedule, picking up shutouts in all five victories. He earned his first win at ULM in a 3-0 win over UT Tyler on Feb. 3, 2021. The Warhawks went on to wins over Southern, Grambling, Nicholls and Alcorn to finish the 2020-21 season at 5-13.
Individually, Janet Stopka became a rising star. She tied the school single-season goals record in the 2020-21 campaign with 10 goals while adding one assist. The native of Waldbrol, Germany, had three multi-goal games, including the sixth hat trick in ULM history against UT Tyler. She was named honorable mention All-Louisiana for her efforts.
Fraser, a native of Durham, England, spent the previous three seasons as the head women's soccer coach at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee. Fraser elevated the Lady Railsplitter program over his three seasons, winning seven games in his first season in 2017 before finishing 14-5-2 in 2018 and 17-5 in 2019, advancing to the NCAA Tournament in each of his last two seasons.
In 2019, Fraser led the Lady Railsplitters to their second consecutive South Atlantic Conference tournament championship. LMU finished the regular season tied for fifth in the SAC, but knocked off fourth-seed Catawba, regular season SAC champion Lenoir-Rhyne and second-seed Wingate to claim the title and advance to a second-consecutive NCAA Tournament. The Lady Railsplitters then topped UNC Pembroke in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional quarterfinals before having their eight-game winning streak end in the semifinals against Flagler. Jessica Cravero, Maria Hernandez and Ermelinda Pantaleao were named First Team All-SAC, while Thenia Zervas was named Honorable Mention All-SAC. Cravero, Zervas and Pantaleao were also named to D2CCA All-Region teams.
In 2018, Fraser was named SAC Coach of the Year as LMU finished 14-5-2 with an appearance in the Division II Sweet 16. The Railsplitters finished 7-3 in the SAC regular season before winning the conference tournament to advance to the NCAA Tournament. The team finished the season ranked No. 18 in the United Soccer Coaches DII poll. Mariana Diaz, Itzel Ballesteros, Alyssa Berry and Cravero were named First Team All-SAC, while Febienne Loetscher and Hernandez were named to the second team. Cravero, Ballesteros and Berry were also named to the CCA All-Southeast Region team.
In the classroom, Fraser's 2019 team placed 19 student-athletes on the South Atlantic Conference Honor Roll, with the team posting a 3.38 grade point average.
Prior to arriving at LMU, Fraser spent one season as an assistant coach at the University of Charleston in Charleston, West Virginia. Fraser helped the Golden Eagles to a 19-3-2 record and an appearance in the NCAA Division II National Championship game.
Fraser has a wealth of international coaching experience, serving as a phase coach for the Middlesbrough FC Centre of Excellence in Middlesbrough, England. He served as the head coach of the women's U17 team and head coach of the Regional Development Center for male players. During his time coaching in England, he coached Lucy Bronze and Demi Stokes, who went on to participate in the 2019 Women's World Cup for England.
Fraser started his collegiate coaching career at Midland University in Fremont, Nebraska, where he was head coach from 2011-15. In his four seasons, he posted a 53-25-6 record with the Warriors, including an 18-2-2 mark in 2013.
Fraser played collegiately at Bethel University where he earned his bachelor of science degree in physical education in 2008 and added his master's degree in education in 2011 while serving as a graduate assistant coach. He has added a master's in business administration from Southwestern College and a master of science in leadership from the University of Charleston.
Fraser also coached at the Sunderland AFC in England from 2005-07, was Director of Coaching at the Paris Soccer Club in Paris, Tennessee, from 2008-11 and is licensed by UEFA (A, B and C License), NSCAA Goalkeeping Diploma, NSCAA Director of Coaching Diploma, NSCAA Premier Diploma, FA Youth Module (1, 2 and 3) and FA Futsal Level 1.
Fraser and his wife, Taylor, have a daughter, Daisy Jo.
