HACKENSACK, N.J. – In an announcement made Thursday morning, FDU Senior Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Bradford Hurlbut appointed Jaymee Highcock as the ninth head coach of the Knights' men's soccer program.
 
"We are thrilled to welcome back Jaymee Highcock to FDU as the head coach of our men's soccer program," said Hurlbut. "Jaymee was key in many memorable wins and in continuing the championship culture of Knights' soccer in his time here. I am eager to watch him lead our student-athletes to success on-and-off the pitch."
 
No stranger to Teaneck, Highcock served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Burgundy and Blue from 2020-2023. During his time in this role, Highcock aided in the development of 16 All-NEC selections. This included a Rookie of the year, Defensive Player of the Year, and NEC Player of the year. Highcock also coached defender Hugo Bacharach, Minnesota United FC's first-round pick in the 2023 MLS Superdraft. 
 
"It is an incredible honor to be named the Men's Head Soccer Coach at FDU. From the first day I arrived as the assistant coach, I felt at home at this special University," said Highcock. "I am specifically grateful to Brad Hurlbut and the hiring committee for granting me the opportunity to come back home to guide the Knights toward continued success. I am truly passionate about the student-athlete experience and look forward to bringing this commitment to FDU."
 
In 2022, Highcock helped guide the Knights to the NCAA tournament after completing an undefeated conference campaign and seizing both the NEC regular season and conference tournament championships. The FDU coaching staff was promptly named NEC Coaching Staff of the Year.
 
In January of 2024, Highcock departed New Jersey for the Sunshine State to become the assistant coach/recruiting coordinator/head of fundraising at North Florida. In this elevated role, Highcock enhanced the Ospreys' operating budget, while the team posted a 3.56 GPA and went undefeated in the spring season.  
 
Prior to his first stint at FDU, Highcock spent six seasons at the NAIA level as head men's coach at William Penn. In 2019, his team rose as high as No. 9 in the nation and booked a trip to the NAIA national tournament. Highcock produced 20 All-Conference performers and nine All-Americans from 2015-2020, and left William and Penn as the most successful coach in school history.
 
Academically, Highcock's teams thrived with several players earning NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors and two players garnering CoSIDA Academic All-American recognition.
 
In 2017, Highcock took on the additional venture of leading the women's team at William and Penn and led them to their first winning season in 16 years.
 
His collegiate coaching career began at Avila University where he served as assistant coach. In just two seasons, the Eagles' coaching staff produced six all-conference selections and one All-American. In 2014, he helped the Eagles to their most single season wins in 20 years.  
 
While his collegiate coaching career was beginning to take off, Highcock was gaining international experience, as well. Highcock worked as the head of scouting for the Antigua National Team. This squad won the three games in FIFA World Cup qualifying stage.
 
A native of Fareham, England, Highcock graduated from Benedictine College with a degree in Physical Education. He'd go onto attain a master's degree in organizational management from Avila University. On top of these higher education achievements, Highcock holds US Soccer B and UEFA B licenses, a United Soccer Coaches certification, and a Premier Diploma.
 
In his playing days, Highcock led Benedictine to a conference championship and to the NAIA National Tournament Sweet 16 in 2009 before going on to play professionally for the Kansas City Brass in the USL for two years.
 
FDU's new head coach takes over a program that made its' sixth straight conference tournament appearance in 2023. The Knights' 2024 campaign, and Highcock's first in charge, begins in August.
 
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ABOUT FDU ATHLETICS
 
FDU is home to 21 NCAA Division I teams. A member of the Northeast Conference, the Knights have had tremendous success in the classroom, in athletic competition as well as giving back to the Bergen County community. FDU became the first school in Northeast Conference (NEC) history to win championships in women's volleyball, women's soccer, and men's soccer in the same season (2022). In 2023, the Burgundy and Blue also became the first NEC school to win two games as a 16-seed in the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship, including an upset over top-seeded Purdue. As a result of its incredible 2022-23 season, FDU placed 92nd in the Learfield Director's Cup, the first NEC program to finish in the Top 100. In 2024, Salif Mane became the first individual national champion in FDU history after capturing the Triple jump title at the 2024 NCAA Track and Field Outdoor Championships. Since 2019, FDU has won 15 conference titles across men's soccer, men's tennis, men's basketball, women's basketball, women's indoor track & field, women's bowling, women's golf, and women's volleyball. Off the field, FDU student-athletes were recognized for their efforts in the community by winning the NEC Building Communities Award in both 2020 and 2024. In addition to recent championships, FDU holds five additional national championships, three in sport of women's fencing and two in women's bowling.