Jeremy Groves - Soccer Coach - Central Michigan University Athletics

Photo by: Allissa Rusco

Jeremy Groves

Title:
Head Coach
E-Mail Address:
grove1j@cmich.edu
Phone:
(989) 774-1985
Year at CMU:
7th year at CMU
Hometown:
Leeds, England
Alma Mater/Year:
Kentucky '05

Jeremy Groves was named to lead the Central Michigan soccer program in December 2018, becoming the sixth head coach in program history. Groves became the longest-tenured coach in program history as he started his seventh season in 2025.

In his first season at the helm, Groves led the Chippewas to a 7-6-4 finish including 4-5-2 in the Mid-American Conference. It was CMU’s first winning season and its first league-tournament berth since 2016.

After the 2020 fall season was cancelled due to COVID-19, Groves’ CMU squad posted a 5-4 record in the spring of 2021 while playing against conference-only opponents. In 2021, Groves' Chippewas finished 9-8-1 overall and 6-4-1 MAC, earning a MAC Tournament berth.

CMU's Megan Logue and Maria Kaschalk each earned All-MAC Second Team honors in 2021. In spring, 2021, forward Jaelyn Dobrowolski was recognized as the MAC Freshman of the Year, becoming the first Chippewa since 2009 to earn the honor. Senior forward Natalie Belsito was named First Team All-MAC while Kaschalk received second team recognition.

Groves, who hails from Leeds, England, served as volunteer assistant coach during the 2018 season at Kentucky after leading Murray State to unprecedented success, building the Racer program into a dominant force in the Ohio Valley Conference.

In four seasons under Groves, Murray State posted a sterling 50-21-6 record including 32-3-5 in the OVC. From 2015-17, Murray State went unbeaten (25-0-5) in OVC play, including a spotless 10-0-0 mark in 2015, becoming the first team in conference history to go undefeated in league play.

Groves was named the OVC Coach of the Year in 2015 and 2017 and led the Racers to three consecutive OVC regular season championships and two conference tournament titles.

At Murray State, Groves recruited and coached the first and only three-time OVC Offensive Player of the Year, Harriet Withers. During his four years as head coach, Groves' teams featured 14 players who received All-OVC recognition.

Groves’ 2017 team posted a program-best 15-2-2 record, which included an 11-game unbeaten streak. MSU attained a program- and conference-record RPI of 21 and received votes in the United Soccer Coaches and TopDrawerSoccer.com national polls for four consecutive weeks.

From 2010-13, Groves served as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Morehead State, where he helped the Eagles to the OVC regular season championship in 2010 and league tournament titles in 2010 and 2013.

Prior to Morehead State, Groves coached at his alma mater, Kentucky. He was an assistant coach with the women's program from 2006-07 and then assisted with the men's program from 2007-10.

Groves initially played collegiately at Virginia Intermont, earning NAIA All-America honors in 2001, before transferring to Kentucky. In Lexington, Groves was a member of two Mid-American Conference championship squads and the 2003 team which advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Groves earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in kinesiology and business from Kentucky and is working toward his master’s degree in teaching, coaching and sports leadership.

Before his collegiate career, Groves played for his hometown club, Leeds United, in addition to Rotherham United and York City.

Groves and his wife, Melissa, have three sons, Aidan, Jaxson and Owen.