LEBANON, Tenn.--Cumberland University Vice President of Athletics Ron Pavan has elevated assistant coach Julian Lucumi to men's soccer head coach. 

"Julian has been our assistant men's coach, a volunteer assistant, and is a former Cumberland player," Pavan said. "He will keep our high level of competitiveness going forward in the future."

Lucumi has worked his way through the ranks after working under Adam Grant as a volunteer assistant in 2021 and then being hired on full time last season where he helped lead the team to the Mid-South Conference Tournament Championship as well as a NAIA National Tournament appearance. 

Lucumi played his senior season at Cumberland in 2018 after transferring from Belmont University. He started in eight games and appeared in 16 as a defender. He scored five goals, fourth-best on the team, to help Cumberland to the 2018 Mid-South Conference Championship and the NAIA National Tournament. 

After his playing days, Lucumi started coaching at Belmont's Men's Soccer Camps assisting with preparation for training. From there, he went on to coach at Barca Academy in Nashville where he coached two teams per season. He provided administrative support to the academy and created playing schedules for the club. 

Lucumi served as a volunteer assistant here at Cumberland during the 2021 season working under coach Adam Grant and Shane Keely at the time. Lucumi analyzed the GPS information on the players after matches and also assisted with recruiting efforts. 

In 2022, Lucumi worked as an assistant coach at Ensworth High School assisting with both the varsity boys and girls teams. He also worked as a Facility Operations Manager for the Nashville Soccer Club and spent time at Nashville United Soccer Academy. 

"For me, this is an opportunity that I have been working towards. Now that it has arrived, I am counting the days until kickoff. Cumberland is a place that means a lot to me. I was able to get my education here and represent the school as a player. I now have the opportunity to do so as a coach. I know that with hard work and professionalism, we are going to continue representing the school well," Lucumi said.

"I would also like to take this moment to thank everyone who has played a part in my journey, especially Adam Grant and Shane Keely, as they opened the doors of Cumberland to me as a coach. Being Adam's volunteer assistant and Shane's first assistant has been very influential in my career. They are two great coaches from whom I've learned a lot," he added.

Lucumi earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from Cumberland University in May 2019 and went on to get a Master's Degree of Sport Administration from Belmont in May 2022.