Mark McKeever Named Head Coach at South Georgia Tormenta
Promoted from interim status after five wins in first seven matches
Showing confidence in his ability to maintain the team’s recent form, South Georgia Tormenta announced today that Mark McKeever has been named head coach on a permanent basis.
McKeever joined the club as an assistant coach in August, and was thrust into the interim role with Ian Cameron’s sudden departure only days after joining. Since that time, the club has gone 5-1-1, and now sits within the playoff bubble with five matches remaining.
Cameron’s departure was said to be a surprise, but does not appear to have caused any drama behind the scenes, especially with McKeever’s success in stepping into the role. Cameron has been rumored to be connected to a job at one of the USL League One expansion sides, but nothing is confirmed at this time.
Under McKeever, the team achieved its third clean sheet of the season, its second-largest victory margin (a 4-0 win over Forward Madison), and is currently on a four match win-streak.
McKeever formerly led the men’s soccer program at NCAA Division II school Young Harris. He also had stints with USL League Two sides Mississippi Brilla FC and Des Moines Menace, before joining One Knoxville, then of USL League Two. He would remain with One Knox as that club joined USL League One in 2023.
His time at One Knox was mostly successful on the pitch, with a 32-23-16 record. The club missed the playoffs in its first professional season, but remained in contention for nearly all of the 2024 season.
However, in August 2024 he and the club parted ways for reasons never made clear. McKeever’s time with Knoxville was controversial, with substantiated allegations of “tier one physical misconduct and tier two verbal bullying.”
The claims were investigated by the USL, with One Knox President Drew McKenna saying that the club “accepted their subsequent recommendations” and “instituted a number of additional changes to policies, procedures and practices.”
It appears South Georgia Tormenta is confident in McKeever’s progress since that time. Said Tormenta owner and President Darin Van Tassel in the team’s release:
“Mark has shown not only his ability to win games, but also his commitment to our players, club values, and community. Anyone following in the footsteps of Ian Cameron was going to have a tall task, and Mark’s vision for the future of Tormenta FC matches our culture and ambitions. We believe he is the right leader to guide us forward, both on and off the pitch. It has been an absolute pleasure to have a front row seat to the work ethic and commitment to players displayed by Mark and Associate Coach Jordan Bell. They are a formidable and talented duo.”
While McKeever did not directly address the past, he did allude to his own personal growth since departing Knoxville. In the team’s statement, he said:
“I feel very blessed and honored to be announced as the permanent head coach at Tormenta FC. The last year of my life has been filled with lots of learning from a soccer education perspective, which will help me level up in my coaching career and my own personal character. I am excited to have the opportunity to help the club continue to move forward and grow, and for me to be able to impact many lives through football has always been my dream job. I am truly grateful to Darin and Netra for the faith they have shown me. Everyone at this club has treated me with the utmost trust and respect, and I hope to repay everyone by representing the club on and off the field to the fullest. The gratitude I feel for this opportunity is very hard to put into words, and I am excited to turn the page and start this new chapter in my life.”
South Georgia Tormenta will host the Richmond Kickers on Saturday, September 27th.