Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG - Virginia Tech head coach Mike Brizendine announced the hiring of James Lofton as the program's director of operations Tuesday afternoon.
"I am excited to add James to our staff here in Blacksburg," Brizendine commented. "I have been impressed with the manner in which he ran his program at Ferrum and look forward to seeing him help us on a daily basis. I have no doubt that James' work ethic and passion for the game will continue this program's positive momentum."
Lofton rounds out the staff in the men's soccer office, following last week's arrival of assistant coach Josh Dunn.
Lofton makes his way to Blacksburg after a successful tenure as the head women's soccer coach at Ferrum College. He spent the past five seasons at with the Panthers.
In 2015, Lofton coached the Panthers to an 11-8 record. He followed that with an 11-7-2 record in 2016, achieving Ferrum's first back-to-back winning seasons in 18 years. In 2018, Ferrum moved conferences from USA South to the higher-competitive Old Dominion Athletic Conference. In their first season in the ODAC, the Panthers and Lofton beat Randolph to win Ferrum's first postseason game in the ODAC in any sport.
The Ferrum women's soccer team also saw an improvement academically under Lofton. The Panthers boasted their first Academic All-American in 18 years under Lofton. Of the 21 players on the team, six of them were in Ferrum's Boone Honors Program. Collectively, the Ferrum women's soccer team held a 3.36 overall GPA.
Prior to joining the Panthers' program, Lofton was the boys' head coach at Rappahannock County High School, men's volunteer assistant coach at the U.S. Naval Academy, and men's assistant head coach at Shenandoah University. Lofton also served as the Director of Coaching at Monticello United Soccer club, working with both the girls' and boys' teams. Lofton has coached at many summer soccer camps, including those at the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech.
Lofton holds both NSCAA National and Advanced National Coaching Diplomas, as well as Strength and Conditioning Specialist and CrossFit Trainer certifications. He majored in government and minored in psychology at William & Mary, where he graduated cum laude. He also holds a master's of education degree focusing on sports leadership, from VCU.
As a player, Lofton played at both the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and William & Mary. In 2008, Lofton was part of the Spartans' Southern Conference championship. Lofton was also on the Tribe's 2010 CAA Championship winning side. Lofton has also played in the NCAA Tournament, reaching the Sweet 16 with both schools.
Lofton brings a deep personal understanding to his mission of identifying promising high school players and recruiting them to the Panthers. As a teenager, he was one of these promising players. He was listed as one of the top 100 high school freshmen to watch by College Soccer News and was one of 78 players named an NSCAA All-American. He played on a nationally ranked club team, Super Y team, ODP team, and D.C. United U-17 squad. He competed in England, France, Spain and Turkey.
Lofton's wife, Mary Elizabeth, is also a William & Mary graduate and is currently pursuing doctoral degree in freshwater ecology at Virginia Tech.