Paulo Neto enters his second season as head men’s soccer coach at Shorter University. Prior to SU, he spent sixth season as the University of the Cumberlands (NAIA) Head Men’s Soccer Coach (2005-2010 - six consecutive winning seasons). He led the Patriots to a cumulative record of 84-30-9, winning one conference championship, and having being consistently ranked in the NAIA top 25 rankings (ranked as high as #13 team in the nation). Neto joined the UC staff after being an assistant coach for the men and women's soccer teams at Lincoln Memorial University, where he helped the women’s team to reach the NCAA II National Tournament Elite 8 in 2004.
Neto hails from Sorocaba, Brazil, and was a 2003 graduate of Union College with triple majors in Business Administration, Physical Education, and Sports Management. He earned a masters degree in Business Administration from Lincoln Memorial University in May of 2008.
Before coming to the United States, Neto played in the youth system of some of the best clubs in the world including Fluminense FC and SC Corinthians. He also was pre-selected to the U-17 Brazilian National Team. In the USA, Neto played at Union College and served as team captain from 2000 to 2002. In addition to being named team captain, Neto was a four-year starter earning All-Conference honors each season including Conference Player of the Year his final season. His various other achievements include being named All-Region in 2000, 2001 and 2002, and All-American in the same years. Neto was an exemplary student-athlete and was recognized twice as an NAIA All-American Scholar. Professionally, Neto was part of the Cincinnati Kings squad (USL) in 2005 before taking over the Cumberlands program.
Coach Neto’s coaching philosophy is based upon not only his experiences as a player but as a person as well: “I was raised in a home with strong Christian principles and where responsibility and discipline were enforced since early ages. If I had to summarize in a few words the education I received from my parents, it’d be something like: you must strive to be the best you can possibly be in all aspects of your life academically, athletically, personally, and spiritually - that is your obligation to God given all the abilities He has poured upon you. In face of what defines me as an individual, my coaching philosophy is to serve all the players I have the opportunity to coach with respect and character, providing them with every ounce of my knowledge and attention, helping them to become better players physically, technically, tactically, mentally, and spiritually, and assisting them to find ways to be creative and joyful on the field; all of this with an energetic and passionate approach”.
Neto also serves as a Regional Head Coach for Region 2 Olympic Development Program, as well as a Kentucky ODP Head Coach. Neto was the head coach of the Baton Rouge Capitals in the Premier Development League with USL (2009). Coach Neto is also the founder and director of Brazilian Way Soccer Camps. Brazilian Way has been a driving force in growing the game of soccer in the east side of Kentucky and Tennessee through clinics and camps, and is now expanding to north Georgia.
Neto holds a Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) “A” License, a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) "A" License, and a USSF National Youth License. Neto is also an instructor for Kentucky and Tennessee Youth Soccer Associations on state license courses, being on the Coaching Education Staff. He lives in Rome, GA, with his wife Maria, and four children Tulio, Lucas, Gabriel, and Giovanna.
