Paul Karver will lead the Bruins for his fifth overall season in the fall of 2025 after leading the Bruins to their best season in the NCAA era in 2024.
Karver first joined the Bruins' coaching staff for the 2020-21 season as an assistant to the women's program under Laura Schott and was elevated to the interim men's role after Biniam Afenegus stepped away shortly before the fall season in 2021. He was elevated from interim head coach to head coach in 2022, where the Bruins finished with a 5-11-4 record in the NWC.
Two seasons later, Fox put together their best season in 29 years, finishing the 2024 campaign with a 14-5-1 record, including a 10-5-1 mark in NWC play. The stellar season saw the Bruins finish second in the conference, their best finish since their 1995 NWC championship.
Karver has 17 years of experience with NCAA programs, a proven track record as a recruiter and culture-builder, and holds an ‘A’ license from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) in addition to USSF adult coaching and goalkeeping licenses. In his most recent coaching stop prior to Fox, Karver helped lead a rebuilding Humboldt State program in Arcata, Calif., before moving to Oregon to work with the Timbers organization.
“Paul is not a stranger to Bruin soccer and it has been a joy getting to know him as he worked with our women's program this past year,” athletic director Adam Puckett says of Karver. “He has a deep knowledge and love for the game and is a great culture fit for our department. Last season was a difficult situation as Coach Karver took over the program two weeks prior to the student-athletes arriving on campus. He did an incredible job developing deep relationships with each of the guys, building a culture, and bringing together a team that has been through a lot over the past several years. Coach Karver loves George Fox University, understands what it means to be a Bruin, and helps our student-athletes develop as a whole person. He is an asset to George Fox men's soccer and to the University."
This is Karver's second coaching stint at George Fox - part of his 16 years of experience include a three-year span under Manfred Tschan working with the Bruins' keepers from 2005 to 2007.
Karver played collegiately for the University of Redlands and graduated in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. Karver later obtained his master's degree in higher education administration from Redlands while working as an assistant coach for his alma mater.
