Stephen Gorton was selected as the ninth head coach of the Purdue Fort Wayne men's soccer team on February 13, 2020. The 2026 season will be his seventh as the coach of the Mastodons.

Gorton graduated from Western Illinois with a degree in recreation administration with an emphasis in kinesiology. Gorton spent two years as a player on the Leathernecks' men's soccer team. He holds a U.S. Soccer Federation B coaching license.

Gorton resides in Fort Wayne, Indiana with his wife, Andrea, daughter Sparrow, and son, Sage. His wife, Andrea, is the head coach for the women's soccer program at Indiana Tech.

Awards

Lowes Senior CLASS Award (1): Nick Kristock* (2013)
College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team (7): Marco Navarro (2022, 2023), Luke Morrell (2023), Juan Romero (2023), Shane Anderson (2024, 2025), Aidan Antcliff (2024), Adrian Renteria (2024)
Horizon League Offensive Player of the Year (1): Shane Anderson (2025)
All-Horizon League First Team (11): Joey Tinnion* (2014), Matt Dudley* (2014, 2015), Shawn Claud Lawson* (2014), Austin Ricci* (2015), Seth Mahmeister (2023), Soshi Fujioka (2023), Juan Romero (2024), Andrew Hollenbach (2025), Shane Anderson (2025), Iann Topete (2025)
All-Horizon League Second Team (16): Joey Tinnion* (2013), Raphael Reynolds* (2013, 2015), Nick Kristock* (2013), Sean Lewis* (2013), Cody Archibald* (2014), Wes Mink* (2014), Shawn Claud Lawson* (2015), Jake VanderLann* (2015), Nyal Higgins* (2017, 2018), Nebosja Popovic* (2018), Luke Morrell (2023), Juan Romero (2023), Andrew Hollenbach (2024), Sep Habibi (2025)
All-Horizon League Third Team (3): Felipe Median (2024), Shane Anderson (2024), Jonny Hernandez (2025)
Horizon League All-Freshman Team (9): Wes Mink* (2014), Nick Strack* (2015), Nyal Higgins* (2016), Nebojsa Popovic* (2016), Noah Jensen* (2017), Luke Morrell* (2018), Napoleon Outlaw III* (2018), Erik Josson (Spring 2021), Aidan Antcliff (2023)
Horizon League All-Tournament Team (16): Nick Kristock* (2013), Sean Lewis* (2013), John DeLeon* (2014), Gavin Hoy* (2014), Cody Archibald* (2014), Gerald Ben* (2014), Elliott Tarney* (2015), Derek Nowak (2015), Matt Rickard* (2015), Matt Dudley* (2015), Chase Jabbori* (2016), Austin Ricci* (2016), Juan Romero (2023), Shane Anderson (2025), Karsten Ternes (2025), Andrew Hollenbach (2025)
Horizon League Tournament MVP (2): Gerald Ben* (2014), Matt Dudley* (2015)
Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week (13): Joey Tinnion* (9/30/2013), Austin Ricci* (8/31/2015), Alex Serwatka* (9/5/2016, 10/31/2016), Chase Jabbori* 10/10/2016), Nebojsa Popovic* (10/8/2018, 10/22/2018), Luke Morrell* (10/29/2018), Dawsun Schrum* (11/5/2018), Logan Lee (2/25/2021), Seth Mahlmeister (11/7/2022), Iann Topete (8/25/2025), Shane Anderson (9/22/2025)
Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week (18): Sean Lewis* (9/9/2013, 9/23/2013, 10/7/2013), Tom Serratore* (9/30/2013), Wes Mink* (9/30/2014, 10/13/2014, 10/20/2014), Cody Archibald* (10/6/2014), Liam McQueenie* (9/12/2016), Noah Jensen* (9/4/2018), Erik Josson (3/5/2011), Erik Josson (9/6/2021), Danny Salazar (9/26/2022), Max Collingwood (11/6/2023), Andrew Hollenbach (9/3/2024, 11/11/2024), Nic Diana (9/9/2024), Juan Romero (9/23/2024), Sep Habibi (10/13/2025, 11/1/2025)
United Soccer Coaches All-North Region First Team# (1): Jorge Gonzalez (2019)
United Soccer Coaches All-North Region Second Team (2): Seth Mahlmeister and Soshi Fujioka (2023)
Mid-American Conference Player of the Year# (1): Jorge Gonzalez (2019)
All-Mid-American Conference First Team# (1): Jorge Gonzalez (2019)
All-Mid-American Conference Second Team (1): Jake Meier# (2019)
Mid-American Conference Player of the Week# (1): Jorge Gonzalez (9/24/2019)
Academic All-Mid American Conference Team# (10): Steven Bibas (2019), Jack Edwards (2019), Noah Heim (2019), Colin Hiplert (2019), Mathias Krigbaum (2019), Corban McAvinew (2019), Lachlan Mclean (2019), Jorgen Pettersen (2019), Kelby Phillips (2019), Jaime Izquierdo Roiz (2019)
Summit League Offensive Player of the Year* (1): Kyle Bethel (2012)
Summit League Defensive Player of the Year* (1): John Timm (2012)
Summit League Newcomer of the Year* (1): Kyle Bethel (2012)
All-Summit League First Team* (6): John Timm (2011), Kyle Bethel (2012), Johnny Dreshaj (2012), Miche'le Lipari (2012), Scott Messer (2012), John Timm (2012)
All-Summit League Second Team* (5): Andrew Barrett (2011), Jonathan Evans (2011), Mitch Hildebrandt (2011), Lucas Diener (2012), Joey Tinnion (2012)
Summit League All-Newcomer Team* (3): Kyle Bethel (2012), Matt Dudley (2012), Derek Nowak (2012)
Academic All-Summit League* (5): Johnny Dreshaj (2012), Nick Kristock (2012), Sean Magee (2012), Derek Nowak (2012), Joey Tinnion (2012)
Summit League All-Tournament Team* (8): Winston Henderson (2011), Kyle Bethel (2012), Jeff Cheslik (2012), John Timm (2012)
Summit League Offensive Player of the Week* (6): Jeff Cheslik (9/19/2011), Andrew Barrett (10/17/2011), Miche'le Lipari (8/27/2012), Matt Dudley (10/1/2012), Kyle Bethel (10/8/2012, 10/15/2012)
Summit League Defensive Player of the Week* (7): Konnor McNamara (9/19/2011), Mitch Hildebrandt (10/17/2011), John Timm (10/31/2011), John DeLeon (11/7/2011, 10/29/2012), Scott Messer (9/4/2012), John Timm (10/8/2012)
NJCAA Division I All-America Second Team^ (2): Mario Ojeda (2008), Mariano Lee (2009)
NJCAA Division I All-America Honorable Mention^ (2): Ulises Caba (2008), Whitney Browne (2010)
All-Mid-Continent Conference First Team$ (2): Nowaf Jaman (2004), Andy Swentik (2004)
All-Mid-Continent Conference Second Team$ (2): Elton Fernandes (2004), Lorenzo Zignago (2004)
Mid-Continent Conference Tournament MVP$ (1): Nowaf Jaman (2004)
Mid-Continent Conference Tournament All-Tournament Team$ (4): Elton Fernandes (2004), Nowaf Jaman (2004), Andy Swentik (2004), Dave Hanlon (2004)
Mid-Continent Conference Offensive Player of the Week$ (2): Nowaf Jaman (9/20/2004, 9/27/2004)
Mid-Continent Conference Offensive Player of the Week$ (3): Andy Swentik (9/20/2004, 9/27/2004), David Hanlon (10/11/2004)

# at SIUE
* at Oakland
^ at Garden City Community College
$ at Western Illinois

at Purdue Fort Wayne

As Head Coach (2020-present)
• 2025 saw the 'Dons advance to a league title game for the first time in the program's DI history
• Shane Anderson was named the 2025 Horizon League Offensive Player of the Year
• The 'Dons have made the Horizon League postseason three straight years (2023-25), a first for the program
• The 'Dons earned four Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week honors in 2024
• 2024, third winning season in DI history and the first time in back-to-back era
    • Reached a program-best No. 8 in the United Soccer Coaches North Region Rankings in 2024
    • Finished top 20 in the nation in shutouts (7) and best in the DI era in program history
    • Allowed 1.19 goals against in 2024, a new program record for the third time in four years
• In 2023, guided the 'Dons to their first league tournament win in the Division I era by advancing to the Horizon League Semifinals
• 2023 was the second winning season in the Division I era of the program
• Reached No. 52 in RPI in 2023, highest for any Horizon League team all season
• Allowed 20 goals during the regular season in 2023, a Division I era program record
• Spent five weeks in the United Soccer Coaches North Region Top 10 in 2023
• Individual Horizon League leaders in goals (Seth Mahlmeister, 10), shots (Seth Mahlmeister, 56), shot accuracy (Seth Mahlmeister, .554 SOG) and assists (Soshi Fujioka, 8) in 2023
• Allowed only 21 goals in the fall of 2021, at that time the fewest goals allowed in program history as a Division I member in a season
• Six Horizon League Player of the Week honors
• In spring 2021, recorded first back-to-back shutout victories since 2014
• Finished two spots above predicted finish in preseason poll in spring 2021
• In spring 2021, improved goals allowed per game by 1.1 compared to prior season
• In spring 2021, improved goals scored per game by 0.77 compared to prior season
• Scored five goals vs. Milwaukee in 2022, the most goals in a game against a Division I foe since 2011

As Assistant Coach (2019)
• Tied No. 7 Michigan State in first match at SIUE (8/30/2019)
• Forced a draw at Wisconsin (10/15/2019)

As Associate Head Coach (2014-18)
• 2014 and 2015 Horizon League Tournament champion
• 2012 and 2014 Horizon League Regular Season champion
• Team had three winning seasons over five years
• Beat Ohio State 1-0 (10/8/2014, 10/10/2017)
• Beat No. 10 Michigan State 2-0 (10/22/2014)
• Defeated No. 24 Kentucky 2-0 in the opening round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament
• Earned berth to 2015 NCAA tournament, falling to Dayton in in the opening round in PKs
• Team RPI reached as high as 65 in 2015
• Defeated No. 20 Michigan 2-1 on the road (9/27/2017)

As Assistant Coach (2012-13)
• Back-to-back winning seasons
• Advanced to 2013 Horizon League semifinal by defeating Valparaiso 2-1
• Nick Kristock earned the Lowes Senior CLASS Award in 2013

at GCCC

Head Coach (2007-11)
Associate Head Coach (2005-06)
• Compiled an overall record of 54-21-5
• Overall home record of 40-5-0
• Guided the program to a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national semifinal, two regional finals, four regional semifinals
• 2008 national tournament berth was the first in program history
• Spent 32 straight weeks in NJCAA and NSCAA national polls
• Coached five NJCAA All-Americans
• NJCAA Plains District Coach of the Year in 2008
• Nominee for National Coach of the Year twice
• Coached two Jayhawk Conference Freshmen of the Year, two Jawhawk Conference Players of the Year, and 30 All-Region players.

As Assistant Coach (2004)
• 2004 Mid-Continent Conference Tournament Champion
• Team earned berth to NCAA Tournament
• Upset No. 1 Oral Roberts in the championship of the Mid-Continent Tournament 4-0

At Western Illinois
• All-Mid-Continent Conference Second Team
• NSCAA All-North Region
• NSCAA All-America Team

Career Records

Year	School	Position	Overall Record	Conference Record	Conference
2004	Western Illinois	Assistant Coach	11-10-0	3-3-0	Mid-Continent Conference
2005	Garden City CC	Associate Head Coach	12-3-1	6-2-1	Kansas Jayhawk CC Conference
2006	Garden City CC	Associate Head Coach	8-9-2	5-2-1	Kansas Jayhawk CC Conference
2007	Garden City CC	Head Coach	8-11-0	4-5-0	Kansas Jayhawk CC Conference
2008	Garden City CC	Head Coach	17-3-3	8-1-1	Kansas Jayhawk CC Conference
2009	Garden City CC	Head Coach	15-4-0	8-2-0	Kansas Jayhawk CC Conference
2010	Garden City CC	Head Coach	14-3-2	9-2-0	Kansas Jayhawk CC Conference
2011	Oakland	Assistant Coach	7-12-2	3-3-0	Summit League
2012	Oakland	Assistant Coach	13-7-2	5-1-1	Summit League
2013	Oakland	Assistant Coach	9-7-6	4-2-1	Horizon League
2014	Oakland	Assistant Coach	10-6-3	5-0-3	Horizon League
2015	Oakland	Associate Head Coach	10-8-2	5-3-1	Horizon League
2016	Oakland	Associate Head Coach	7-10-1	5-4-0	Horizon League
2017	Oakland	Associate Head Coach	6-10-1	3-5-1	Horizon League
2018	Oakland	Associate Head Coach	9-7-3	5-3-0	Horizon League
2019	SIUE	Assistant Coach	8-5-4	2-1-2	Mid-American Conference
2020 (spring)	Purdue Fort Wayne	Head Coach	3-6-0	3-6-0	Horizon League
2021	Purdue Fort Wayne	Head Coach	5-9-2	3-6-1	Horizon League
2022	Purdue Fort Wayne	Head Coach	2-10-3	1-6-2	Horizon League
2023	Purdue Fort Wayne	Head Coach	7-6-4	3-3-3	Horizon League
2024	Purdue Fort Wayne	Head Coach	7-7-2	4-4-1	Horizon League
2025	Purdue Fort Wayne	Head Coach	8-3-6	5-2-2	Horizon League
Totals			196-156-49 (.550)	99-66-21 (.589)
As Head Coach			86-62-22 (.571)	48-37-4 (.561)
As Mastodon Head Coach			32-41-17 (.450)	19-27-9 (.427)

Name	Title	Email Address
Stephen Gorton	Head Coach (7th season)	sgorton@pfw.edu
Travis Hurtis	Assistant Coach (3rd season)
Iann Topete	Assistant Coach (1st season)

Purdue University Fort Wayne Athletics

2026 Men's Soccer Coaching Staff

Coaching Staff