Updated June 2023

Ken Bovell enters his ninth season as the head coach of MIT men’s soccer in 2023. MIT finished 2015, his first season, with a record of 18-3-1 (7-0-0 NEWMAC), broke 11 team records and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Division III men’s soccer tournament for the first time since 2003. It was also the first time in program history that the Engineers hosted the NCAA Tournament as MIT defeated Bridgewater State 5-1 and Bowdoin 1-0 to advance to the Sweet 16.

In nine seasons with the Engineers, his teams have made six appearances in the NEWMAC Postseason Tournament winning two regular season championships and making two appearances in the NEWMAC tournament final. The program also produced one Rookie of the Year and two NEWMAC Athlete of the Year winners during the period.

Prior to his promotion to head coach, Bovell served as an assistant at MIT for two seasons. As part of the success that Bovell brought to the MIT men’s soccer program, he was awarded with both the NEWMAC Coach of the Year and ECAC Division III New England Coach of the Year accolades in 2015. Since taking over head coaching duties in 2015, the program has registered a record of 58-35-18.

2022 saw MIT produce an 8-8-1 record and a 4-3 record in NEWMAC play. John Flynn and Garrett Robinson earned First Team honors while Rami Bikdash was named to the second team. 

In 2021, Bovell was awarded the NEWMAC Coach of the Year for the second time in his career while his staff was also awarded United Soccer Coaches Region II Staff of the Year. Additionally, Peter Novoa was named the NEWMAC Athlete of the Year and both a D3 and the United Soccer Coaches All-American. MIT also boasted a conference leading 19 student-athletes named as Academic All-Conference selections, 4 All-Region and 2 Academic All-Americans on the way to a 13-4-2 season record.

Bovell brings over 25 years of proven success as a coach at many levels to the Engineers. He was born and grew up playing soccer in Trinidad. Upon coming to the United States, he played soccer at Boston College and was a semi-professional player in the L.A.S.A. League with the Lowell Blues from 1982-1985.

A head coach for the N.E. Surf Soccer Club, Bovell began his career coaching the varsity boys’ high school soccer teams at Abington and Newton South. Bovell also oversaw the Massachusetts’ ODP Boys U-16 Team, a position he held from 1994 - 2019. His club and state teams have won state and regional championships, while contending for national honors as well. He has worked with many players who have gone on to have successful careers in college and beyond and holds a USSF “B” Coaching License and NSCAA Director of Coaching certificate.

He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Management from Newbury College.  

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