Richard Vardy was named the head coach of Berry's men's soccer program in 2002. In his 21 seasons at the helm, he has compiled a record of 249-110-34 to become one of the most decorated coaches in program history. 

In Berry's NCAA Division III era, Vardy has coached 63 All-SAA selections, a CoSIDA Academic All-American and earned Southern Athletic Association championships in 2020, 2014, and 2012.

The 2022 Berry squad reached the championship match of the SAA Championship, falling in penalty kicks. The Vikings reached that match after knocking off top-seeded Rhodes on its home field, 2-0. Seven Vikings earned All-SAA selections, with Henry Asbill also being named First Team All-Region VI by United Soccer Coaches. Tracy Moon and Nathan Carlson each received Third Team All-Region VI selections. The 2022 squad finished with a 9-2-6 overall record, setting the school record for most ties in a season.

Playing in the spring of 2021 due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Vikings earned the SAA Championship with a 2-1 victory over Centre in the championship match. Nine Vikings were named All-SAA, with Josh Pruett earning SAA Defensive Player of the Year recognition and Moon taking home SAA Newcomer of the Year.

The 2014 squad advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championship. Vardy was also named the league's Coach of the Year for the second time in three seasons (also in 2012). 

In Berry's NAIA era, Vardy led the Vikings to one of the best records in school history in 2010, guiding Berry to a 15-1-1 overall mark. He also led the 2007 team to a sweep of both the SSAC regular season and tournament titles, finishing the year ranked No. 9 in the NAIA National Poll.

Vardy's teams also posted back-to-back semifinal appearances in the NAIA National Tournament and team record victory totals in 2003 and 2004.

In just his third season as a head coach, Vardy led Berry to a 23-4-0 overall record in 2004. The Vikings won the Southern States Athletic Conference regular season crown, as well as the NAIA Region XIII Tournament championship. Vardy was honored as the Coach of the Year in Region XIII and the National Soccer Coaches Association Southeast Regional Coach of the Year.

That came on the heels of a 2003 season in which Vardy guided Berry to a 21-2-1 record, TranSouth Athletic Conference and NAIA Region XI titles and the team’s first appearance in the semifinals of the National Tournament. Vardy’s squad was ranked second in the final NAIA national poll, and its win total was the most in school history until the 2004 team surpassed the mark.

Prior to becoming the Vikings’ head coach, Vardy spent four years as an assistant at Berry under former head coach Kurt Swanbeck.

Vardy played four years of soccer at Lenoir-Rhyne College in North Carolina from 1991 to 1995, and he was named an NCAA Division II All-American in 1993. He served as an assistant coach at Lenoir-Rhyne for one season before coming to Berry.

Vardy, a native of York, England, earned his bachelor of arts degree in business administration from Lenoir-Rhyne. He holds a master's degree in sports management from the United States Sports Academy, and also a USSF "A" coaching license.

Richard Vardy Career Coaching Record

Year

School

W-L-T

2002

Berry

12-8-2

2003

Berry

21-2-1

2004

Berry

23-4-0

2005

Berry

15-6-0

2006

Berry

9-11-0

2007

Berry

15-3-0

2008

Berry

12-7-1

2009

Berry

12-2-4

2010

Berry

15-1-1

2011

Berry

7-6-2

2012

Berry

14-3-2

2013

Berry

10-6-3

2014

Berry

13-7-1

2015

Berry

8-6-3

2016

Berry

10-9

2017

Berry

8-8-1

2018

Berry

10-5-2

2019      

Berry

9-8-2

2021 Spring

Berry

8-1-1

2021 Fall

Berry

9-5-2

2022

Berry

9-2-6

21 seasons

249-110-34