Neil Payne will be in his sixth season as Elon's head women's soccer coach in fall 2023. Payne was named the eighth head coach in Elon women's soccer program history on Feb. 24, 2018.

Last season, Payne guided the Phoenix to a 9-6-3 record and helped make Rudd Field one of the toughest places to play in the Carolinas. The Phoenix won four straight CAA games at home and finished with a 6-0-2 record against non-Power 5 opponents at Rudd. Under Payne, the Phoenix finished fourth in the conference with an opportunity to win the CAA regular season title with a game to play. 

Payne guided the maroon and gold to a 9-6-2 record, including a pair of overtime victories against Northeastern (2-1) and a #23/25 Hofstra (2-1). For their performance during the regular season, Kayla Hodges, Carson Jones and Makenzie DePriest-Kessler were tabbed all-conference honorees. Hodges was a first-team selection, Jones was second team and DePriest-Kessler was third team.    

During the historic spring 2021 season, Payne guided the Phoenix to its first-ever Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Championship title and second appearance in the NCAA Division I Championship. Entering the CAA Championship as the No. 2 seed in the South Division with a 4-3 regular-season record, Elon first defeated the nationally-ranked top seed in the North Division, Hofstra, for the first time in program history (1-0). The maroon and gold then went on to outlast UNCW in the finals (1-0) to earn the championship crown. Over the course of the season, the Phoenix registered six shutouts, with four of them coming against conference opponents (Charleston, William & Mary, Hofstra and UNCW). Elon's backline also held both the Dukes and Cougars to no shots on goal. Four players earned all-conference honors for their performances in the regular season, Jones (second team), Hodges (second team), DePriest-Kessler (third team) and Katie Lowe (all-rookie team).         

In his second season with the Phoenix, Payne led the team to a 12-6-2 overall record, including a 5-3-1 record in conference play. Under Payne's guidance, Elon saw a nine win improvement from the 2018 season. During the season, Elon defeated James Madison (3-2) for its first win over the Dukes in program history. The Phoenix's strong performance throughout the season led to a fifth place finish in the CAA regular season standings and the first berth to the CAA Tournament in program history. In postseason play, Elon earned its first win in the CAA Tournament in program history after taking down Northeastern (2-1) in the opening round. Payne also led the Phoenix to a season in which it made its most goals since 2013 (42), including 11 games with at least two goals. In 2019, Payne coached three All-CAA performers and placed 28 athletes on the CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll. The Phoenix continued to excel in the classroom in Payne's second season as well, earning a program record GPA of 3.69 for the 2019-20 academic year. 

During his first season at Elon in 2018, Payne coached two All-CAA players and led a Phoenix program that put together a 3.54 team grade point average in the fall semester. Additionally, the team made just its second global experience trip in program history during March of 2019 with a week-long trip to Costa Rica.

Since joining the Phoenix program, Payne has had players succeed both on the field and in the classroom. Nine players have earned All-CAA recognition, while 54 players have been placed on the CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll since he began.

Neil arrived at Elon as a seasoned coach with over two decades of success at both the collegiate and club levels. Prior to Elon, Payne spent three seasons at Texas Tech as the associate head coach, playing an integral part in back-to-back NCAA bids, highlighted by a banner season that saw the Red Raiders win their first Big 12 Championship. Texas Tech earned top-25 rankings twice over the last three seasons and 10 players earned All-Big 12 distinction. Over three years, Texas Tech had 42 players earn Academic All-Big 12 honors, as well.

Prior to his tenure at Texas Tech, Payne spent 13 years as the Technical Director for Real Colorado, one of the premier girls youth soccer clubs in the country. During his tenure in Colorado, Payne helped produce hundreds of collegiate players. Under Payne's leadership, Real's impressive player development record also involved 38 players gaining U.S. Youth National Team experience including standout Mallory Pugh (U.S. Women's National Team).

In Payne's final nine years with Real Colorado, he won the United States Youth Soccer Association (USYSA) National Title and eight of his teams qualified for the national finals in the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) and U.S. Soccer Academy League. The Real Colorado girls program earned three top 10 national rankings, including No. 5 in the ECNL in 2014. The club sent over 450 players to the college level during his tenure while winning 44 state cups and seven regional championships.

Prior to his time at Real Colorado, Payne also spent four seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Coastal Carolina. The Chanticleers claimed back-to-back Big South regular season titles in his final two years thanks to a 23-9-2 record during that span.

Payne remains one of the top players in Coastal Carolina history (1992-95) as his 123 career points ranks third all-time in the school record book, while his 46 goals and 31 assists both stand at fourth. He made two NCAA appearances, was an All-American candidate and a two-time First Team South Region honoree. Payne was captain of the Chanticleers for three years of his tenure, earning Big South MVP in 1995 on their way to the conference title. He graduated from Coastal Carolina in 1996 with a degree in business management.

From 1996-98, Payne was a professional soccer player in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and captained the team to a league championship in 1997.

Payne holds a USSF A-Senior License.

Coaching Experience

1998-2000

Assistant Men's Soccer Coach, Coastal Carolina

2000-02

Assistant Coach, Raleigh Express (USL-A League)

2002-15

Technical Director, Real Colorado

2015-17

Associate Head Coach, Texas Tech

2019-present

Head Coach, Elon

Playing Experience

1992-95 (Division I)

- Led the Chanticleers to the Sweet 16 in the 1992 NCAA Tournament

- His 123 career points ranks third all-time in the school record book, while his 46 goals and 31 assists both stand at fourth

- Led the Chanticleers to two NCAA tournament appearances

- Was an All-American candidate and a two-time First Team South Region honoree.

- Was captain of the Chanticleers for three years of his tenure

- Earned Big South MVP in 1995 on their way to the conference title

- Was a four-year letterwinner at Coastal Carolina

- Graduated from Coastal Carolina in 1996 with a degree in business management

1996-98 (Professional)

- Played professionally for Myrtle Beach in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

- Captained the squad to a league championship in 1997