ATLANTA- Dylan Gaither, Oglethorpe University men's soccer assistant coach, has accepted a role as the top assistant at Mercer University, announced head coach Jon Akin. Robbie Bruce will take over as Oglethorpe's top assistant while Ross Finnie has also been added to the Stormy Petrel staff.
Gaither returns to his Alma Mater where he had an outstanding playing career that included two-time all-region selections and SoCon freshman of the year honors in 2019. He helped coach the Petrels during the 2025 season after a brief stint with Mercer following his graduation.
Bruce will take over in his second season and becomes the top assistant for the Petrels upon Gaither's departure. Bruce joined the staff in 2025 from Saginaw Valley State University, where he was both a player and an assistant coach.
Gaither joins a long list of outstanding assistant coaches who moved on from Oglethorpe to high-level positions in the coaching world. This list includes the following.
- Keylor Reyes – Current Costa Rican National Team Staff
- Josh Bronstorph- University of South Carolina
- Ryan Roushandel – San Antonio USL Staff | Tampa Bay United
- Bert Leonard – Tormenta FC USL
- Tony McManus – Division I University of Memphis Associate Head Coach
- Blake Reynolds – Fort Hayes State Head Coach
- Kevin Sawcheck – USL 1 Legacy FC Assistant Coach
- Gabriel Chapman – FIFA Agent and Owner of Inspired XI
- Nate Getman – Georgia Southwestern Assistant Coach | Memphis Goalkeeper Coach
- Barat Killian – Rush Alaska Director of Coaching
- Carter Sadin – University of Central Florida Director of Operations
- Dylan Gaither – Mercer University Top Assistant Coach
