AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn soccer and head coach James Armstrong announced the addition of Rob McGann to the team’s coaching staff Tuesday.
McGann arrives on The Plains after spending the previous two seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at UTSA. Prior to diving into the college game, he spent over 10 years coaching and developing elite youth talent in Texas with the Albion Hurricanes and Sting Austin and in England with Sheffield United.
“After an extensive search, we found that Rob possessed all of the attributes we were looking for in this position,” Armstrong said. “He has made a massive impact on every program he has worked with. He is a passionate coach with extensive knowledge of the game and an infectious personality, and is able to recruit and develop talent at a very high level.
“He made it very clear early on that he and his family were quite excited about the project we are developing here at Auburn. He will make an immediate impact on each area he touches.”
At Auburn, McGann will primarily be responsible for spearheading the Tigers’ attacking game model and further evolving and coaching the team’s possession philosophy.
“I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to join the Auburn family,” McGann said. “As soon as I stepped on campus, I fell in love and knew this was the place for me. The facilities, the people and the culture are second to none.
“I have a great deal of respect for James and the way he works. His vision for this program is one that I am excited to be a part of and help contribute to the future success of Auburn soccer.”
While in San Antonio, McGann guided the Roadrunners to back-to-back winning seasons, which culminated in the program’s first-ever American Athletic Conference Tournament Championship and third NCAA Tournament berth in 2025. UTSA advanced past No. 3 Memphis in the American semifinals en route to toppling Rice 1-0 in the final to clinch the league title last season.
From 2024-25, McGann saw six players earn All-AAC honors and two earn United Soccer Coaches All-South Region.
During McGann’s time at the club level, he was integral in the placement of numerous athletes to Division I programs that continued through the professional ranks and youth national system. As the ECNL Director for the Albion Hurricanes, he not only oversaw the team selection process for the club’s highly competitive squads but also recruited, evaluated and managed the entire Girls Elite coaching staff.
McGann was the head coach of the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) AHFC Royals team during the summers. He helped guide the team to a Red River Championship, Texas Triangle Championship, and a pair of Franchise of the Year awards.
Initially taking his career to the British Army, McGann used the opportunity to learn from organizing battalion communications and schedule planning with British Army Generals during his tour of duty in Afghanistan. In addition, he also represented the British Army Football Team before moving on to Sheffield Hallam University to study sport development with coaching, where he went on to graduate top of his class.
McGann’s first career move after graduation was to Texas, taking over as the Academy Director at Sting Austin Soccer Club. The following year, McGann also added the role of coaching the Sting’s ECNL team, spending three years working with the high-level club.
In his youth, McGann played for Leicester City Youth Academy and went on to compete semi-professionally in the English Northern and Southern Premier Leagues. McGann joined the coaching ranks while in college, working with Sheffield United Football Club as a Professional Talent Identification Scout, Performance Analyst and U18 Professional Development Assistant, helping the club to two Youth Premier League Championships.
McGann is a native of Sheffield, England. He is married to Domonique McGann. The couple has one three-year-old son, Henry, and is expecting to welcome a daughter in February.