Steve Axtell enters his 14th year as Cortland’s men’s soccer head coach in 2025 with an overall record of 170-57-24 (.725). Axtell has led the Red Dragons to eight NCAA Division III tournaments since 2014, including six trips to the "Sweet 16" during that stretch.
Axtell was named SUNYAC Coach of the Year and ECAC North Coach of the Year, and his staff was chosen as the NSCAA East Region Coaching Staff of the Year, in 2016. Axtell and his assistants earned United Soccer Coaches Region 3 Coaching Staff of the Year and SUNYAC Coaching Staff of the Year awards in both 2021 and 2023.
Cortland advanced to the NCAA "Sweet 16" three straight years from 2021-23 in addition to 2014, 2016 and 2018. The Red Dragons won SUNYAC tournament titles under Axtell in 2016, 2021, 2023, and 2024 and were league runner-up in 2013, 2014 and 2018.
In 2024, Cortland earned its second straight SUNYAC tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Div. III playoffs for the fourth straight year, finishing tied for 33rd nationally with a 15-3-6 record. Cortland had three players earn All-America honors and four players were named to the all-region teams, while six players were All-SUNYAC selections, including the Defensive Player of the Year.
Cortland finished 19-3 and set school records for victories and shutouts (14) in 2016. The 2021 squad finished 18-3-1, the 2022 team went 13-6-3 and the 2023 Red Dragons finished 16-3-3. Axtell also guided Cortland to 17 wins in 2018 and 16 wins in 2014, and his 2017 squad won 16 games and advanced to the NCAA second round.
Axtell was named the head coach in June 2012 after serving as interim head coach for five months and as an assistant coach for the Red Dragons in 2010 and 2011. He also was a volunteer student assistant coach during the 2007 season.
A goalkeeper for the Red Dragons for three seasons (2006, 2008-09), Axtell earned All-SUNYAC honors in 2008 and appeared in 39 career games with nine shutouts. He earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology in 2008 and obtained a master’s degree in exercise science in 2014.
A native of Franklin, N.Y., Axtell holds a Premier Diploma and an Advanced National Goalkeeping Diploma from the NSCAA with Distinguished Pass. He was appointed to the NSCAA National Staff, which makes him both a National Staff member as well as Associate National Goalkeeping Staff for the NSCAA. He teaches NSCAA coaching courses throughout the Northeast and directs the Goalkeeper College ID Camps at the University of Connecticut during the summer.
Axtell also is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and has received a conditioning for soccer diploma from the International Coaches Association. He is the founder and director of the OnePlus Soccer Academy in Ithaca, N.Y., which features teams ranging from U8 to U18, residential camps and clinics. The Academy does the training for various soccer clubs in the area, has a goalkeeping academy and conducts coaching education clinics throughout the year. Part of the organization is a non-profit club that holds grassroots programs for young players at no cost throughout New York state.
Besides assisting with both the men’s and women’s soccer programs at Cortland, Axtell has served as the head coach of the Central Region scholastic soccer team at the Empire State Games. He has acted as director of soccer at Camp Winadu in Mass. for two years and Ithaca MicroSoccer for one year. In April 2013, Axtell was named to the ODP Region-1 Staff as its goalkeeper coach.
Axtell and his wife, Heidi, the Cortland women’s soccer head coach, currently reside in Tully with their daughter Allie and Heidi's daughters Mari and Kenzie.
updated 5/21/2025
