Chickasha, Okla. - After 18 years as an assistant coach at USAO, Tony Orsi was named head coach of the men’s soccer program in July. Last season, Orsi was named associate head coach along with Jimmy Hampton and now he takes the lead role, looking to continue the program’s rich history of success.
So far, he is off to a tremendous start, as the Drovers conclude non-conference play with a 4-1-3 record, including a top 10 win on the road at No. 9 ranked Bellevue University.
Orsi brings nearly 20 years of coaching experience, from developing youth players at the club level to leading two high school programs as head coach, all while serving as an assistant at USAO.
His career began at Chickasha High School in 2006, when he was hired as head coach straight out of college. Orsi said those early years were full of lessons.
“When you’re young you want to reinvent the wheel,” Orsi said. “You don’t realize there’s a pattern in how to do things, so every day I was learning along with my team.”
He has been on the USAO coaching staff since 2007, helping lead the men's soccer team to an incredible win-loss record of 239-103-25 (.655). Throughout his 18 seasons, the Drovers have claimed 10 Sooner Athletic Conference championships (regular season and tournament), and they have made seven appearances in the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship tournament.
Preseason begins in early August, but recruiting often starts while the previous season is still underway. For the 2025-26 team, Orsi brought in 48 new players to join 15 returners, a sign of how much work went into this recruiting class.
A new core of players means building a new culture. During preseason, Orsi has emphasized hard work and identity.
“We graduated some good players from last season, but if the class we brought in plays well and stays healthy we should have a good three or four years with this group,” Orsi said.
“During preseason I want us to establish an identity. Get the new guys playing together and get better every day. I want to make it look like it makes sense early, so we aren’t playing accidental soccer.”
Orsi said the most difficult part of the job is creating a competitive but supportive culture.
“I think the hardest part is trying to create a team culture and a competitive environment,” he said. “It’s special when you get a group that can compete all week and then be the biggest fan of the guy playing over him on game day.”
With so many newcomers, Orsi said USAO will invest more in its reserve team as well as the varsity. The reserves will play a 15-game season and two tournaments.
“Having a strong reserve side is good because that makes everyone in the program compete that much harder,” Orsi said. “The goal is to have a good reserve team so you don’t have to do much recruiting, because you’ve got guys in the reserves who are good — they just need some time to develop.”
Being a head coach carries a lot of weight and puts a lot of responsibility on you. Orsi said he views that as part of the privilege.
“Obviously as head coach the onus falls on you now,” he said. “The wins, the losses will now be on my record. I guess you could say the pressure is a privilege. If there’s not pressure, that would mean people aren’t expecting much out of you.”
“As far as pressure goes, I don’t think there will be much. I expect way more out of myself than anyone else does. I’m trying to live up to my standard and be more than what I think the baseline is.”
With a brand-new roster and few returners, expectations are uncertain. Still, Orsi sees positives in the unknown.
“It’s good and bad having new players,” Orsi said. “With all these new people, they don’t know what they don’t know. Going on the road to a really tough opponent, they don’t know it’s tough. They aren’t always afraid because they’ve never been there. We’ll probably win one or two we aren’t supposed to and lose some we shouldn’t. But by the end of the season I’d love to have two groups competing for a conference title.”
The ultimate goal over time, Orsi said, is to win the conference championship, earn a national ranking and qualify for the national tournament.
“We’ve been to the conference final in three of the last five years, so it’s about getting over that hump however we have to,” he said.
Orsi added that part of building culture is instilling pride in being a Drover. That pride in being a Drover is what Orsi believes will bring success to the program for years to come.
“If you’re on time you’re late. Your hands are in every aspect of the program — training, playing games, lining the fields, carrying trash to the dumpster, filling water jugs, maybe helping us fertilize the field. Being a Drover is taking pride in everything because you put your hands into everything.”
“Being a Drover means you’re fully invested in the program, making yourself more than just a player or a student. It’s all hands on deck and nobody is too good to do something. It makes you appreciate it more. When you’re invested, it really helps people want to win for the team because you care more.”