Student director keeps WVU men’s soccer moving on and off pitch

Ben Lohmann, director of operations for the WVU men's soccer program, is responsible for keeping the team and season flowing with behind-the-scenes responsibilities, while also juggling being a full-time sport management student. (WVU Photo/Brian Persinger)

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When Ben Lohmann reflects on the whirlwind journey that led him to becoming the director of operations for the West Virginia Universitymen's soccer team, he traces it back to a lifetime spent around the game.

At 21 years old, Lohmann oversees the intricate, behind-the-scenes logistics for one of the University's most competitive athletic programs. His career, still in its introductory phase, is built on a combination of hometown pride, organization, and a willingness to embrace the unexpected. In a world where fans only see the final score, Lohmann helps facilitate the details that make the game possible.

A Morgantown native with a deep-rooted love for WVU, Lohmann grew up playing nearly every sport available to a kid, from basketball and baseball to hockey. Yet soccer, a sport he's played for his entire life so far, has always been his anchor. Standing taller than his peers and deeply inspired by his father, Dan, who played through high school and college, he naturally gravitated toward goalkeeper.

"My dad was a goalkeeper, so growing up, he recommended it to me," Lohmann said. "He never forced me to do it or anything, but I had an attraction to it because I wanted to be like him. I was tall and I wasn't fast, so I was either goalkeeper or center back."

Lohmann, a junior sport management major, grew up playing soccer and fell in love with the sport at a young age. (WVU Photo/Brian Persinger)

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Growing up in an area with a strong soccer system, his passion for the sport naturally fused with a loyalty to WVU.

A chance encounter with WVU goalkeeper coach Nick Noble - whose football season tickets at Milan Puskar Stadium happened to be directly behind Lohmann's family - eventually opened a door he didn't know existed. After introducing himself during a game, Lohmann began taking private training lessons with Noble.

When the time came to enroll at WVU, Lohmann knew his competitive playing days were behind him, but he wasn't ready to walk away from the pitch. He reached out to Noble, offering to help the program in any capacity. By the summer leading into his freshman year in 2024, he walked into the soccer offices and was officially brought on as a student manager.

"Ben epitomizes the type of culture we strive to have in our program," Noble said. "His dedication to the program and selfless personality have made him an integral part of our staff and of the program."

Lohmann helps out at practices, sometimes filling in as a goalkeeper, a position he played in high school in Morgantown. (WVU Photo/Brian Persinger)

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At the time, the program was riding high, coming off a historic run to the College Cup.

Lohmann entered a locker room with elite expectations, and he quickly found a mentor in the departing director of operations, Scottie Newman. Newman, a graduate student who worked his way up through equipment and managerial roles, took Lohmann under his wing. He taught Lohmann the ropes of Division I athletics logistics, even taking him on a few road trips to experience the reality of travel management.

When Newman graduated, a massive void opened in the support staff. Head coach Dan Stratford had been watching the young manager's quiet dedication and realized Lohmann was already operating well ahead of his years.

"Ben has been an outstanding addition to our staff, going from student manager to director of operations at a rate of knots," Stratford said. "This was a reflection of his fantastic work ethic and clear investment into the program's mission. Ben is a huge part of our success and a part of the family."

For Lohmann, the promotion meant adapting to high stakes demands, transitioning from a helpful hand to the primary coordinator of team movements.

"That's how that came about, kind of thrown into the fire," Lohmann said. "It was like the season was just starting and all of a sudden, I was getting emails asking about itineraries and away guides. And I was like, 'OK, here we go.'"

The men's soccer program uses tech at practice, which Lohmann helps handle and record. (WVU Photo/Brian Persinger)

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Now a junior, Lohmann manages a workload that is often reserved for a full-time salaried staff member at other major universities.

Because of the unique structure of the WVU coaching staff, which utilizes its fourth full-time slot for a technical director, Lohmann operates in a student capacity. He logs hours at his desk, managing hotel blocks, bus charters, meals, and compliance itineraries, all while balancing a full schedule of upper-level coursework.

To meet all of the demands on his time, Lohmann relies on the flexible and practical structure of the sport management program in the WVU College of Applied Human Sciences. Rather than confining students strictly to traditional classroom instruction, the program's professors actively promote real-world experience.

"I've had great professors the last couple of years and they've been excited that I'm in this position," Lohmann said. "They really want to see us have real-world experience."

Lohmann said he is thankful for the opportunities soccer has allowed him to have as a WVU student. (WVU Photo/Brian Persinger)

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Though his schedule leaves no room to play competitive club soccer on campus, Lohmann still finds small ways to keep his feet on the pitch. Whenever a goalkeeper gets nicked up or a drill requires an extra pair of hands, he gladly steps back into the net during practice to face shots from the roster he helps manage.

His relentless hustle through the grind of operations is fueled entirely by a quiet dedication to the program's overarching mission. He touches nearly every logistical aspect of game day, working behind the scenes to ensure when the whistle blows, the Mountaineers are in the best position they can be.