Lamine Balde is entering his second season in 2025 as an assistant coach of the men's soccer program.
Lafayette finished with an 8-6-4 record in Balde’s first season on College Hill and it was the only Patriot League team to boast a winning record. The former Bethany standout served as the team’s goalkeeper coach in addition to his general responsibilities. Balde oversaw the successes of goalkeeper Griffin Huff in his senior campaign. The Corning, N.Y. native paced the conference in goals against average (1.00) and was named an All-Patriot League Third Team selection at the end of the season. Huff was also named to the All-Atlantic Region Second Team. Balde recently traveled to the United Kingdom and completed a multiple-day training module to obtain his Football Association of Wales UEFA B Diploma in addition to his US Soccer National B License that he earned in 2023.
Balde comes to College Hill after serving as the head coach of Elmira College, a division three program in Elmira, N.Y. During his three years at the helm, Balde amassed an overall record of 26-22-8 and went undefeated in conference last season (5-0-3). The Soaring Eagles secured the top spot of the Empire 8 tournament and took home the silverware after a double-overtime win in the semifinal round against Hartwick and a 4-2 victory on penalty kicks against St. John Fisher in the final.
The 2023 season was Elmira's first NCAA Tournament berth in program history and Balde became the second-ever Elmira men's soccer coach to be named the Doug May Conference Coach of the Year.
Prior to his career in New York, Balde spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Washington & Jefferson College, helping the Presidents win back-to-back PAC championships in the fall of 2019 and the spring of 2021. Over his tenure in Washington, he coached 16 all-conference players and two all-region selections.
Balde's collegiate coaching career began at his alma mater Bethany College in 2015 in a graduate assistant role. He spent two seasons in West Virginia and was tasked with planning training sessions, breaking down film and scheduling study groups to encourage academic success.
Balde was a two-time all-conference selection during his playing career at Bethany. He concluded his senior season with nine goals, six assists and 24 points in 18 matches started. He then spent four years in the NPSL (National Premier Soccer League) playing for the Fort Pitt Regiment. During the 2014 and 2015 seasons, Balde was the Regiment's leading goal scorer. In the summer of 2016, Balde made his way onto the Indy Eleven's roster.
In 2015, Balde graduated from Bethany College with a bachelor's degree in sports management. After graduation, Balde went on to earn a master's degree in teaching in May of 2017.
Updated 5/27/25
