NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Tyler Sheikh has been named assistant coach of the Yale men's soccer team as announced by Kylie Stannard, the 5K Corral Head Coach.

Sheikh arrives in New Haven after serving as head coach at Knox College, where he returned in 2025 to lead the program and guide its resurgence. In his first season back, he helped the Prairie Fire post a winning record and recruited an entire incoming class while operating without a full-time assistant coach.

"Tyler is a proud Connecticut native, and he and his family are thrilled to get back to the state and give all-in support to me and the entire program," Stannard said. "He is coming here with genuine humility and gratitude for this opportunity and I'm excited to have his energy and enthusiasm each day."

Prior to his return to Knox, Sheikh spent three years at The Frederick Gunn School as Associate Director of College Counseling and head coach of the boys' varsity soccer team. During his tenure, he guided the program to its first winning season in the modern era and secured landmark victories over several established Founders League opponents. He also served as head coach of the girls' varsity tennis team, leading the program to one of the most successful seasons in school history.

Sheikh previously served as head coach at Bates College from 2018 to 2022. He compiled a winning record while competing in the highly competitive NESCAC, becoming the only men's soccer coach in school history to finish with a career winning percentage above .500. Under his leadership, Bates achieved its highest conference finish in more than a decade, earned regional recognition, and captured notable rivalry trophies, including the CBB title and the Hedley Reynolds Cup. His teams excelled both on the field and in the classroom, consistently maintaining strong academic performance.

"I have always been impressed with Tyler's track record for elevating programs wherever he has been. He has left every program better than when he arrived and each of those programs have huge challenges which shows his ability to recruit well, build cohesive groups, and maximize abilities and resources," Stannard said. "His experience at Bates will be especially valuable in the types of student-athletes we are working with and coaching in the most competitive Division III conference in the country with similarly small margins we face in the Ivy League."

During his first stint at Knox College from 2015 to 2018, Sheikh established one of the most successful stretches in program history. He compiled a 39-10-9 overall record, went undefeated in Midwest Conference regular-season play in both 2016 and 2017, and guided the Prairie Fire to the 2017 conference regular-season championship. His tenure produced an All-American, multiple conference Players of the Year, and numerous all-region and all-conference selections.

Sheikh also served as head coach at Illinois College, where he led the program to its first Midwest Conference Tournament appearance in more than two decades, and at Mount Aloysius College, where he coached both the men's and women's soccer programs. In 2013, he earned Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year honors after guiding the men's team to its first postseason appearance and postseason victory in program history.

In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, Sheikh is the founder and director of The Soccer Lab with Tyler Sheikh, which provides player development opportunities, college identification clinics, and recruiting education for prospective student-athletes and their families.

"I am very appreciative to Coach Stannard for this opportunity and can't wait to meet Team 119 and contribute to a storied program," Shiekh said.

A native of Connecticut, Sheikh earned a master's degree in education from the University of Connecticut's Neag School of Education and a bachelor's degree in history from Quinnipiac University. He holds United Soccer Coaches Master Coach and Soccer Leader distinctions, along with Premier, Advanced National, and National coaching diplomas.