New Staff Announcement Graphic featuring Men's Soccer Head Coach Daniel Whelan, Head Men's and Women's Golf Coach Kyra Plotner, and New Associate Athletic Director/Volleyball Head Coach Jon Campbell

General 6/2/2026 12:00:00 PM By: Cooper Oman - Univ. of Mobile Director of Sports Information & Media Relations

Mobile Athletics Announces New Changes to Coaching Staff for 2026-2027

Rams welcome back a head coach while promoting two others

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of Mobile Athletic Department is happy to announce several changes to the coaching and administrative staff ahead of the 2026-2027 school year. Making his return to the University of Mobile, Daniel Whelan rejoins as the head coach for the Men's Soccer program. Kyra Plotner has officially been promoted from interim to full-time as she continues to lead the Men's and Women's Golf teams. Lastly, Jon Campbell has had the title of Associate Athletic Director of Indoor Facilities added to his responsibilities. These changes represent positive change for the athletic department heading into the upcoming school year, as Mobile looks to improve on a great 2025-2026 year.

Daniel Whelan | Head Coach for Men's Soccer

Daniel Whelan makes his return to one of the biggest men's soccer programs in the NAIA after a one-year head coach stint with Saraland High School. He will look to get the Rams back to the NAIA National Tournament, with the team having missed out on the competition during the 2025 season. During his previous tenure with the Rams, Whelan led the team to two National Championship appearances, six SSAC Regular Season Championships, and two SSAC Tournament Championships while picking up five SSAC Coach of the Year awards.

Having coached men's soccer since 2007, Whelan's coaching career has included stops at Embry-Riddle, Spring Hill College, Saraland High School and the University of Mobile. During his time as an assistant coach for the Rams, the team went 68-32-5 and made four trips to the NAIA National Tournament. Having served as head coach from 2014-2024, the Rams had an impressive record of 161-47-16 under his leadership, something the Rams will be hoping to see continue with his return to the post.

Kyra Plotner | Head Coach for Men's and Women's Golf

Kyra Plotner took over the University of Mobile's Golf programs shortly before the start of the 2025-2026 campaign and made an immediate impact as the men's team won the Fall Men's Skyhawk Invite to start the season. The men's team would also finish second in the 2026 Ram Spring Invite under her leadership. On the women's side, they would have a season best finish of third at the Skyhawks Fall Invitational with Anna King taking home 5th place overall after shooting eight over par during the tournament. With the interim tag now removed, the Rams will look to continue their improvement under her leadership.

A former standout for the UM women's golf team, Plotner played for the Rams from 2015-2018. She returned to the University of Mobile for the 2021-2022 season as the graduate assistant for both the men's and women's teams, where she worked closely with Mobile student-athletes and staff for three seasons. During her playing career with the Rams, she earned SSAC All-Conference honors and was named to the SSAC All-Freshman Team in 2015. She was also recognized as the SSAC Women's Golf Player of the Week twice during the 2017-2018 season. Her experience as both a student-athlete and coach provides valuable insight into the demands of collegiate golf.

Jon Campbell | Associate Athletic Director of Indoor Facilities / Head Coach for Volleyball

Jon Campbell joined the University of Mobile in 2005 as he led the creation of the volleyball program which has gone 515-197 under his leadership and guidance. In 2021, he took on the head coach role for the newly created beach volleyball team and has led that team to an 82-63 record. With his new role as the Associate Athletic Director of Indoor Facilities, he will oversee the daily operations and scheduling of the Pharr Gymnasium as well as other additional responsibilities.

During his time at Mobile, he has won 7 Conference Coach of the Year awards for Volleyball while leading the team to seven Conference Championships. The Volleyball program has been to the NAIA Volleyball National Tournament on eleven occasions with the most recent appearance coming in 2025. In 2024, the Beach Volleyball team made their first ever appearance at the NAIA Beach Volleyball Invitational, picking up a 4-1 win over Webber International during pool play.

FOLLOW THE RAMS

For complete coverage of the University of Mobile Athletics, follow the Rams on social media at /MobileRams (Facebook), @UMobileRams ("X" FKA Twitter), and @umobilerams (Instagram), or visit the official home of the University of Mobile Athletic Department at https://umobilerams.com/.

About the University of Mobile

The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered university pursuing excellence "For Christ & His Kingdom." With a vision to "Multiply Kingdom Leaders for the Glory of God and the Good of the World," the university honors God by equipping students for their future professions in an environment where they are known.

The university was founded in 1961 and is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention. Located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama, on a campus of over 880 acres, UM offers associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Learn more at umobile.edu/um-info and connect with UM on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.

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