Staff Directory
Soto, Anthony
Anthony Soto
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
(Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
- Alma Mater:
- UC Davis, 2012
- Office Phone:
- (478) 301-4601
- Email:
A 12-year coaching veteran with previous stops at four other collegiate institutions, Anthony Soto begins his second year at Mercer in 2025-26 as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Bears. Soto joined the coaching staff in Macon in January 2024 after spending the previous four years in a similar role at Lenoir-Rhyne.
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The Bears thrived under Soto’s leadership in 2024, averaging more than 400 yards and 33 points per game behind a balanced offense that was anchored by senior transfer Dwayne McGee who shattered the school’s single-season rushing record with 1,187 yards on the ground. The Orange & Black recorded 400 or more yards of offense four times and ranked 10th, nationally, in red zone offense with an 89.8 percent success rate. MU also paced the 9-team Southern Conference with a 145.79 team passing efficiency rating as well.
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Soto created offensive fireworks across four seasons at Lenoir-Rhyne as the Bears averaged 433.9 yards of total offense per game with him at the reins, including 240.5 yards an outing through the air. The Bears showcased NCAA Division II’s 5th-best total offense (488.7 yards/game) in his first full season (non-pandemic) on the sidelines, as well as the nation’s 9th-best rushing offense. L-R exhibited impeccable ball protection under his watch as well, turning the ball over just 50 times in four seasons, including just 10 turnovers (two fumbles) across the 15-game 2023 campaign.
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Soto played an integral role in leading the Bears to a 32-9 record from 2020-23, as well as the 2023 South Atlantic Conference championship and a trio of league divisional titles. L-R capped the latter campaign, one which included the school's first NCAA postseason road victory and a run to the NCAA quarterfinals, with a No. 4 national ranking as well. Soto’s offensive players raked in 17 all-conference accolades during his time in Hickory, N.C., including one who was eventually decorated with all-America laurels.
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Prior to his move to North Carolina, Soto skippered the offensive line at Notre Dame (Ohio) for four seasons and was a part of a dominant run for the Falcons. From 2016-19, Notre Dame amassed a cumulative 42-8 (.840) record and a pair of Mountain East Conference championships. The Falcons racked up a 13-1 record and advanced all the way through to the semifinal round to cap the program's first-ever berth into the NCAA postseason in 2018, and returned to the sport's biggest stage the following season on the way to a 12-2 record and a berth into the NCAA quarterfinals.
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Soto’s offensive line played a big part of the success for NDC. The Falcons registered 234.7 yards per game on the ground (5.2 yards/attempt), including a 2018 campaign that saw NDC average 5.8 yards per rush on the way to a 3,700-yard season on the ground (264.6 yards/game). The Falcons also yielded just 29 sacks (1.03/game) across Soto’s last two seasons in South Euclid, Ohio, as well.
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A product of Fresno, Calif., Soto transitioned into the coaching world in 2013 as the wide receivers coach at Hoover High School in Fresno, Calif., then made his way onto the college sidelines as the offensive quality control coach at UC Davis for the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
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Soto played four seasons (2009-12) in the wide receiver rotation at UC Davis, logging 107 career receptions for 1,269 yards. He earned his bachelor’s degree in community & regional development from UC Davis in 2012.
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The Bears thrived under Soto’s leadership in 2024, averaging more than 400 yards and 33 points per game behind a balanced offense that was anchored by senior transfer Dwayne McGee who shattered the school’s single-season rushing record with 1,187 yards on the ground. The Orange & Black recorded 400 or more yards of offense four times and ranked 10th, nationally, in red zone offense with an 89.8 percent success rate. MU also paced the 9-team Southern Conference with a 145.79 team passing efficiency rating as well.
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Soto created offensive fireworks across four seasons at Lenoir-Rhyne as the Bears averaged 433.9 yards of total offense per game with him at the reins, including 240.5 yards an outing through the air. The Bears showcased NCAA Division II’s 5th-best total offense (488.7 yards/game) in his first full season (non-pandemic) on the sidelines, as well as the nation’s 9th-best rushing offense. L-R exhibited impeccable ball protection under his watch as well, turning the ball over just 50 times in four seasons, including just 10 turnovers (two fumbles) across the 15-game 2023 campaign.
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Soto played an integral role in leading the Bears to a 32-9 record from 2020-23, as well as the 2023 South Atlantic Conference championship and a trio of league divisional titles. L-R capped the latter campaign, one which included the school's first NCAA postseason road victory and a run to the NCAA quarterfinals, with a No. 4 national ranking as well. Soto’s offensive players raked in 17 all-conference accolades during his time in Hickory, N.C., including one who was eventually decorated with all-America laurels.
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Prior to his move to North Carolina, Soto skippered the offensive line at Notre Dame (Ohio) for four seasons and was a part of a dominant run for the Falcons. From 2016-19, Notre Dame amassed a cumulative 42-8 (.840) record and a pair of Mountain East Conference championships. The Falcons racked up a 13-1 record and advanced all the way through to the semifinal round to cap the program's first-ever berth into the NCAA postseason in 2018, and returned to the sport's biggest stage the following season on the way to a 12-2 record and a berth into the NCAA quarterfinals.
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Soto’s offensive line played a big part of the success for NDC. The Falcons registered 234.7 yards per game on the ground (5.2 yards/attempt), including a 2018 campaign that saw NDC average 5.8 yards per rush on the way to a 3,700-yard season on the ground (264.6 yards/game). The Falcons also yielded just 29 sacks (1.03/game) across Soto’s last two seasons in South Euclid, Ohio, as well.
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A product of Fresno, Calif., Soto transitioned into the coaching world in 2013 as the wide receivers coach at Hoover High School in Fresno, Calif., then made his way onto the college sidelines as the offensive quality control coach at UC Davis for the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
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Soto played four seasons (2009-12) in the wide receiver rotation at UC Davis, logging 107 career receptions for 1,269 yards. He earned his bachelor’s degree in community & regional development from UC Davis in 2012.
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| THE SOTOÂ FILE | |
| Coaching Experience | |
| 2013 | Hoover (Calif.) High School (Assistant Coach/Wide Receivers) |
| 2014-15 | UC Davis (Offensive Quality Control) |
| 2016-19 | Notre Dame, Ohio (Assistant Coach/Offensive Line) |
| 2020-23 | Lenoir-Rhyne (Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator) |
| 2024-Present | Mercer (Assistant Coach/Wide Receivers) |
| Playing Experience | |
| Played four seasons (2019-12) in the wide receiver rotation at UC Davis. Logged 107 career receptions for 1,269 yards. | |
| Education | |
| Bachelor's degree in community & regional development (UC Davis, 2012). | |
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