{{short description|American soccer coach}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Caleb Roberts | image = | fullname = | birth_date = | birth_place = Plant City, Florida, United States | height = | position = Defender | currentclub = | clubnumber = | collegeyears1 = 2000–2003 | college1 = Florida Southern Moccasins | years1 = 2003–2006 | clubs1 = Charlotte Eagles | caps1 = | goals1 = | years2 = 2005–2009 | clubs2 = Philadelphia KiXX (indoor) | caps2 = 67 | goals2 = 1 | manageryears1 = 2008–2010 | managerclubs1 = Philadelphia Biblical Crimson Eagles | manageryears2 = 2014– | managerclubs2 = Southeastern Fire | manageryears3 = 2016–2023 | managerclubs3 = Florida Tropics SC | club-update = }} '''Clay Roberts''' is the head coach of the Southeastern Fire in Lakeland, Florida<ref>{{cite web|title=Craane, Ivo Dias Sign with Florida Tropics| date=15 February 2017 |url=http://fire.seu.edu/news/2017/2/15/mens-soccer-craane-ivo-dias-sign-with-florida-tropics.aspx?path=msoc|accessdate=4 August 2017}}</ref> and a consultant for the Empire Strykers of the Major Arena Soccer League.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Berndt |first1=Gunnar |title=STRYKERS HEAD COACH WRIGHT BRINGS IN CLAY ROBERTS AS CONSULTANT |url=https://www.theempirestrykers.com/news/clay-roberts-joins-strykers-as-guest-consultant |website=TheEmpireStrykers.com |date=6 January 2024 |publisher=Empire Strykers |access-date=4 June 2024}}</ref> Roberts has also served as Director of Soccer at VSI Tampa Bay FC,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Shopes|first1=Rich|title=Plant City looks to lease stadium for soccer tournaments|url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/plant-city-looks-to-lease-stadium-for-soccer-tournaments/2111535/|access-date=4 August 2017|date=28 March 2013}}</ref> and director of coaching at Brandon FC.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://eu.theledger.com/story/news/2016/05/03/florida-tropics-sc-to-bring-indoor-soccer-to-the-lakeland-center/27137616007/ |last=Fredericksen |first=Brady |title=Florida Tropics SC to bring indoor soccer to The Lakeland |publisher=The Ledger |date=3 May 2016 |access-date=20 August 2024}}</ref>
As a player, Roberts attended Florida Southern College.<ref>{{cite web|title=Carsley and Clingerman Named to All-SSC Men's Soccer Team|url=http://fscmocs.com/sports/msoc/2016-17/releases/20161103k76c1m|accessdate=4 August 2017|date=3 November 2016|archive-date=5 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805055923/http://fscmocs.com/sports/msoc/2016-17/releases/20161103k76c1m|url-status=dead}}</ref> Professionally, he played for the Charlotte Eagles and the Philadelphia KiXX,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phillysoccernews.com/teams/kixx2.php?article_id=3038|title=ROSTER SET KiXX ad four more|accessdate=4 August 2017|date=13 November 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805015554/http://www.phillysoccernews.com/teams/kixx2.php?article_id=3038|archive-date=5 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> where he was a part of their 2007 MISL championship.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bennett Jr|first1=James|title=Tropics coach Roberts signs former teammate playoff push|url=http://www.theledger.com/sports/20170203/tropics-coach-roberts-signs-former-teammate-playoff-push|accessdate=4 August 2017|publisher=Lakeland Ledger|date=3 February 2017}}</ref>
As a coach and administrator, Roberts has been the vice president of the Ocala Stampede in the PDL, the director of VSI, director of Brandon FC, both women's and men's head coach at Philadelphia Biblical University (now Cairn University),<ref>{{cite web|title=PBU CRIMSON EAGLE SOCCER SCHOOL|date=10 December 2009 |url=http://www.cairnhighlanders.com/news/2009/12/10/MSOC_1210090221.aspx|accessdate=4 August 2017}}</ref> the Buxmont Torch FC of the WPSL, and an assistant at Palm Beach Atlantic University.<ref>{{cite web|title=SAILFISH WIN STREAK MOVES TO THREE AS PBA TAKES DOWNS FLORIDA SOUTHERN| date=20 October 2007 |url=http://www.pbasailfish.com/news/2007/10/20/ID_166_131425261916081337_131425261916081337.aspx?path=wtrack|accessdate=4 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=FIRE SOCCER ACADEMY EXCELLENCE THROUGH DEVELOPMENT|url=http://fire-soccer.com/staff/|accessdate=4 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805132249/http://fire-soccer.com/staff/|archive-date=5 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In his first year at Southeastern University, Roberts was named the Sun Conference 2015 soccer coach of the year<ref>{{cite web|title=THE SUN CONFERENCE 2015 MEN'S SOCCER AWARDS ANNOUNCED|url=http://thesunconference.com/news/2015/11/6/MSOC_1106152841.aspx?path=msoc|accessdate=4 August 2017|date=6 November 2015}}</ref> as the team won the school's first-ever conference championship.<ref>{{cite news |last=Beasock |first=Ray |title=Southeastern wins first Sun Conference title in school history |url=https://eu.theledger.com/story/news/2015/11/10/southeastern-wins-first-sun-conference-title-in-school-history/27088731007/ |publisher=The Ledger |date=10 November 2015 |access-date=20 August 2024}}</ref>
Roberts was named the first head coach of the Florida Tropics in the Major Arena Soccer League before the team began play in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=TROPICS ANNOUNCE SIGNINGS FOR UPCOMING SEASON|url=http://www.maslsoccer.com/news/tropics-announce-signings-for-upcoming-season|accessdate=4 August 2017|date=July 27, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/FLTropics/videos/1783778395175144/ |title=Press Conference Live |publisher=Florida Tropics FC |website=www.facebook.com |access-date=20 August 2024}}{{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}</ref>
Roberts again won the Sun Conference Coach of the Year award in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Van Der Luit and Roberts Lead Way in TSC Yearly Honors |url=https://fire.seu.edu/news/2019/11/7/mens-soccer-van-der-luit-and-roberts-lead-way-in-tsc-yearly-honors.aspx |website=Fire.SEU.edu |date=7 November 2019 |publisher=Southeastern University |accessdate=15 April 2020}}</ref> Just months later, Roberts was also honored as Coach of the Year for the Major Arena Soccer League, having led the Florida Tropics to their first winning record and an Eastern Conference Championship with an 18–3 record.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ackley |first1=Brian |title=Clay Roberts named Major Arena Soccer League Coach-of-the-Year |url=https://www.fltropics.com/news/clay-roberts-named-major-arena-soccer-league-coach |website=FLTropics.com |accessdate=15 April 2020}}</ref>
Clay's brother, Cheyne, is also a coach, most recently with the USL Championship's Tampa Bay Rowdies.
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Florida Tropics SC squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roberts, Clay}} Category:Major Indoor Soccer League (2001–2008) players Category:Major Indoor Soccer League (2008–2014) players Category:Charlotte Eagles players Category:Philadelphia KiXX players Category:Cairn University Category:Southeastern Fire men's soccer coaches Category:Florida Southern Moccasins men's soccer players Category:Living people Roberts Roberts Roberts Category:Soccer players from Hillsborough County, Florida Category:Men's association football defenders Category:American men's soccer players Category:Florida Tropics SC Category:Major Arena Soccer League coaches Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:American soccer coaches