We are pleased to announce that defensive midfielder Zacharias Panagiotou will be transferring to the University of Texas at Tyler (UT Tyler). Panagiotou is currently in his first year of studies at the University of Lancaster in the United Kingdom. Before moving to the UK for his studies, Panagiotou made 20 appearances for AEZ Zakakiou in the Cyprus Second Division.
Although my plan was to continue playing soccer whilst studying in the UK, I quickly realized that its impossible to combine the two in England. I’m very grateful to JSA Scholarships for providing me with the opportunity to continue playing at a high level and cover the cost of my studies with an athletic scholarship - Zacharias Panagiotou
Based in Tyler, Texas, a city two hours drive from Dallas, the nationally ranked university has an enrolment of almost 10,000 students and is part of the University of Texas system. In 2018 the university began transitioning from Division 3 to Division 2. 2021 was their first year as a full-fledged Division 2 member following a mandatory three-year transition period. In anticipation of this transition, the university has invested heavily in facilities and now boasts arguably the best facilities in all of Division 2.
Despite being in Division 2, the men’s soccer facilities rival those of Division 1 programs
The team is led by head coach Kenny Jones, who recently completed his 20th season as the only head coach in the history of The University of Texas at Tyler men’s soccer program. Jones will be looking to emulate the success his program had in Division 3, where the team won 6 conference championships and made 4 national tournament appearances.