A life-long resident of the Augusta, Georgia area, Coach Forrest Wimberly joined the Emmanuel College Women's Soccer program in April of 2010.

In his first season the Lions posted a 7-9-2 record just narrowing missing out on an NAIA Southern States Athletic Conference playoff berth with a 3-3-1 mark.  The Lions won their NCCAA playoff match over North Greenville and advanced to the NCCAA South regional tournament where eventual national runner-up Palm Beach Atlantic eliminated the Lions.  "We bonded together during a stretch of games in September and raised the standard of our program," said Wimberly.  "We created a new mindset and a strong commitment to being excellent in all that we do"

The 2010 team was voted the SSAC Champion of Character Team Award winner and awarded both the NSCAA Team Ethics award (Bronze Level with 10 yellow cards and no red cards in all 2010 games) and the NSCAA Team Academic Award (team GPA of 3.1).

In 2011 the Lions posted a 8-10-1 record advancing to the NCCAA South Region semi-finals where the Lions tied SWU 1-1 before missing out on advancing falling 3-1 in the penalty kick tiebreaker. The 2011 team posted a program-first win over SWU during the regular season and notched a big win over nationally ranked Faulkner.  The team repeated as an NSCAA Team Academic Award winner (3.05 GPA) and was honored to have Alexis Schultz named the NCCAA South Region Player of the Year...the first-ever regional player of the year for EC soccer.  "2011 was an incredible year where we blended our 14 freshmen with our 14 returning players to form a very strong, deep team," said Wimberly.  "We set records for goals scored, shots taken, historic wins, and wins in a row (5 to open the season).  The foundation is now set...and from this point forward we have a clear, distinct brand of EC women's soccer."

Wimberly brought over 13 years of club, high school, and college soccer coaching experience to the program and competed himself at the college level for Augusta State University.  "My time working at Augusta Prep with Doug Williamson and at Newberry College with Juan Pablo Favero really shaped my coaching style," continued Wimberly.  "Add to those experiences five years of summer camp at Penn State with Barry Gorman and I can count three coaching geniuses as my soccer mentors. I am the coach I am today because these three coaches invested in me and took the time to teach me how to teach the game."

Wimberly is the holder of the NSCAA Premier Diploma, the US Soccer Federation National C License, and the USSF National Goalkeeper License.  Wimberly has served as an associate staff coach with the NSCAA instructing goalkeeper courses around the region.

A defender during his playing days, Wimberly prefers a wide-open, free-flowing style of attack in his team.  "I want us to defend just long enough for us to regain the ball," said Wimberly.  "We spend 90% of our effort in training dedicated to attacking soccer.  We defend not to just prevent goals but more importantly to constantly supply our attacking style of play."

2012 should be another exciting campaign as the Lions open a new stadium on campus and welcome new players from across Georgia and internationally from Australia.

"I am very excited about the balance we've created in our program," continued Wimberly.  "The players did an incredible job on the field, in the classroom, and in the community last fall.  We've worked soccer camps for the Royston Housing Authority, partnered with Royston UMC for their mobile food pantry distribution, and are actively raising funds to offer several free soccer camps this summer to under-served areas.  Our soccer program is more than just a sports team...it is a connection we're using to share Christ's love in our community."

Wimberly lives in Royston with his wife and three children.