Anderson University

Tapia was elevated to associate head coach in March 2024, after four years as assistant with the Trojans. He and Head Coach Michael Zion were named the United Soccer Coaches Southeast Regional Staff of the Year in 2025.

2025
Anderson had nearly their best season in program history, starting the season with 12-straight unbeaten and going 11-2-6 overall and 7-1-2 in league play to win the regular season title for only the second time. The league record was the best by the Trojans since they went 9-0 in 2011.The top-seeded Trojans received a league-leading nine All-SAC honorees, and senior goalkeeper Franco Antoniolli Funes was named the 2025 Defensive Player of the Year. Nine selections mark the best post-season honors in program history. AU also earned four two-time All-Region selections, and Head Coach Michael Zion was named SAC Coach of the Year.

The Trojans finished the regular season with a +20 goal differential, ranking first in the SAC and 16th in the NCAA. Finishing 18th in the NCAA in team goals against average, Anderson allowed only 11 goals across 15 matches, the least amount in the league this season and fewest conceded by the Trojans since 2011. Offensively, Anderson scored a league-leading 31 regular season goals, averaging 2.07 goals per game—a stat that ranks 1st in the SAC and 30th in the NCAA. Concluding the regular season, Anderson led the conference in assists per game, goal differential, points per game, save percentage, scoring offense, shot accuracy, SOG per game, team GAA, total assists, total goals, total points and win percentage.

After a penalty shootout loss to Lenoir-Rhyne in the SAC semifinals, AU earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the 7-seed in Super Region II. The Trojans traveled to Lynn to face SAC opponent 10-seed Lincoln Memorial, AU's only loss of the season. Anderson avenged the regular season loss, defeating LMU in penalties to advance to the Second Round, where they ultimately fell 2-0 to reigning National Champions, Lynn.

2024
The 2024 season opened with the Black and Gold selected to finish 7th in the SAC Preseason Poll and ended with the Trojans finishing 3rd in the league and hosting the opening round of the conference tournament. Anderson had six named to SAC All-Conference Teams following the season, the most since 2011. 

Tapia aided Zion in leading the Trojans to a 7-4 SAC record, boasting an impressive 4-1 line for road competitions. AU kicked off the season with a 1-1 tie against No. 11 Barry on home turf, before falling to Converse in the squads’ inaugural matchup. Anderson went on to then win three-straight, including back-to-back games of superior offensive showings—6-1 win over Emory & Henry and 5-1 victory over Montevallo. The season was also highlighted by back-to-back road wins over ranked SAC opponents, as the Trojans defeated No. 17 Wingate 2-1 in North Carolina and No. 21 LMU 3-1 in Tennessee. Anderson rounded out the regular season with four-straight SAC wins, including three consecutive shutouts. Earning a three-seed in the SAC Tournament, AU hosted LR for the Quarterfinals, but fell 1-0 in the final second of the game. 

2023
The Trojans went 7-6-3 in the 2023 season, highlighted by a 3-2 victory over No. 3 Barry on the road to open the season. Anderson then went on to start the conference campaign with wins over Carson-Newman and No. 22 Lincoln Memorial—their first win over the Railsplitters since 2019. AU picked up more SAC wins against Emory & Henry, Catawba and Newberry to finish 5-4-3 in league play and earn a 5-seed slot in the SAC Tournament. LMU avenged their loss to the Trojans from earlier in the season to conclude Anderson’s season in the SAC Quarterfinals. Julian Caro Sepulveda, Pol Elias and Franco Antoniolli Funes were named to the SAC All-Conference Teams. 

2022
2022 was a down year for the Black and Gold, who went 5-7-3 overall and 3-5-3 in league play. the Trojans picked up SAC wins over Emory & Henry, Mars Hill and Newberry. Andres Osorio and Joao Martinho were named All-SAC Third-Team.

2021
Anderson put up an impressive 12-4-2 record in the fall of 2021, earning a ranking of No. 15 in the United Soccer Coaches National Poll, and a trip to the SAC Tournament Semifinals. The season was a breakout one for Alexandre Cox-Ashwood who scored 13 goals while dishing out four assists. He was named United Soccer Coaches (USC) National Player of the Week, SAC Astroturf Offensive Player of the Week, USC All-Southeast Region Team, USC Scholar All-Region Team, D2CCA Southeast All-Region First Team, All-SAC First Team, and AU Male Athlete of the Year. Martin Carpena, Harry Ward, and Agustin Ortiz also earned All-SAC honors. The Trojans won seven consecutive games towards the end of the regular season, before falling to Coker in the SAC Semifinals by a score of 1-0.

2020/2021
In an abbreviated 2021 spring season, Anderson earned a third-place regular season finish in the South Atlantic Conference (4-1) and a trip to the SAC Tournament Semifinals. Overall for the season, the Trojans finished with a 5-2-1 record while being ranked as high as No. 22 in the United Soccer Coaches National Poll. Harry Ward, Alexander Cox-Ashwood, and Tevin Lessey were all named to the All-SAC Second Team, while Agustin Ortiz and Andres Osorio were honorable mentions. Goalkeeper Gal Elyashiv was named the SAC Astroturf Defensive Player of the Week on March 24th. For the season, the Trojans had four clean sheets.

Tapia joined the men’s soccer staff as assistant coach in 2020, after spending a season as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Southern Wesleyan University. Tapia has also coached for Daniel High School, as well as Carolina Elite Soccer Academy. 

Tapia was a four year student athlete.  He spent time at Rogers State University and Eastern Oklahoma State College before transferring to Southern Wesleyan University where he graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education with a concentration in Coaching.  He received a number of awards during his career including: EOSC Most Valuable Player 2015, NJCC First Team All-Region, NCCAA All-Region

Tapia is originally from Vina del Mar, Chile.  Before moving to the states to pursue an academic/athletic career, he spent time with 2SV academy. 

Tapia currently lives in Central, SC and is married to Lydia Tapia.