HPU MSOC: Rashid Tetteh Signs Pro Contract With New Mexico United

HIGH POINT, N.C. – After helping his side to its first ever appearance in the NCAA Championship Tournament in 2018, High Point University’s Rashid Tetteh becomes the first of this year’s graduating men’s soccer class to sign a pro contract. The former Panther defender put pen to paper this week, signing a contract with tier two club New Mexico United of the USL Championship league.

Tetteh will see some familiar faces once in Albuquerque, reuniting with former HPU teammate and defender Austin Yearwood. The former Panther just recently made the move to United at the start December, making the transition from his previous club Richmond Kickers on a free transfer. Overlapping a single year at High Point, Tetteh and Yearwood helped lead the Panthers to the Big South tournament final, before falling to top-ranked Winthrop 3-1 in PKs. The pair amounted for half of a back-four that kept opponents to under a goal per game and recorded eight shutouts over the course of the year.

With this week’s signing, Tetteh becomes the 12th Panther in the Division I era to sign a professional contract upon graduation, and he will be one of at least four former Panthers to compete in the second-highest tier of American soccer next year. In addition to Yearwood, Tetteh can expect to see former teammate Ebe Kudolo (currently unsigned) over the course of the season, and will matchup against previous HPU striker Shane Malcolm when United faces Colorado Switchbacks FC in May.

“We are excited for Rashid to take the next step in his soccer carer. He’s a talented young man with great character,” says Head Coach EJ O’Keeffe. “He had a wonderful career during his time here at HPU. It speaks volumes about where our program is, routinely producing professional players here at High Point. We look forward to Rash having success as he embarks on his professional career with New Mexico United. He will always be a part of our HPU soccer family.”

A three-time All-Conference selection, and 2017’s Big South Defensive Player of the Year, Tetteh leaves High Point as one of the most decorated defenders in the school’s history. During his time as a Panther, the Ghana-native made a total of 69 appearances on the HPU backline over four years as a starter and is a member of the only HPU graduating class in history to win back-to-back Big South regular season titles.

Forming in just the past year, United prepares for its first season in the USL Championship in 2019, opening the campaign against Fresno FC on March 9th in Albuquerque. Tetteh is one of 13 confirmed offseason signings for the newly generated club, and becomes the first player in the franchise’s history to sign with New Mexico straight out of college.