Temple University Athletics
O'Connor Promoted To Head Coach Of Women's Soccer
6.14.13 | Women's Soccer
PHILADELPHIA— Following a two-year stint as the assistant coach for the Temple women's soccer team, Seamus O'Connor has been promoted as the program's newest head coach, as announced by Interim Director of Athletics Kevin Clark on Friday afternoon. O'Connor replaces Matt Gwilliam, who resigned to take a position on the coaching staff at Colorado College.
"We are really excited about elevating Coach O'Connor to be our new head coach,” Clark said. “His passion for Temple, the game and our women's soccer program is unparalleled. We are looking forward to a bright future with Coach O'Connor at the helm."
O'Connor, a native of Galway, Ireland and graduate of Athlone Institute of Technology held the role of Director of Soccer for three seasons at Chestnut Hill before arriving at North Broad Street in 2011. He becomes the fifth head coach in the 23-year history of the women's soccer program at Temple University and will lead the team in its first season as a member of the new American Athletic Conference this upcoming fall.
“I am so honored to have an opportunity to be a head coach at such an amazing institution like Temple University,” O'Connor said. “I would like to thank Kevin Clark, [Senior Associate AD/Senior Woman Administrator] Kristen Foley and the search committee for showing confidence in me to lead the women's soccer program.”
“I started this journey two years ago with Matt Gwilliam and I look forward to building on the great work he put in. When I moved here from Ireland 14 years ago, one of the first sporting events I attended was a Temple men's soccer game and since then my dream was to become a head coach at Temple University. I am so proud to have achieved that dream.”
Under Gwilliam, O'Connor helped mentor the team to five shutouts in his first season with the Owls, which was the most by a Temple team since 1995. Last season, he would help coach the Owls' defensive unit to be even more impermeable, as it surpassed the previous season's mark by nailing down seven shutouts, which helped the Cherry and White to the eighth-best save percentage in the nation (.875).
While serving as the program's recruiting coordinator, O'Connor has been credited with adding 25 players to the roster over the last two years—including the 10 that will make their collegiate debut this upcoming fall.
In the time he has already spent with the Cherry and White, the program has demonstrated success in the classroom, leading it to a pair of NSCAA Academic Awards.
O'Connor, has mentored three all-conference honorees during his time with the Owls, including three-time All-Atlantic 10 selection Niki Conn, a senior forward on the 2011 squad. Among the 15 freshmen from the 2012 recruiting class, which was the most rookies on a Division I team in 2012, defender Erin Lafferty and goalkeeper Shauni Kerkhoff were named to the A-10 All-Rookie team.
Temple will open its first season under the direction of first-year head coach Seamus O'Connor on Aug. 23 when the Owls visit NJIT at 7:00 p.m.
FOR TRANSACTIONS: Temple names Seamus O'Connor head women's soccer coach.
"We are really excited about elevating Coach O'Connor to be our new head coach,” Clark said. “His passion for Temple, the game and our women's soccer program is unparalleled. We are looking forward to a bright future with Coach O'Connor at the helm."
O'Connor, a native of Galway, Ireland and graduate of Athlone Institute of Technology held the role of Director of Soccer for three seasons at Chestnut Hill before arriving at North Broad Street in 2011. He becomes the fifth head coach in the 23-year history of the women's soccer program at Temple University and will lead the team in its first season as a member of the new American Athletic Conference this upcoming fall.
“I am so honored to have an opportunity to be a head coach at such an amazing institution like Temple University,” O'Connor said. “I would like to thank Kevin Clark, [Senior Associate AD/Senior Woman Administrator] Kristen Foley and the search committee for showing confidence in me to lead the women's soccer program.”
“I started this journey two years ago with Matt Gwilliam and I look forward to building on the great work he put in. When I moved here from Ireland 14 years ago, one of the first sporting events I attended was a Temple men's soccer game and since then my dream was to become a head coach at Temple University. I am so proud to have achieved that dream.”
Under Gwilliam, O'Connor helped mentor the team to five shutouts in his first season with the Owls, which was the most by a Temple team since 1995. Last season, he would help coach the Owls' defensive unit to be even more impermeable, as it surpassed the previous season's mark by nailing down seven shutouts, which helped the Cherry and White to the eighth-best save percentage in the nation (.875).
While serving as the program's recruiting coordinator, O'Connor has been credited with adding 25 players to the roster over the last two years—including the 10 that will make their collegiate debut this upcoming fall.
In the time he has already spent with the Cherry and White, the program has demonstrated success in the classroom, leading it to a pair of NSCAA Academic Awards.
O'Connor, has mentored three all-conference honorees during his time with the Owls, including three-time All-Atlantic 10 selection Niki Conn, a senior forward on the 2011 squad. Among the 15 freshmen from the 2012 recruiting class, which was the most rookies on a Division I team in 2012, defender Erin Lafferty and goalkeeper Shauni Kerkhoff were named to the A-10 All-Rookie team.
Temple will open its first season under the direction of first-year head coach Seamus O'Connor on Aug. 23 when the Owls visit NJIT at 7:00 p.m.
FOR TRANSACTIONS: Temple names Seamus O'Connor head women's soccer coach.
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