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John O’Connor Named Fifth Men’s Soccer Coach
John O’Connor, the winningest soccer coach at the University of Chicago, has been appointed men’s soccer coach at Rhode Island. He brings an impressive resumé to the URI sidelines, including five seasons as an assistant coach at Dartmouth under current Notre Dame head coach and Scottish soccer legend Bobby Clark. O’Connor replaces Ed Bradley, who retired last fall after 17 years on the Rhody sidelines.
“John’s passion for soccer, proven results in developing the infrastructure for program success, and the highest respect he has from former student-athletes, coaching colleagues, and administrators continually impressed us during the search process,” said Director of Athletics Tom McElroy. “His many accomplishments as the architect behind Chicago’s success on the field and in the classroom gives us great confidence that he will be able to build upon what Ed Bradley accomplished at URI.”
O’Connor was named the NCAA Division III Coach of the Year in 1996 after leading Chicago to the NCAA Tournament Semifinals and the program’s highest ranking (No. 5) ever. It was only his second season at the helm of a program that had registered three winning seasons in the last 20 years.
“John is a great coach because of his mastery of the x’s and o’s of the game, but what sets him apart is the way he deals with student athletes,” said Clark. “I’ve seen the way his positive energy impacts a soccer program, an athletic department, and a community. I have no doubt he will be very successful in his new position.”
Prior to his arrival at Chicago, O’Connor spent five seasons at Dartmouth College under Clark. During their tenure together, the Big Green posted a record of 40-19-7, including a 17-10-1 mark in the Ivy League with two conference titles (1990, 1992) and two appearances in the NCAA Division I quarterfinals (1990, 1992). While at Dartmouth, O’Connor also served as director of coaching for the Upper Valley Lightning Youth Soccer Association and was a Region I Olympic Development Program staff member.
”O’Connor has proven himself successful on the Division-I level and was able to transform Chicago into one of the elite Division III programs in the country,” said URI women’s soccer coach Zac Shaw. ”He is a student of the game, and there is no question in my mind he will be a great success and a tremendous addition to the Athletics Department here at Rhode Island.”
O’Connor, who also coached at the high school level, was an assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of Maine, from 1984-1986. O’Connor earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Maine in 1984 followed by a master’s degree in education in 1986. He holds a United States Soccer Federation A License and a National Soccer Coaches Association of America Premier Diploma. He also is a member of the Illinois Youth Soccer Association Coaching Education staff.
O’Connor and his wife, Sheila, have a daughter, Megan (4), and son, Michael (2). Sheila is an associate professor in the Department of Physical Education and Athletics as well as the women’s swimming coach at Chicago.
