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Fairfield University

Fairfield, CT 06824
Connecticut Northeast
Private Small Developing team
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David Barrett

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David Barrett begins his sixth season with the Stags after being introduced as head coach in 2018. Barrett holds over 20 years of experience as a head coach with six Coach of the Year awards in his career.


Since coming to Fairfield, Barrett helped the Stags to 43 victories, four MAAC Championship Tournament appearances, and the 2022 MAAC Regular Season Championship, the first for the program in a decade.


Under his guidance, the Stags have been honored with 21 All-MAAC selections with eight named to the All-MAAC First Team. Fairfield has also had two MAAC Rookie of the Years and the 2022 MAAC Defensive Player of the Year. Fairfield earned a program-record eight All-MAAC selections in both 2019 and 2022. Three players have also earned All-Region distinctions with Gabby Diodati and Maddie Mills also recording All-New England honors.


Barrett also brought mentored the 2022 ECAC Rookie of the Year in Maddy Theriault, the first rookie in program history to earn that accolade. She finished eighth among all freshmen in the country with 21 points and 10th with her eight goals. She was also named to the College Sports News All-Freshmen Third Team.


After the 2019 season, Barrett earned the BSN MAAC Coach of the Year, his sixth conference Coach of the Year award after earning five honors by the College Conference of Illinois Wisconsin (CCIW) during his 17 years with Illinois Wesleyan.


Barrett has helped the Stags improve on both sides of the pitch. The squad has totaled 100 goals over the last three full seasons to combine for 34 wins.


Barrett came to Fairfield after 17 years as the Head Coach at Illinois Wesleyan University achieving significant postseason success during his tenure and earning NCAA tournament bids in eight of his last nine years while recording an overall winning percentage of .712.


With an overall record as a head coach of 277-114-45, Barrett was named the 2015 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Central Region Coach of the Year. He was also a finalist for NSCAA Women’s Division III National Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2015. Through Barrett’s guidance, the woman’s soccer program has produced 81 All-CCIW selections, 38 regional selections, seven All-Americans and five Academic All-Americans.


As the Head Coach of Illinois Wesleyan, Barrett’s teams reached the postseason every year since 2002, appearing in the conference tournament finals ten times and the NCAA tournament ten times including eight of the last nine years. His last four seasons for Illinois Wesleyan have been four of the best in school history. Each year the program either won the conference title or finished as the runner-up and was followed by a trip to the NCAA tournament. In 2014, Barrett led the Titans to the NCAA Division III semi-finals finishing with an overall record of 18-7-1 and a final ranking of #4 in the national poll. One year later, his squad broke their own single season wins record with 20 victories, which included a trip to the NCAA Division III Sweet 16 and a #9 ranking in the final national poll.


Prior to Illinois Wesleyan, Barrett was an Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach at Yale from 1997-2001. In 1999, the Bulldogs recorded a 13-5-1 season including a trip to the NCAA Round of 16 and finished the season with a #18 ranking in the national poll. In addition to his head coaching duties in Bloomington, Barrett also held the roles of Associate Professor of Physical Education and the Director of Intramurals for the school.


Barrett graduated with honors from Wesleyan University with a bachelor’s degree in American Studies. He was the starting goalkeeper for the Cardinals for over three seasons including 41 straight games in net. In 1991, Wesleyan finished 15-1-1 earning the E.C.A.C. and Little Three Championship finishing the season with a #7 national ranking. Barrett is the current school record holder for career wins and goals against average. Additionally, he received a master’s degree in Psychology from Illinois State University with a concentration in sport and physical activity. David and his wife, Kelly, have a son named Sam and two daughters, Riley and Harper. Kelly’s sister, Jennifer (Totte) Reed graduated from Fairfield in 1989 and her father, Lou Totte is a member of the class of 1963.

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Corey Holton

Corey Holton enters her second season with the Stags, joining the Fairfield Women's Soccer coaching staff in the summer of 2022. Holton brings several years of coaching experience into the position including nearly 12 seasons as a head coach and serving as an assistant coach for three programs.


In her first season with Fairfield, Holton helped the Stags to the 2022 MAAC Regular Season Championship, the first for the program in over a decade. The Stags went 9-1 in the MAAC, their most conference victories since 1998.


Fairfield also had eight All-MAAC Selections including the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year and the MAAC Rookie of the Year in Maddy Theriault. Theriault also became the first Stag ever to be named the ECAC Rookie of the Year and a spot on the College Soccer News All-Freshman Third Team.


Holton served as the head coach for the Concordia (Texas) University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and Vassar. At Vassar, Holton led the program to a 56-43-11 record which included the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2018. In total, she helped coach and recruit 26 All-Liberty League selections, two Rookie of the Year honorees, and helped the team to a spot in the United Soccer Coaches Top-25 poll.


Before her eight seasons at Vassar, Holton was also the all-time winningest coach at Concordia, where she led the Tornados to a 29-21-6 overall record and would also be named the 2011 American Southwest Conference (ASC) Coach of the Year. She mentored 15 All-Conference picks and the 2011 ASC Offensive Rookie of the Year.


As an assistant coach, Holton has enjoyed stops at Notre Dame, Trinity College, and Greensboro College. In one year at Notre Dame, Holton helped the Fighting Irish to a 13-8-1 overall record and a spot in the NCAA Tournament Third Round. She also recruited and signed 11 prospects with seven having National Team experience.


Holton also has administrative experience in the athletic field, serving as the Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Welfare and the Coordinator of Student-Athlete Development at Vassar.


Holton graduated from Elmira College with a degree in psychology and earned her Master’s in Sports Science at High Point University.

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Marcus Carrington

Carrington will begin his second season as the Stags’ assistant/goalkeeping coach in 2023. Carrington brings a wealth of experience to the position, previously serving in the same role in various schools throughout Connecticut.


In his first season with the Stags, Carrington helped the Stags to their first MAAC Regular Season Championship in a decade and a 9-1 MAAC record, their most conference victories since 1998.


Carrington helped mentor freshman goalkeeper Katie Wright, who posted 14 victories, the second most in a single season in program history. Her 14 wins also ranked 12th in the nation and third among all first-year players. She also ranked fourth in the MAAC with 70 saves. For her success, she was named to the All-MAAC Third Team.


In the four previous years, Carrington coached the goalkeepers of: the North Haven Soccer Club, the Hamden High School Boys soccer team, and the University of Bridgeport men’s soccer squad. As a Stag, he will evaluate and assess performance on the pitch and create specific pre and postgame analysis for the goalkeepers.


Carrington was a four-year goalkeeper for the University of Bridgeport, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree with a Sports Marketing major. He also served as the President of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee.

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Carl Rees

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The word first comes up many times when you talk about the career of Carl Rees, who enters his 28th season as the head coach of the Fairfield University soccer program. And every one of those firsts represents a positive benchmark for the Stags.


Rees brings a 246-173-70 overall record and a 144-70-30 mark in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play into the 2023 campaign. Under his guidance, the Stags reached double figures in the win column 11 times during his career including 15 wins in 1998 (15-4-1) and in 2006 (15-6-1).


He was the first Fairfield University coach to win an NCAA tournament game when he led his team to a 2-1 win over the University of Connecticut in the 2006 edition. He was the first men's soccer coach to garner a post-season berth, a number which now stands at five berths including the 1999, 2006, 2008, 2011, and 2017 NCAA tournaments.


Fairfield played the University of Illinois-Chicago in the 1999 play-in round, dropping a 1-0 decision. The Stags fared better in the 2006 tourney as they picked up a road win against UConn before falling to Towson University in the second round. In 2008, an own goal was the difference in the team's match up with UConn as the Huskies hung on for a 1-0 first-round win. The team advanced to the NCAA tournament for the fourth time under Rees in 2011, as the Stags dropped a 3-2 decision to Brown on the road. Last season, the Stags advanced to the national tournament and came up short on the road against New Hampshire, 3-0.


Rees was responsible for another first when he led the 1998 team captured the program's first-ever national ranking. The Stags secured the number 24 position in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) top-25 poll. It would be the first of six seasons in which Rees led his team to a national ranking.


Fairfield reached as high as 15th in the 2000 national poll before ranking 12th in the 2001 poll, the highest national ranking by any Fairfield athletic team. The program also secured national rankings in 2005 (24th), 2006 (15th), and 2007 (17th).


Rees has never shied away from playing top competition as well, regularly playing teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Big East, and the Ivy League. The Stags have also had its share of wins against nationally-ranked teams, the most recent coming in 2018 with their 2-1 victory against ninth-ranked UNC-Wilmington. Fairfield also captured the 2008 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championship its 1-0 win over sixth-ranked Loyola University to advance to the NCAA tournament.


The Stags have certainly flourished under Rees, winning 60 percent of their games overall and 66 percent of their MAAC regular-season games. The program has advanced to seven MAAC championship games under Rees and won three of those appearances. Through 26 seasons, Rees owns a 238-163-69 overall record and a 144-65-29 mark in MAAC play, including a 11-5-2 overall record and a 8-0-2 MAAC mark in 2018, the 11th time Fairfield reached double figures for wins in a season and the program's second unbeaten conference campaign (8-0-1 in 2011).


Rees turned around a program which struggled in its infancy. Fairfield soccer registered just two winning seasons in its first 22 years of existence. All that changed when Rees took over the program in 1996. After posting six wins in each of his first two seasons at the helm, the Stags responded with a school record 15 victories in 1998 en route to their first MAAC championship game appearances under Rees.


Fairfield would go on to win 10 or more games in four straight seasons, averaging 13 wins per year from 1998 to 2001. The team would win seven MAAC regular-season games in each of those four years as well. Rees would also put together another run of four successive double-digit win seasons, starting with 13 in 2006 and ending with 11 in 2008.


Rees is the all-time winningest coach in Fairfield soccer history with 246 victories. He won his 100th career game in 2005, defeating Niagara University in the conference tournament for the prestigious victory. His 200th career victory was a 2-1 overtime decision against Lafayette during the 2017 campaign.


Rees could not accomplish these firsts without quality student-athletes who continue to excel both on the pitch and in the classroom. Under his guidance, 97 student-athletes have earned All-MAAC honors, 37 players made the MAAC All-Rookie team, and 27 individuals achieved Regional All-America accolades.


In the classroom, more than 127 Fairfield student-athletes have gained MAAC All-Academic recognition, an honor which is bestowed to individuals who achieve a 3.20 cumulative grade point average.


Prior to accepting the Fairfield position, Rees spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Hartwick College. During his four seasons, the Hawks posted a 52-20-7 record and advanced to the NCAA tournament, reaching the national quarterfinals in 1993.


NCAA postseason play was not a new experience for Rees. He also spent four seasons as a starter for Hartwick, helping the Hawks reach four NCAA tournaments and two national semifinals. While on the team, he played in all of the team's 83 games as the program posted a 56-20-7 overall record.


Originally from Bebington, England, Rees was Hartwick's team captain for his junior and senior seasons. He was a three-year starter on defense before moving to forward as a senior. He led the team in scoring that season with 10 goals and four assists, raising his career scoring total to 24 goals and 13 assists.


He earned All-Region honors twice during his career and received a spot on the Soccer America All-Freshman team in 1984. A Dean's List student and a 1988 graduate of Hartwick, Rees earned a degree in psychology and philosophy.


Rees played two years with the Albany Capitals of the American Professional Soccer League while holding down an assistant coaching position at Plattsburg State.


He earned a master's degree in education from Frostburg State where he was also the graduate assistant coach for the men's soccer team. He later joined the roster of the Albany Alleycats of the USISL in the summer of 1995.


As a coach, Rees served as a Region I Olympic Development staff coach and holds a United States Soccer Federation "B" coaching license. Rees also holds a NSCAA advanced national diploma.


His player experience also extends to the international level, playing with the Everton and Liverpool Football Club youth teams before deciding to attend Hartwick College in 1984. He was inducted into the Hartwick College Hall of Fame in June, 2007.


He also played a role in the 1994 World Cup which was played in the United States. Rees worked with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) during the event, working primarily at the Meadowlands venue in East Rutherford, N.J.

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Javier Decima

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Javier Decima was promoted to Associate Head Soccer Coach on February, 2019, after serving as a volunteer goalkeeper coach and later as the first assistant. He has been with the Stags program since 2010.


Decima’s influence has showed dividends, as two of Fairfield’s goalkeepers - Michael O’Keeffe (New Zealand) and Matt Turner (USA) have gone to play at the pro level and represented their country's National team.


From 2010 to 2012, Decima coached O’Keeffe, who became a three-time All MAAC First Team selection. O’Keeffe was awarded the MAAC 2011 Defensive Player of the Year and MAAC All-Tournament team. In 2012, he received a call up to the New Zealand Men’s National Team for 2012 OFC Nations Cup. O’Keeffe was also selected for the New Zealand team that participated in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He signed a pro contract with Team Wellington in New Zealand ASB Premiership in 2014.


In 2014, Turner was awarded the NCAA Statistical Champion for Best Save Percentage and Shutout Percentage in the Nation. He was also selected to MAAC All-Tournament team. In 2015 he was named All MAAC second team. Matt signed a professional contract with MLS side New England Revolution in 2016. Matt was selected as the 2020 Revolution Team MVP, 2021 MLS All-Star Game MVP, 2021 MLS Best XI and 2021 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. He has gone to represent the USMNT winning the Gold Cup and Golden Glove. This summer, he signed a multi-year contract with Arsenal FC from the EPL League.


From 2017 to 2020, he coached Gordon Botterill who was named a 2018 and 2020 All-MAAC first team goalkeeper in addition to earning All-MAAC second team honors in n 2017 and 2019 . In 2018 and 2020 ,Botterill was chosen as the MAAC Goalkeeper of the Year.


Decima is heavily involved in all aspects of Fairfield University's program. Some of the more specific tasks include academic development of student athletes; assistance in game situations; overseeing the goalkeeper training and assisting the head coach with session planning and field set up; lead recruiting of potential student athletes and handling administrative responsibilities associated with the program operations, which involve recruiting logistics and planning, team travel details and equipment.


Decima spent two years at Ulster Community College playing under Hall of Fame coach George Vizvary. During his stay there, he won a Region 15 title and placed 3rd in the 2001 National Junior College Tournament.


After Ulster Community College, Decima transferred to the University of Bridgeport. There he won an ECAC championship and was selected to the NYCAC 2nd team in 2003 and 1st team in 2004. He was also recognized as ADIDAS All-Region Team in 2004.


He is currently the goalkeeper director for Beachside of Connecticut a MLSNEXT Academy. He is also the co-founder of Keepermax Goalkeeper Academy.


Decima is a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina. He graduated from the University of Bridgeport with a BS in Psychology After graduation, he became a graduate assistant for two years on the men’s soccer staff and earned his MS in counseling.


He holds an NSCAA Advanced National Goalkeeping Diploma and an NSCAA National Diploma.


Decima currently resides in Stamford, CT with his wife Lindsay and son Maximiliano.

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Aidan Rahill

Aidan Rahill joined the Fairfield University men's soccer coaching staff in July of 2023.


Rahill comes to Fairfield with five years of coaching experience, most recently serving as the First Assistant Men's Soccer Coach and later Interim Head Coach at Manhattanville College. During his tenure at Manhattanville the Valiants achieved a No. 7 Regional ranking and the 2022 Skyline Conference Regular Season Title. Rahill had two athletes named to the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division III All-Region three team, seven athletes named to the Skyline All-Conference teams and the Skyline Conference Defensive Player of the Year. The Valiants finished their season with a 9-5-4 overall record.


Rahill also spent 2023 working with the New York Red Bulls as an Academy Performance Analyst, working closely with the U13, U14, U15 and U17 academy teams out of Whippany, New Jersey. His role involved pre-match, in-game and post-match analysis, along with individual clipping and opposition scouting. In his time with New York Red Bulls, Rahill worked closely with many talented players. He travelled with the U15 academy team to Dallas, Texas and played a part in their run when they were crowned the 2023 MLS Next Cup Champions.


Previous to Manhattanville and New York Red Bulls, Rahill served as the First Assistant Men's Soccer Coach and later Interim Head Coach at Coastal Bend College for the 2021-22 season. While with the Cougars, Rahill assisted with the development of weekly practice plans and evaluations of student-athletes. Rahill was also the recruiting coordinator for Coastal Bend men's soccer, helping to recruit student-athletes and attending camps across the world to recruit players. In addition to organizing and planning team travel and breaking down opponent film, Rahill was the team's social media manager, helping to develop an identity for Cougar Men's Soccer online. Coastal Bend reached a No. 5 national ranking while Rahill was on the sidelines in the 2021 season and mentored three All-Region XIV players.


After finishing the 2021-22 season at Coastal Bend, Rahill served as a First Team Assistant Coach and Head Reserve Coach at St. Louis Lions of the USL 2 as they narrowly missed out on a playoff spot. The St. Louis Lions were ranked as high as No. 14 Nationally in the USL 2 during the 2022 season.


Prior to making his way to Coastal Bend, Rahill served as an Assistant Coach at Barca Academy in Charlotte, North Carolina earlier in 2021, conducting practice sessions while joining a travel team that made its way along the east coast throughout the summer. Rahill also served as a coach for the Football Association of Ireland in 2018. He currently holds a USSF "C" License.


Rahill was a member of the Missouri Valley College men's soccer team from 2017 to 2021, serving as the team's vice-captain in his senior year. Missouri Valley men’s soccer would claim the NAIA National Championship in the 2020-21 season for the first time in the programs very successful history. Rahill was also a 2020 NAIA Scholar Athlete whilst a student-athlete with the Vikings. Rahill played for the St. Louis Lions of USL League Two in 2019 before playing for Alamo City SC out of San Antonio, Texas in 2020.


Rahill is a 2021 graduate of Missouri Valley College, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management along with a Minor in Accounting. He currently resides in Fairfield, CT.

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