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University of Notre Dame

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Nate Norman

Doug and Lisa Jones Family Head Women’s Soccer Coach Nate Norman will begin his sixth season at the helm for the 2023 fall season.


The 2022 season saw Coach Norman and the Irish put the program name back in the national conversation. Below is a long list of accomplishments ND achieved along the way.


Norman – ACC Coach of the Year

Norman – a career-best 17 wins during the season. Finished 17-3-3.

Led Irish to their First Elite 8 appearance since 2012

Only team to make the Elite 8 round without surrendering a single goal

First No. 1 NCAA Tournament seed since 2008

Reached a national ranking as high as No. 4. Finished the season at No. 5.

Biggest win over a top-3 team since 2000 when they defeated No. 3 FSU, 4-0.

Knocked off two top-three teams during the regular season for the first time in program history – No. 2 Virginia and No. 3 Florida State

Olivia Wingate was selected No. 6 overall by the North Carolina Courage. Brianna Martinez was picked 17th overall (2nd round, pick 5) by Racing Louisville FC. It marked the second time since the league formed in 2012 in which the Irish had two drafted.

Soon after, Korbin Albert signed with international power PSG. She became the first American to leave college early to sign with PSG.

Went 6-2-3 against the top-25

Coached the ACC Midfielder of the Year in Korbin Albert and ACC Defender of the Year in Eva Gaetino.

Albert was a Mac Hermann Finalist – first since 2010. Gaetino was Mac Hermann Semifinalist.

Three All-Americans – Albert, Gaetino and Olivia Wingate

Notre Dame tied its most-ever All-ACC selections with five (Albert, Gaetino, Wingate, Maddie Mercado and Mackenzie Wood)

The offense ranked 12th in the country, averaging 2.43 goals per game. Ranked 3rd in the country in shots on goal per game (9.4). Ranked 8th in shutout percentage (.609)

Notre Dame’s defensive/goalie crew completed 14 shutouts on the year – their most since 2016 (15).

Notre Dame was unbeaten in its last 12 matches before the NCAA Elite Eight loss to North Carolina. During that 12-game stretch, the Irish outscored the opposition 33-6.

Signed the nationally ranked 6th best recruiting class according to Top Drawer Soccer

The 2021 campaign really started to see the Irish push through and gain some momentum, finishing 14-5-2. Notre Dame drew a national seed (No. 3) in the NCAA Tournament, where they advanced to the Sweet 16. The list below are his top highlights and notes from 2021:


Irish made history with their 6-0-0 start in league play (best ever start in ACC play) before finishing 7-3-0 in the No. 1 rated RPI league. Notre Dame finished fourth in the ACC standings.

Irish went 6-5-2 against the RPI top-50, including two victories against the RPI top-25.

ND ended the year ranked No. 16 in the nation with an RPI of No. 20

Reached the Sweet 16 after a 4-0 win over SIUE and advancing past Purdue in penalties (4-3). The Irish gave No. 7 nationally-ranked Arkansas a battle, equalizing twice, before falling 3-2.

Notre Dame scored 52 goals which ranked third in the ACC and 16th in the country. The 52 goals were the most in a season since 2010.

Notre Dame’s scoring offense of 2.36 ranked 20th in the nation and fourth in the ACC. Meanwhile, ND’s 140 total points ranked 22nd in the country and fourth in the league as well.

Created quite the home-field advantage – posting a 10-1-1 record at Alumni Stadium in 2021

Defensively, the Irish allowed just 22 goals as opponents averaged 9.6 shots per game. The 22 were the fewest goals allowed since 2016. In addition, the defense/goalkeeping helped notch a 0.96 goals against average

Continued to cultivate the young talent in South Bend, including the breakout seasons of Sammi Fisher and Olivia Wingate and the emergence of super-freshman Korbin Albert.

Fisher, who earned First Team All-ACC honors along with United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Region, led the Irish with 13 goals, which ranked 18th nationally in Division-I. Fisher’s accomplishments were recognized in the NWSL Draft where she was drafted 19th overall by the Chicago Red Stars and later signed to the roster.

Meanwhile, Albert earned Third Team All-ACC, ACC All-Freshman Team, United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-Region and Top-Drawer Soccer Freshman Best XI. Albert poured in 12 goals, which ranked second amongst all Division-I freshmen. She was also hot down the stretch, scoring eight of her goals over the final 11 games.

Wingate then rounded out the trio of Irish who earned All-ACC (Third Team) and United Soccer Coaches All-Region (Third Team) honors. The senior finished with the third most goals on the team with seven, recording a .650 shot accuracy which ranked 17th in the nation.

Norman’s third season with the Irish was split up over the two semesters due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Irish played all their ACC games in the fall and then the non-conference slate in the spring.


In Norman’s second season in 2019, he got the Irish off to a blazing start, winning their first six games. It was the first six-game win streak since 2014 and the best start to a season since 2015. In the first six games, the Irish outscored opponents 13-1 in those games.


Norman oversaw offensive breakout seasons from juniors Sammi Fisher & Eva Hurm along with sophomore Luisa Delgado. Fisher led the team in goals (6), assists (5) and points (17) while Hurm was second in goals (5) and points (13). Both Fisher and Hurm earned third team All-ACC honors along with United Soccer Coaches All Region second team recognition. Delgado missed the entire season but was an instant impact in 2019, scoring her first career brace in the 4-0 win over Northwestern. Delgado ranked second on the team in assists (4), and third in goals (4) and points (13) in her first true collegiate season.


The Irish defense was much improved thanks to consistency on the back line. With the addition of graduate transfer Autumn Smithers, the line of Smithers, Shannon Hendricks, Jenna Winebrenner and Jade Gosar started all but two games together. The Irish totaled 10 shutouts on the season, the most since the 2016 season. The Notre Dame defense held two opponents (Oakland & Pitt) without any shots for the entire game and limited St. John’s to zero shots on goal.


The Irish returned to the ACC Championship and NCAA Championship in 2019 thanks to the strong start to the season and balanced play during conference play. The Irish knocked off Wake Forest 3-2 in 2OT in the season finale to clinch a berth in the ACC Championship. The Irish were selected to host the first round of the NCAA Tournament and knocked off Saint Louis for the second time in the season, 1-0, thanks to freshman Kiki Van Zanten’s goal in the 41st minute.


In his first season as head coach with the Irish, he inherited a very young team that added 10 newcomers for the second straight season. The freshmen made instant impacts for Norman and the Irish as local product Brooke VanDyck earned the start in the season opener and scored the game-winning goal in the 3-1 win over Central Michigan. Norman had six of the 10 freshmen start during their first season with the Irish and a majority of the class made an impact throughout the season.


The Irish had a strong senior class and group of graduate students to help guide the underclassmen through one of the toughest conferences in women’s college soccer. Norman oversaw Karin Muya return from injury and have her most productive season of her career. She led the Irish in goals with seven and points with 15. Fellow graduate student Sabrina Flores started all 18 games and led the Irish in assists (five) and minutes played (1,522). Seniors Rachel Heard and Shannon Hendricks locked down the back line for the Irish. Hendricks started all 18 games while Heard started 15, missing two games due to injury.


Nate Norman was named Notre Dame women’s soccer head coach in February 2018 after serving as an assistant on the Irish coaching staff for one season. Norman, who graduated from the University in 2007, is the fifth head coach in women’s soccer program history.


Norman joined the Irish coaching staff in January 2017 after one season at the helm of the Liberty program, where he led the Flames to a 14-8 record and a Big South Tournament Championship in 2016. He saw five student-athletes named to the All-Big South first and second teams, four selected for the conference all-tournament team and two picked for the NSCAA all-region squad.


Prior to his time at Liberty, Norman spent four seasons as head coach at Western Michigan, where he led the Broncos to a 44-27-14 record. He guided the program to two Mid-American Conference tournament titles in 2013 and 2015, and he was named the MAC Coach of the Year and the NSCAA Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year in 2015. Additionally, he saw 16 players named to all-conference squads during his tenure and placed a league-best 17 players on the MAC All-Academic Team in 2015.


The former midfielder was a four-year Monogram winner for Notre Dame men’s soccer head coach Bobby Clark from 2003-06, helping the Irish to the 2003 BIG EAST Tournament title, the 2004 BIG EAST regular-season championship and the 2006 NCAA Championship quarterfinals.


Norman was selected 21st overall by the Chicago Fire in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft and spent one season in Chicago before one-year stints with the United Soccer League’s (USL) Charleston Battery (2008) and Carolina RailHawks (2009). It was during this time that Norman began his coaching career as a volunteer assistant with the Irish men’s program for the 2007-08 season.


In 2009, Norman began as the assistant coach for the men’s program at Division III Covenant College. He also spent one season each as the women’s assistant at Western Michigan (2010) and Miami (Fla.; 2011) before taking the head coaching position with the Broncos.


Norman is a native of Rochester, Michigan, and is married to Rachel Norman.

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Dawn Siergiej

Notre Dame Highlights (2003-present)

2004, 2010 NCAA Champions

18 NCAA Tournament Appearances

6 NCAA Women’s College Cup Appearances

6 NWSL College Draft Picks

1 player signed with PSG

4 MAC Hermann Trophy Finalists

A total of 27 All-America Honors

1 ACC Regular Season Title

2014, 2016, 2022 ACC Championship Semifinalist

23 All-ACC selections for a total of 32 honors (2013-22)

9 BIG EAST Regular Season Titles

4 BIG EAST Tournament Championships

71 All-BIG EAST Selections (2003-12)

Former Baylor All-American and veteran professional goalkeeper Dawn Siergiej (pronounced SIR-gay) has served on the Fighting Irish women’s soccer staff since 2003 and continues her work with Notre Dame’s goalkeeping corps. Additionally, she coordinates the team’s recruiting, equipment and travel needs and serves as one of the directors of the wildly popular Notre Dame girls’ soccer summer camps.


2022 – a year the Irish returned to the national conversation. Producing its most wins since the 2010 national championship, Notre Dame went 17-3-3 in 2022. They reached a national ranking as high as No. 4, finishing at No. 5. The Irish earned a No. 1 national seed for the NCAA Tournament – the first time since 2008. Notre Dame was one win shy of an ACC Tournament regular-season title, tying Duke in the season finale. They beat both No. 2 Virginia and No. 3 Florida State in the regular season to finish 7-2-1. They reached the semis of the ACC Tournament where they battled Florida State to a 3-3 overtime draw (lost in the PK shootout). The Irish then made a run to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight – reaching that round for the first time since 2012. The 2022 season saw Coach Siergiej mentor grad transfer MacKenzie Wood to her best season. Wood was a Third Team All-ACC selection and United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-Region honoree. Wood collected a career-high 10 shutouts and would have had two more, both in NCAA Tournament, if it weren’t for late-game substitutions. Her 10 shutouts ranked 13th in the country, 1st in the ACC. Wood’s 0.60 GAA ranked 16th in the nation, 1st in the ACC.


Coach Siergiej’s fingerprints were all over the 2021 season. First off, the Irish produced their most wins since 2015, going 14-6-2. They also went 7-3-0 in the No. 1 rated RPI league in the country in the ACC, finishing in fourth place. Notre Dame ended the year ranked 16th in the country with a RPI of No. 20. The Irish drew a national seed (No. 3) in the NCAA Tournament, reaching the Round of 16 where they fell 3-2 in a tight battle with top-8 ranked Arkansas. The year started with Mattie Interian in net, but a leg injury in game four sidelined the senior for the remainder of the season. What came next was the emergence of sophomore goalkeeper Ashley Naylor. The California native started the final 16 games, where she posted a goals against average of 1.04 with four shutouts. Naylor earned 49 saves and posted a .742 save percentage. In addition, she was the hero against Purdue in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, when she saved back-to-back penalty kicks to help the Irish advance 4-3 in PKs.


In the 2020 season, Siergiej worked with the tandem of Mattie Interian and Jaina Eckert and the pair started all 13 games for the Irish. In the fall portion of the season, Interian started all nine games and helped the Irish gain a berth in the ACC Tournament. She posted three straight shutouts during that span and had 29 saves across the nine games. In the spring, Eckert earned her first career starts in net and started with two straight shutouts over Cincinnati and Missouri.


In 2019, Siergiej oversaw two talented goalkeepers in senior Brooke Littman and Mattie Interian. The pair split time through the first six games and helped the Irish get off to a fast start. Notre Dame won its first six games of the year and allowed just one goal in those six games.


The Irish totaled 10 shutouts in 2019, the most since 2019. Littman finished the year with a career-high six shutouts, including a 2OT tie to No. 16 Louisville on Oct. 13. Interian finished with a career-high four shutouts, including a 1-0 win in the first round of the NCAA Championship over Saint Louis.


In her tenure with the Irish, Siergiej has helped Notre Dame earn two of its three NCAA national championships (2004 and 2010), as well as six NCAA Women’s College Cup berths, 10 conference regular season titles and four conference tournament championships during her first 12 seasons under the Golden Dome.


Siergiej also has been instrumental in molding some of the top goalkeepers in program history, with her pupils registering seven of the top 10 single-season goals-against average (GAA) marks in the Notre Dame record book, including six seasons when Siergiej tutored Fighting Irish goalkeepers to a 0.49 GAA or better. In addition, Notre Dame has recorded double-digit shutouts in 10 of 13 years on her watch, including a school-record 19 clean sheets in 2006 (tied for seventh-most in one season in NCAA history).


The NCAA statistical rankings also remain littered with marks set by Fighting Irish goalkeepers who sharpened their craft under Siergiej’s watchful eye. In 2003, Notre Dame finished fifth in the nation with a 0.49 GAA, and was fourth with 15 shutouts, while compiling a 956-minute shutout streak that ranks fifth in NCAA history (longest since 1999). The 2004 national championship season then saw the Fighting Irish lead the nation with 18 shutouts while nearly reclaiming the GAA title (4th, 0.51). During that 25-1-1 season, the Fighting Irish played from behind for a total of just 108 minutes, limiting 24 of the 27 opponents to one goal or fewer (including just one in the final 23 outings).


Siergiej has provided valuable instruction and insight for some of the greatest goalkeepers in program history including 2006 graduate Erika Bohn, 2008 graduate Lauren Karas and 2017 graduate Kaela Little. Bohn earned NSCAA all-region honors in 2003 and then was an All-BIG EAST Conference selection in 2005. She ranks fourth in the Notre Dame record book with a 0.69 career goals-against average (GAA) and is third in Irish women’s soccer history with 6,788 career minutes played. While under the tutelage of Siergiej, Karas posted the second highest career winning-percentage among Irish goalkeepers (.902) and the third-best GAA (0.65). Little was a four-year Irish starter who finished her career with an .838 save percentage and the fourth-best GAA (0.66) in Irish history.


Following the 2004 NCAA title-match win over UCLA, Bohn quickly credited Siergiej when asked about her clutch performances in that pressure-packed contest. Bohn’s six saves that day included three in penalty-kick situations, one coming late in regulation to preserve the 1-1 tie while her final save in the shootout clinched the title.


Siergiej also tutored Kelsey Lysander (‘10) and Nikki Weiss (‘11) to a string of standout seasons from 2008-10. During the 2008 campaign, the Irish netminding duo combined for 18 shutouts (second-most in school history) with a 0.44 GAA (fourth-lowest in program annals). Individually, Lysander set or tied school records for wins (26), winning percentage (.963, 26-1-0) and total shutouts (18) while ranking sixth in the nation in GAA?(0.44) and being named to the NCAA?College Cup All-Tournament Team.


The following two seasons (2009-10), it was Weiss’ turn, as she stepped in as the starter midway through 2009 and wound up posting a 14-2-1 record and seven solo shutouts (part of the team’s 16 clean sheets), helping spark Notre Dame’s 19-match unbeaten streak during the final two months of the season. Weiss also set a BIG EAST record with a 0.15 GAA in regular-season league play, allowing just one goal in 597 minutes.


In 2010, Weiss backstopped the Irish to their third national title, starting all 25 matches (21-2-2 record) and logging a 0.49 GAA with 10 solo shutouts and an .876 save percentage (second-best in school history).


COLLEGIATE AND PROFESSIONAL CAREER


WUSA Highlights

Washington Freedom (2001-02)

San Jose CyberRays (2002-03)

Under her maiden name of Dawn Greathouse, Siergiej played with the Washington Freedom in the first two seasons of the Women’s United Soccer Association (2001 and 2002), also playing for the San Jose CyberRays in 2002 and 2003. She made eight career starts in the WUSA while backing up U.S. National Team players LeKeysia Beene (San Jose) and Siri Mullinix (Washington). During that 2002 WUSA season in San Jose, Siergiej and Romagnolo were teammates (the latter then playing under her maiden name of Theresa Wagner).


Baylor Highlights

1.20 Career GAA

0.802 Career Save Percentage

28 Career Shutouts

3-time All-Big 12 Conference

3-time Big 12 All-Academic Team

1998 NSCAA All-America Second Team

1998 Big 12 Title (first in Baylor history)

2011 Baylor Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee

As a collegian, Siergiej logged 7,121 minutes (sixth in NCAA history at the time) in her four-year Baylor career while posting a 1.20 GAA, an .802 save percentage and 28 shutouts. The three-time All-Big 12 Conference and three-time Big 12 All-Academic Team honoree turned in her best season as a sophomore in 1998, earning National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) second team All-America honors after ranking 12th in the nation with a 0.69 GAA. She helped the 1998 team win Baylor’s first Big 12 title in any sport – before a knee injury sidelined her from Baylor’s second consecutive trip to the NCAA Championship.


Siergiej’s remarkable college career has not gone unnoticed by her alma mater. In 2011, she was inducted into the Baylor Athletics Hall of Fame, becoming the first soccer player in school history to earn that prestigious honor.


A native of Rochester, N.Y., Siergiej graduated from Baylor in 2001 with her bachelor’s degree in health fitness. She also currently holds a premier coaching diploma from the NSCAA. She and her husband, Nick (Notre Dame’s director of hockey operations), were married in May 2014 and make their home in South Bend.

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Jason Hamilton

Doug & Lisa Jones family Notre Dame women’s soccer head coach Nate Norman announced Jason Hamilton as his new assistant coach for the Fighting Irish on Feb. 15, 2022. Hamilton brings over a decade of coaching experience to South Bend, including seven years as a head coach.


“I want to thank Coach Norman and Claire Venard for this opportunity. After hearing from them where the program is and where they see it going, I knew it was a chance to be a part of something special,” Hamilton explained.


“I am very excited to be joining the program and getting to work with Nate and Dawn. I think my strengths are a perfect match for what is wanted in this role and to best serve their student-athletes.”


Hamilton’s first year with the Irish was a memorable one. Notre Dame contended for both an ACC regular season and tournament championship, achieved a top-four national ranking, and made a run to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. The Irish fired off an impressive 17-3-3 record – its most wins since the 2010 season. In fact, they went unbeaten over its last 12 matches before bowing out to North Carolina in the Elite Eight. Notre Dame went 6-2-3 against top-25 ranked teams – which included beating two top-3 teams (No. 2 Virginia, No. 3 Florida State) in the regular season for the first time in program history. The Irish earned a program record five All-ACC selections, including ACC Defender of the Year (Eva Gaetino) and ACC Midfielder of the Year (Korbin Albert). They also earned three All-American selections in Albert, Gaetino and Olivia Wingate. Lastly three Irish went pro at the end of the year with Wingate and Bri Martinez going to the NWSL and Albert signing with PSG.


Before ND, Hamilton did a four-year head coaching stint at East Carolina, where he compiled 26 victories and qualified for three American Athletic Conference Championship Tournaments – advancing to the semifinal round on two occasions. Under his leadership, the Pirates recorded their first victory over a ranked opponent since 2011 after knocking off No. 23 Memphis 2-1 last Oct. 24. In all, he tutored eight All-AAC selections and four all-rookie team performers, including the 2021 league rookie-of-the-year pick.


In the classroom, Hamilton’s program earned the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award in three-straight seasons and is on track for a possible fourth consecutive honor.


“I’m very excited for Jason to join our team,” Coach Norman said. “We set out to find the best coach and person that could bring a vast amount of experience to our team. I have no doubt that we found that and certainly got better today. He has coached at the very highest level and will bring a wealth of experience to our team. He will be an invaluable asset as we continue to strive to win national championships and provide a fulfilling experience on and off the field.”


Hamilton began his collegiate coaching career at University of Miami, where he served as the Hurricanes’ assistant coach from 2011-2013. During his time in Florida, the Canes appeared in back-to-back NCAA Tournaments in 2011 and 2012, and earned the highest GPA in the Atlantic Coast Conference, and highest in program history, in 2011. He was also instrumental in bringing in back-to-back top-15 recruiting classes.


He then left Miami for the Boston Breakers of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) where he was an assistant coach in 2013. While with the Breakers, he coached NWSL Best XI Player Sydney Leroux and Second XI Player Lianne Sanderson. The 2013 season saw Boston’s best finish in the NWSL and best record to date.


Next, Hamilton joined the University of Florida in 2013 where he helped the Gators to a SEC regular season championship and a NCAA Tournament second-round appearance. While in Gainesville, he created and implemented a curriculum for UF’s goalkeepers, while overseeing the team’s defense that set program records in shutouts (13) and goals against average (0.61).


From there, Hamilton earned his first head coaching position at the NCAA Division I level with Troy University. He led the Trojans to a 37-19-5 record from 2014 to 2016 and set a program single-season record for wins with a 16-6 mark and a Sunbelt Conference Tournament runner-up finish in 2014, his first year at the helm. From 2014-15, his Trojans ranked among the top-20 in defense. Ultimately, Hamilton left with the highest winning percentage of any coach in the program’s 23-year history and the only coach to post a winning record in their tenure.


Next up for Hamilton was a one-year assistant coach stint at Mississippi State for the 2017-18 season, where he helped the Bulldogs to their best season in 16 years, going 9-5-4 en route to their first winning season since 2012, and first top-50 RPI finish in program history. Three Bulldogs were named All-SEC for the first time, a program first, and Mallory Eubanks became State’s first SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year and was selected 17th overall in the 2018 NWSL Draft. In addition, goalkeeper Catalina Perez was named Third Team All-America by the NSCAA – the first all-America selection in Mississippi State’s 23-year history.


From there, Hamilton landed the head coaching gig at East Carolina and the rest was history. Along with his responsibilities at ECU, Hamilton has served as a head coach for US Youth Soccer Region III Olympic Development program. There he worked with the oldest age group of players from the region, selecting a team to compete in the US Youth Soccer inter-regional tournament as well as traveling out of the country for competition.


As a player, Hamilton was a midfielder for Macomb College in Clinton Charter Township, Mich. The team advanced to the 2000 NJCAA Final Four with Hamilton earning a spot on the NJCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team. He was also an All-Conference First Team and All-Region Team selection.


Hamilton transferred to the University of Detroit Mercy and played goalkeeper during his sophomore and junior seasons. As a senior, Hamilton moved back onto the field and was a captain.


After graduation, Hamilton spent three seasons with the Windsor Border Stars in the Canadian Professional Soccer League and one in the American Indoor Soccer League, capturing two Canada Cup titles and one AISL title.


Hamilton earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Detroit Mercy in 2005. He also has several diplomas and licenses from the NSCAA, the United States Soccer Federation and the United States Sports Academy.


A native of St. Clair Shores, Mich., Hamilton is married to the former Hannah Mason – a graduate of East Carolina University and native of Laurinburg, N.C. They have one son, Robert “James” and one daughter, Ann Marie. The family resides in Greenville.

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Chad Riley

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS


Led Irish to first ACC Championship title and second College Cup appearance in 2021


Has reached seven NCAA tournaments in nine seasons as a head coach


First head coach in Notre Dame program history to reach the NCAA quarterfinals in his debut season


First head coach in 32 seasons to win four straight Ivy League titles (2014-17)


40 all-conference selections over seven seasons (32 Ivy League, 8 ACC)


Four-time Notre Dame monogram winner


Ranks second in career assists (32) in the Notre Dame record book


McFarland Family Head Men’s Soccer Coach Chad Riley enters his fifth season as the McFarland Family Head Men’s Soccer Coach in the fall of 2022.


The 2021 season was a historic one for the program in Riley’s fourth year at the helm. For the second time in program history, the Irish made a run to the College Cup after earning the No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Notre Dame also captured its first ACC Championship title in program history, winning four consecutive tournament games without allowing a goal en route to lifting the trophy. The Irish finished the season with a record of 14-5-5, the most wins in a season since totaling 17 in 2013 when they won the College Cup.


Notre Dame finished the season with 52 goals while only allowing 19 over the 24-game season. The 52 goals are tied for the most the Irish have scored in a season since the beginning of the 1995 season, matching the 2012 season output. The goal differential of +33 was the largest margin since the team had a +44 margin during the 1988 campaign.


Individually, Jack Lynn became the 17th player in program history to earn All-America honors, garnering United Soccer Coaches Association Second Team All-America honors. Lynn also joined Philip Quinton as CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, as Quinton earned second team honors while Lynn was placed on the third team. Lynn was named All-ACC First Team while Quinton was selected to the third team. Josh Ramsey and Matthew Roou earned All-ACC Freshman Team accolades. After scoring two goals in the ACC title game, Dawson McCartney was named ACC Tournament MVP. McCartney was joined on the ACC All-Tournament Team by Lynn, Quinton and Bryan Dowd.


Riley led the Irish to the 2019 NCAA Tournament for the second straight year under his direction. Notre Dame reached double-digit wins, finishing the year with a record of 10-8-1 against a loaded schedule that saw 12 of its 18 opponents make the NCAA Championship field. Sophomore Jack Lynn earned second team All-ACC honors while graduate student Felicien Dumas earned third team accolades.


The head coach made an instant impact with the Irish in his debut 2018 season, leading the team to the NCAA Quarterfinals. The Irish went 11-7-3 during the 2018 campaign, defeating six ranked opponents, and earned the No. 7 seed in the NCAA Championship. Two student-athletes were named CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, as Thomas Ueland earned first team honors and Jack Casey took home second team accolades. Four Irish student-athletes earned All-ACC distinctions.


Riley served as the head coach of the highly successful Dartmouth men’s soccer program from 2013-17 and was a former standout Irish men’s soccer player and assistant coach. Riley was officially named the sixth head men’s soccer coach at the University of Notre Dame on January 4, 2018.


Riley’s Dartmouth teams won a combined 51 games over his five seasons (51-26-14 in 2013-17) and captured Ivy League titles each of the last four years. He claimed Ivy League Coach of the Year honors three of the last four years, including on a unanimous basis in 2017 as a highlight of a 12-3-2 season.


Dartmouth’s four consecutive league titles mark the first time that happened in the Ivy League in 32 years. Riley’s 2014 and 2015 campaigns accounted for the first back-to-back 12-win seasons in Big Green history, and his teams’ 45 combined victories from 2014-17 are a high-water mark for Dartmouth men’s soccer.


Riley has been part of NCAA Championship competition in 13 seasons—each of the last four years while head coach at Dartmouth, once as a St. John’s assistant coach, five times as an Irish assistant coach and each of his last three seasons as a player at Notre Dame. His Big Green teams won first-round NCAA Championship games in 2014 (Fordham), 2015 (Hartwick) and 2016 (St. Francis Brooklyn) and earned the number-15 NCAA national seed in 2017.


Riley replaced the legendary Bobby Clark who retired in late November following 17 seasons as Notre Dame head coach (2001-17). Riley played for Clark in 2001-03 during his final three Irish undergraduate years (and Clark’s first three seasons in South Bend) and remains one of the all-time Notre Dame leaders in assists (32 in 78 games). He also spent six seasons as an Irish assistant coach (2006-11) under Clark, and his official title at Dartmouth was the Bobby Clark Head Coach of Men’s Soccer in recognition of Clark’s nine seasons as Big Green head coach (82-42-13 record in 1985-93).


“Chad Riley not only brings to Notre Dame a track record of winning titles and regularly qualifying for NCAA Championship play, but having both played and coached for Bobby Clark he already has a great understanding of the culture this program has built over the last two decades,” said Notre Dame vice president and James E. Rohr director of athletics Jack Swarbrick.


“We expect Chad to have a seamless transition into his new assignment in great part because he has a perfect sense of the expectations and opportunities both on and off the field at Notre Dame. This is a program that has achieved at the very highest levels, including an NCAA title four years ago, and we are confident Chad has what it takes to continue that sort of achievement.”


Dartmouth finished with a combined 22-3-3 mark in Ivy League play over the last four seasons, and Riley’s 2013 and 2014 Big Green squads both enjoyed eight-game unbeaten streaks, with the 2013 version marking the first time that had happened at Dartmouth since 1978. Thirty-two Big Green players have earned some sort of all-Ivy League recognition over Riley’s five seasons as head coach. His 2014 and 2015 league champion squads permitted a combined seven goals in conference play over those two seasons. Riley’s last four Dartmouth teams achieved final NCAA RPIs of 16 (2017), 25 (2016), 20 (2015) and 23 (2014).


In 2012 Riley joined head coach Jeff Cook’s Dartmouth staff as an assistant coach, helping the Big Green to second place in the Ivy League standings and an undefeated home pitch mark for the second consecutive season.


Riley came to Dartmouth after spending the previous six seasons at his alma mater as an assistant coach at Notre Dame. He helped the Irish compile a 71-37-21 record with five NCAA Championship appearances and two NCAA Championship Quarterfinal appearances.


The Irish captured BIG EAST Blue Division titles in 2007 and 2008, the first time Notre Dame captured back-to-back BIG EAST crowns. Notre Dame reached the semifinals of the BIG EAST Championship in five of Riley’s six seasons as an assistant coach.


A 2004 Notre Dame graduate with a degree in theology, Riley helped mentor four All-Americans, including 2006 MAC Hermann Trophy recipient Joseph Lapira as well as three Academic All-Americans while in South Bend.


Prior to returning to South Bend, Riley made coaching stops at Oberlin College in Ohio during the 2004 season and at St. John’s in 2005. While at Oberlin he helped guide the squad to a 9-8-3 record and helped five players earn all-North Coast Athletic Conference honors. During his season at St. John’s, the Red Storm posted an 11-6-5 record and a berth in the third round of the NCAA Championship.


Riley, a Houston, Texas, native (Cypress Springs High School), was a four-time monogram winner and a three-time all-BIG EAST award winner (second team in 2003, third team in 2002 and 2001) during his collegiate career. He tallied 52 career points on 10 goals and 32 assists as a midfielder. He led the Irish in assists in three seasons (including 12 in 2002), still ranks second on the Irish all-time assists list and served as an assistant team captain as a senior. Riley led the 2000 Notre Dame team in scoring with 12 points and was a BIG EAST Academic All-Star in 2000 and 2001.


Riley received his NSCAA Advanced National Diploma in 2009 and also received his USSF A and B licenses.


He and his wife, Caitlin (also a Notre Dame graduate), are parents of two daughters, Georgina and Bernadette, and a son, Prescott.

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Mike Graczyk

Mike Graczyk is entering his third season as an assistant coach at Notre Dame heading into the 2022 fall season.


Head men’s soccer coach Chad Riley added Graczyk to his staff in March 2020 as an assistant coach.


Graczyk played a key role in Notre Dame’s historic 2021 season, helping the program win its first ACC Championship title and advance to the second College Cup in program history. Goalkeeper Bryan Dowd recorded six straight clean sheets over four ACC Championship matches and two NCAA Tournament contests, setting the program record for most consecutive minutes of shutout play at 650 minutes.


Graczyk brings 12 years of coaching experience at professional, DI and club levels to the Irish after stints with New Mexico United (USL), New Mexico, Stanford and Harvard.


Before arriving at Notre Dame, Graczyk served as the director of goalkeeping with New Mexico United in the USL.


Graczyk spent five years at his alma mater, New Mexico, before making the jump to New Mexico United. Graczyk was an associate head coach for the Lobos. The former goalkeeper played a key role in bringing in New Mexico’s 2016 Top 5 ranked recruiting class (TopDrawerSoccer.com).


Prior to his time at New Mexico, Graczyk spent the previous three seasons as a member of Stanford Cardinal coaching staff. The Cardinal underwent a five-win improvement in Graczyk’s short time in Palo Alto. Stanford advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament last season before falling to PAC-12 rival Washington.


The Albuquerque native was a member of the Lobo Soccer program from 2003 to 2007 and has cemented himself in the New Mexico record books. Graczyk is in second place in program history in career appearances (66), career wins (44) and career goals against average (0.68). He holds the UNM goalkeeping record in career shutouts (30), wins in a season (18) and shutouts in a season (13). Graczyk was the starting goalkeeper for the 2005 season that saw the Lobos advance all the way to the national championship match.


He earned NSCAA Academic All-District and Academic All-MPSF honors during his career as well. After his senior season in 2007, Graczyk was selected by the Colorado Rapids in the MLS Draft. He spent time with the Rapids, FC Dallas and the San Jose Earthquakes during the 2008 and 2009 seasons.


Graczyk was the Albuquerque Tribune Player of the Year and the Gatorade New Mexico Player of the Year in 2002 after propelling La Cueva High School to a state championship. He was a First Team All-State selection with a state-best 0.41 goals allowed average for the Bears.

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Jeff Rowland

CAREER OVERVIEW


Thirteen seasons as collegiate coach


Harvard (1 season), Creighton (1 season), Washington (10 seasons), Notre Dame (1 season)


Four Elite Eight appearances, including three straight


One College Cup Appearance (2021, Notre Dame)


Helped team win a conference championship at every place he has coached


One ACC title with Notre Dame, two Pac-12 titles at Washington, one MVC title at Creighton and one Ivy League title at Harvard


Member of the 2019 United Soccer Coaching Regional Staff of the Year


2021 SEASON AT NOTRE DAME


The Irish reached the College Cup for the second time in program history


Notre Dame won its first ACC Championship title in school history


Senior forward Jack Lynn selected as a United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-American


Three players drafted in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft for the first time in program history


NOTABLE PLAYERS COACHED


Twenty-nine MLS players in 10 years at Washington, including:


Cristian Roldan – Seattle Sounders & US National Team player


Herman trophy finalist 2021 & Seattle Sounders Homegrown Dylan Teves


Blake Bodily – Portland Timbers


Henry Wingo – Sounders Homegrown who currently plays for Hungarian Champions – Ferencvárosi TC


Four MLS players in one season at Notre Dame


PLAYING CAREER


Played four season at University of New Mexico


Named a 2005 Hermann Trophy Finalist


Led team to 2005 College Cup Final


Two-time First Team All-American and Academic All-American


Drafted by Real Salt Lake and played with the club for two seasons


Played one season with FC Dallas


One season in the USL with Wilmington Hammerheads


PERSONAL


Has a wife, Katelyn


Has a daughter, Delaney, and a son, Ryan

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Soccer in College gave me a good point of reference for perspective coaches, somewhere I could direct them to see all of my data, in a well-organized, efficient manner. It was a good tool for my recruiting efforts.
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