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Aidan Heaney
The UNCW men’s soccer program has continued to soar in the national landscape under the guidance of Coach Aidan Heaney, who completed his 22nd year with the Seahawks and 24th year as a Division I Head Coach in 2022.
Since taking over the Seahawk program in 2001, Heaney has led UNCW to 196 wins, 17 berths in the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament and four appearances in the NCAA Tournament. He has also led the Seahawks to their lone CAA Tournament championship in 2009 and four regular season crowns.
UNCW went 6-4-7 under Heaney in 2022 and fashioned a 5-1-3 mark in CAA play to finish second in the conference and earn hosting rights for the opening week of the 2022 CAA Tournament.0
Highlighted by Colonial Athletic Association First-Teamers Bachir Ndiaye and Gabriel Perrotta, seven UNCW men's soccer players earned year-end honors. Forward Jalen Anderson and defender Josef Hefele appeared on the All-CAA Second-Team while midfielder Gabe Mercer and defender Jake Shannon shored up the league's Third-Team. Shannon and fellow freshman Ethan Newsome also received CAA All-Rookie honors.
It was the first time in program history that the Seahawks have had multiple selections to all three All-Conference Teams in the same year and the sixth time UNCW has had two CAA All-Rookie players.
Perrotta set the school's career shutout record on Oct. 15 at William & Mary and totaled 28 clean sheets while starting every game (60) since joining the program in 2019.
Shannon, who was the lone Seahawk to play every minute of 2022, appeared on TopDrawerSoccer.com's Midseason Freshmen Top 100 List, coming in at no. 34 among the nation's top first-year players, the highest of four CAA rookies to appear on the list.
The Seahawks posted a 9-6-2 overall record in 2021, which included a 4-3-1 mark against league opponents. UNCW posted a victory over No. 15 James Madison on Oct. 16 and added a victory over Atlantic Coast Conference foe North Carolina at the UNCW Soccer Stadium.
Led by fifth-year senior Jacob Evans, the Seahawks placed five student-athletes on the All-CAA Teams. Evans garnered First-Team recognition, while a trio of Seahawks - graduate student forward Nicolas Molina, graduate student defender Michael Hornsby and Perrotta - were named to the Second Team. Freshman defender Adam Hillis completed the group by earning All-Rookie Team honors.
Evans, Hornsby and Perrotta were also recognized by the United Soccer Coaches as All-Atlantic Region selections.
Heaney led the Seahawks to a 5-3-2 record during the spring 2021 season, including a 2-1-1 mark in CAA play. UNCW, which reached the CAA semifinals, was nationally ranked for a majority of the spring season and was ranked as high as No. 9 in the United Soccer Coaches Division I poll, equaling a program record.
The Seahawks were also rewarded by the CAA's head coaches for their efforts as seven student-athletes earned All-CAA commendations, including three First-Team picks. A trio of student-athletes - Evans, sophomore defender Jaden Strumeier and sophomore midfielder Colton Pleasants - received All-Atlantic Region distinction from the United Soccer Coaches, while Evans also claimed a spot on the CoSIDA Academic All-District 3 First Team.
0In 2019, Heaney was named as the CAA’s Coach of the Year for the fifth time after leading the Seahawks to their first regular season crown since 2014. UNCW authored a 7-0-1 record in league play and earned the No. 1 seed in the CAA Championship. The Seahawks finished with a 12-5-2 overall record after falling in double overtime to James Madison in the league title game.
The Seahawks’ efforts were rewarded by the CAA’s head coaches. In addition to Heaney earning the league’s top coaching award, a group of nine UNCW student-athletes were recognized among the All-CAA selections, matching a program record.
Redshirt senior Danny Reynolds was named as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year and joined seniors Phillip Goodrum, Mark Lindstrom and Gabriel Cabral, and Evans on the All-CAA First Team. Senior Wilhelm Nilsson and freshman goalkeeper Gabriel Perrotta claimed Second-Team All-CAA status while Perrotta joined Pleasants on the All-Rookie Team.
The Seahawks’ success in 2019 also reached the professional ranks as three seniors were either drafted or signed by a professional team. Reynolds was taken by Seattle with the 35th overall pick in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft while Goodrum followed with the 75th overall selection by Atlanta. In addition, Lindstrom signed a contract with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC of USL Championship.
Heaney’s Seahawks made their second straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2018 after earning an at-large berth on the strength on a second-place finish in the CAA regular season standings. UNCW, which closed with a 12-5-3 record, hosted a first round game in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in five years.
Paced by Goodrum, the CAA’s Player of the Year, the Seahawks had a program-record nine players recognized as part of the league’s postseason honors. Goodrum joined Lindstrom, sophomore forward Emil Elveroth and senior midfielder Joel Bylander on the All-CAA First Team while a pair of Seahawks – Nilsson and redshirt senior goalkeeper Ryan Cretens – were Second-Team All-CAA picks.
Senior midfielder David Lozano garnered Third-Team All-CAA designation while freshman forward Cesar Cruz and redshirt freshman defender Drew Rabil were named to the CAA’s All-Rookie Team.
The 2017 season provided the Seahawks with their third NCAA Tournament appearance, including their second at-large berth in four years, after reaching the championship of the CAA Tournament. UNCW, which finished with a 12-8-0 overall record, defeated Presbyterian by a 1-0 margin in the first round at home before dropping a 2-1 decision at No. 7 North Carolina. Led by CAA Rookie-of-the-Year and First-Team selection Hjalmar Ekdal, the Seahawks were well-represented on the All-CAA Team with a group of seven selections.
Under Heaney's guidance, the Seahawks claimed a spot in the 2016 CAA Tournament after finishing in a tie for third place in the league's standings. UNCW closed out the season with an 8-6-3 record, including a 3-2-3 mark in league play, while having six players named to the All-CAA Teams, including First-Team pick Julio Moncada.
0In 2015, the Seahawks earned their sixth CAA Tournament appearance in the last eight years while authoring an 8-8-3 record. Senior Colin Bonner completed an outstanding career by becoming the first player in program history to be selected in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft after being taken in the third round by FC Dallas. Two other players – Michael Mecham and Sean Melvin – also signed professional contracts after the season.
During the season, Heaney also became the program’s all-time leader in wins when he earned his 130th victory as the Seahawks’ bench boss in a 1-0 decision over Northeastern.
Led by Heaney, the Seahawks enjoyed a historic 2014 campaign that featured the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament victory, wins over four nationally-ranked opponents and a CAA regular season title. In addition, the Seahawks spent much of the season in the national rankings.
The Seahawks’ success in 2014 did not go unnoticed. Heaney was named as the CAA and NSCAA Midwest Region Coach-of-the-Year. In addition, his players earned a bevy of awards, including a third team NSCAA All-America distinction for senior Jamie Dell, who joined Bonner and Jacob VanCompernolle on the All-Midwest Region Teams.
The momentum has been building for the Seahawks since a 2013 campaign that saw them finish third in the tough CAA and post road wins over nationally-ranked North Carolina and Duke. UNCW also broke into the national rankings in the second week of the season after winning the Wolstein Soccer Classic with victories against Ohio State and Cincinnati.
UNCW boasted three All-CAA performers in VanCompernolle (first-team), second-teamers Bonner and David Sizemore and All-Rookie selection Kellen Foster.
In 2012, Bonner and Dell were All-CAA performers and finished as the team’s leading scorers. Bonner was an All-Rookie performer while Dell snagged first-team All-CAA honors.
The Seahawks continued to send players on to the professional level in 2011 as Brandon Miller signed with Rochester while Daniel Roberts joined Wilmington, both of the USL Pro Division. Joining Roberts with the Hammerheads was Christian Davidson, who was a four-year starter for the Seahawks at defender. In 2013, standout Shawn Utterson joined the Hammerheads, giving the hometown team three Seahawks on its roster.
Roberts became the first Seahawk to be drafted when his hometown Houston Dynamo picked him in the MLS Supplemental Draft.
Miller, meanwhile, became the third consecutive netminder during Heaney’s reign to play at the professional level, joining Brock Duckworth and Brad Knighton.
Injuries hampered the program in 2010 as the Seahawks finished sixth in the CAA, narrowly missing the conference championship tournament. At times, there were as many as four freshmen in the starting lineup, but UNCW still compiled an impressive 8-6-4 record overall and 4-3-4 in the nation’s sixth-ranked conference.
Three Seahawks were honored on the all-conference teams with Indy Smith making the first team for the third consecutive year and Etienne Boulanger and Duckworth on the third team. Smith was also selected to the South Atlantic’s All-Region squad.
0In 2009, just two years after welcoming 16 newcomers to the program, Heaney led the Seahawks to their second straight CAA regular season title, their first league tournament championship and an appearance in the NCAA tournament where they reached the second round. The Seahawks edged Northeastern, 1-0, in the finals to earn the conference’s automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
UNCW topped the 12-team league with an 8-0-3 record while going 12-2-4 during the regular season. The Seahawks set a school record with eight conference wins and 27 points in the standings. UNCW also set a school-record with a 13-game unbeaten streak that ended with a 2-1 setback at Wake Forest in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
UNCW concluded its season ranked 10th nationally in goals against average (0.64) and checked in as high as 18th in both Soccer America’s and College Soccer News’ final top-25 rankings. The Seahawks were ranked in all four national polls.
Smith, the leader of the Seahawks’ defense, was honored as a Third-Team All-America selection, making him the first Seahawk to attain that distinction.
The 2008 season was a tremendous one for UNCW as the Seahawks captured their first CAA regular season title after topping the standings with 7-4-0 record. Led by CAA Player-of-the-Year Devan Carroll and Smith, who earned the league’s Defender-of-the-Year award, the Seahawks also returned to the national rankings and finished 48th in the RPI. For his efforts, Heaney earned his second Coach-of-the-Year honor.
The success of those two seasons began in 2007 when UNCW’s 16 rookies were the second most in the nation. UNCW, though, closed out the season strong as the Seahawks finished with a pair of impressive wins over James Madison and a road victory at Georgia State. The Seahawks played four teams that reached the NCAA Tournament, dropping a pair of one-goal decisions to Campbell and Liberty.
The Seahawks closed out the 2006 campaign ranked 47th in the RPI and knocked off No. 3 Duke and No. 19 Old Dominion, both on the road. Heaney’s club won two tournaments - the College of Charleston’s Invitational and the UNCW-Jameson Inn Classic - and finished with an 11-7-1 overall record.
In 2005, the Seahawks reached the semifinals of the CAA Tournament for the first time in school history. In a semifinal match at nationally-ranked Old Dominion, UNCW jumped in front of the Monarchs, but was unable to hold onto the lead as ODU notched a pair of goals in the final 17 minutes to advance to the finals.
Heaney, 50, led the Seahawks to a 12-6-2 record in 2004 and was named the Colonial Athletic Association’s Coach-of-the-Year by his peers. The Seahawks climbed as high as 25th in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll following a 3-2 upset of top-ranked UNC Greensboro.
The Seahawks have made a steady climb to the upper echelon of the CAA under Heaney. In 2003, the Seahawks reached the CAA Tournament following a two-year absence and reached the South Atlantic Regional rankings en route to a 10-7-3 mark.
During Heaney’s tenure, 63 Seahawks have earned All-Colonial Athletic Association honors, including the four selections last year.
Knighton became the first Seahawk to sign a Major League Soccer contract when he inked a deal with the New England Revolution in the spring of 2007. After spending time with the Vancouver Whitecaps and Philadelphia Union, Knighton rejoined the Revolution and has spent the last three seasons with the team.
While Knighton is the first UNCW player to sign professionally, several others have continued their careers into the professional ranks. Justin Schatz played with the Wilmington Hammerheads of the USL in 2001. Keith Shevlin followed by signing with Cork City FC of the Eircom League in Ireland and now plays for APAI Leichhardt of the NSW Premier League in Australia. Two-time All-CAA midfielder Chris Murray was signed by the Hammerheads during the spring of 2008.
As a player, Heaney powered Charlotte’s 49ers to their first NCAA Tournament in 1991. He was a two-time team Most Valuable Player and an Academic All-America pick. He still ranks among the 49ers all-time leaders in career shutouts and goals against average.
Heaney then led the Greensboro Dynamo to a pair of national titles in the USISL in 1993 and 1994, being named Atlantic Division Goalkeeper of the Year in 1993 and team MVP and Defensive MVP in 1994.
During a stint with Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution in 1996-97, Heaney started 19 games and finished fifth in the league in goals against average. Heaney began his professional career in Germany in 1992 before moving to MLS.
Heaney served as an assistant coach at North Carolina from 1995-96 where he was involved in all phases of the program. National Team member Eddie Pope was a first-team All-ACC selection that season. Joining Pope on the Tar Heel roster during that time were Carey Talley (Real Salt Lake), Kerry Zavagnin (Kansas City and USA) and Eddie Robinson (US National team).
0Heaney moved on to Penn State from 1997-99 and the Nittany Lions finished in the top 20 and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He sharpened his coaching and teaching skills under the direction of Barry Gorman, who is considered one of the foremost teachers of the game in the country.
Heaney then moved to Boone, N.C., where he coached two years at Appalachian State before taking over the helm at UNCW. In Boone, Heaney helped the Mountaineers compile a 13-7-0 record in 2000 and advance to the championship game of the Southern Conference tourney.
The Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, native earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Charlotte in 1992. He holds an FA Preliminary Badge, NSCAA Premier Badge and USSF “A” Coaching License. He serves as a Region III Staff Coach and has also worked with North Carolina’s ODP program and with Region Three as a staff coach.
Heaney is married to the former Dr. Stephanie Freccia, of Fayetteville, N.C., and they have three children - Maeve Claire, Millie Marlene and Harry.
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