Coaches

Sean Regan

Sean Regan heads into his fourth season at the West Liberty men’s soccer helm looking to build on the solid foundation laid over the past three years.

Regan and his Hilltoppers battled injuries throughout the 2021 season but still had plenty of bright spots. Five of West Liberty’s six wins came via the shutout route while the sixth may have been the most impressive victory of all, a 3-1 road romp past regionally-ranked Mercyhurst (Pa.) in a mutual season opener at Erie, Pa.

Several Hilltopper players earned post-season honors from the MEC. Senior captain Bernardo Vilchis and freshman standout Liam Toman were each second-team All-MEC selections with Toman also earning a spot on the MEC All-Freshman Team. Sophomore goalkeeper Noah Underwood received All-MEC honorable mention in the league-wide coaches’ balloting.

Regan needed no introduction to Ohio Valley soccer fans when he was handed the West Liberty reins in March 2019 as he has been a familiar face on the local soccer scene since childhood. The son of Bethany (W.Va.) College Hall of Famer and legendary Wheeling University head coach Jim Regan, Sean earned All-Conference honors on a pair of nationally-ranked squads while playing for his father at WJU before entering the “family business.”

After graduating in 2005, Regan began his coaching career as an assistant at Washington & Jefferson (Pa.). He spent three years on the W&J staff, helping guide the Presidents to their first PAC title and NCAA Tournament berth in 2007, before being hired as head coach at Bethany in 2008.

During his 10 years as head coach at his father’s alma mater, the 2010 PAC Coach of the Year developed numerous All-PAC standouts while leading the Bison to several post-season berths – including a run to the 2010 ECAC regional semifinals.

Regan and his wife, Rikki, live in Wheeling with their two sons, Liam and Declan.