Northern Illinois University names Michael O’Neill as women’s soccer head coach

DEKALB, Ill. – Michael O’Neill has been chosen as the new head mentor of the Northern Illinois College women’s soccer plan, NIU Vice President and Director of Athletics Sean T. Frazier introduced.

O’Neill joins the Huskies as the sixth head coach in method record following major Saginaw Valley Point out for the past eight yrs, guiding the Cardinals to the NCAA Match 3 moments.

“I am extremely excited to have Michael O’Neill becoming a member of the Huskie household as our upcoming women’s soccer head coach,” mentioned Frazier. “Hiring an knowledgeable head coach with a historical past of championship achievement was critical to us in this approach. Michael has established his potential to construct a method that has achieved at a superior-level, each athletically and academically, and he is the ideal in good shape for NIU. I would also like to thank (Senior Affiliate Athletic Director) Courtney Vinson for her tough operate in top our lookup.”

For the duration of his tenure at Saginaw Valley Condition, O’Neill’s Cardinals gained 77 matches and he mentored 35 All-Fantastic Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Meeting (GLIAC) selections.

“I’m really thrilled to be signing up for the NIU women’s soccer software,” said O’Neill. “As soon as the administration arrived at out and expressed an fascination in me it was something that I realized was likely to be a fantastic in shape for me and my relatives. I’m excited and I’m beneath no illusions that its heading to consider a large amount of difficult work but I am grateful for the possibility and grateful to Sean (Frazier) and Courtney (Vinson) for trusting me to guide this program.”

This previous time, O’Neill led the Cardinals to a college document 14 victories as they superior to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division II Tournament for the initially time, ahead of slipping to eventual nationwide champion Grand Valley State. O’Neill mentored 6 All-GLIAC honorees for the duration of the 2021 marketing campaign, including Stephanie Solid, who scored a method file 14 aims, and Olivia Argeros, who posted a school history 13 shutouts.

Saginaw Valley State won double-digit video games in six of O’Neill’s 8 seasons, together with through his first 12 months in 2014 when the Cardinals attained the NCAA Match for just the 2nd time in faculty history. After inheriting a plan that had been underneath .500 the time prior to his arrival, O’Neill guided Saginaw Valley to an 11-4-3 mark in his initially year, profitable the program’s initial NCAA Event game as they defeated Ohio Dominican in the initial round. 4 Cardinals attained all-convention honors, like GLIAC Goalkeeper of the Yr Claire Spleth.

O’Neill and the Cardinals received 10 video games in both of those the 2016 and 2017 seasons, reaching the GLIAC Event Closing in 2017. Saginaw Valley Point out returned to the NCAA Tournament throughout the 2018 year as the Cardinals posted a 12-4-4 history. 4 gamers earned all-meeting honors all through the 2018 marketing campaign, which includes Molly Vanderhoff, who was also named a United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-American.

The Cardinals received 12 video games during the 2019 campaign, finishing second in the regular season in the GLIAC. During his eight seasons at Saginaw Valley, O’Neill led the Cardinals to four best-3 finishes in the meeting.

Prior to using in excess of the Saginaw Valley Condition women’s soccer system, O’Neill used two seasons (2012-13) as an assistant mentor with the Cardinal men’s soccer plan. In 2012, O’Neill assisted the Saginaw Valley State men to an 18-earn season as they won the GLIAC title and state-of-the-art to the NCAA Division II Countrywide Championship activity for the initial time in application background. Seven players acquired All-GLIAC honors, with Zach Myers and Jason Wise, becoming the very first two players in school historical past to make All-The united states recognition. Myers was the 2012 Countrywide Soccer Coaches Association of The us (NCSAA) Division II Nationwide Player of the 12 months and also attained Academic All-The usa honors.

In addition to his time at Saginaw Valley Condition, O’Neill also served as an assistant coach with the Flint City Bucks in USL League Two throughout the summer season of 2021.

As a player, O’Neill ranks 3rd in occupation assists at Tiffin College, owning performed for the Dragons from 2008-11, assisting the college acquire a few GLIAC Match titles (2008, ’09, ’11). A indigenous of Luton, England, O’Neill gained his bachelor’s diploma from Tiffin College in Athletics and Recreation Administration in 2012.