As of January, Brett Parker and Peter McGahey were named head coaches of Saint Leo’s men and Women’s soccer program. Coach Parker will be the ninth head coach for the men’s soccer program, while coach McGahey will be the fourth head coach for the women’s soccer program. Both coaches arrive with 11 years of coaching experience.
University Vice President and Director of Athletics, Francis X Reidy is excited by the two new additions. “They represent the best all-around candidates due to their previous success and competitive nature,” said, Reidy.
Despite having subpar performances in recent years, both programs in the past were at the highest NCAA division II rankings. The rankings included three SSC titles and four NCAA appearances for the men’s program, and four SSC titles and seven NCAA appearances for the women’s team.
Parker was the first head coach at Fort Hays State and reached the NCAA tournament in seven consecutive seasons while putting together an outstanding 126-61-21 record at the helm of the Tigers.
Similarly, McGahey, obtained a covetous 124-76-25 record as head coach at Minnesota State, Mankato, and Central Michigan, guiding his programs to 10 NSCAA Team Academic Awards and four NCAA postseason appearances.
Both coaches are enthusiastic to start their Saint Leo experience. Accepting the coaching positions was an easy choice by both coaches, due to the institution’s history, opportunities both on and off the field, and most importantly, the possibility to compete in the Sunshine State Conference.
Coach McGahey looks forward to the success of the program sharing his idealogy, “You have to set your standards high, improve from what was done in the past, adjust the culture and create an enjoyable environment where the players can develop as student and athletes.” Credit: Christy Lear
How these two coaches will be able to rebuild a successful program, from the undesirable results in the past years, still is yet to be seen. “The biggest challenge to overcome is to change the recent culture, reaching a winning mentality, transmitted game by game and player by player,” said Parker.
Similarly, Coach McGahey agreed: “The biggest challenge to overcome is to establish a new culture, a positive mindset, forgetting about the past, and working and learning for a successful future.”
The bar is set high for next season and the future. To start their Saint Leo experience off on the right foot, both coaches seek a triumphant season and the accomplishment of their goals,
“You have to set your standards high, improve from what was done in the past, adjust the culture and create an enjoyable environment where the players can develop as students and athletes,” said McGahey.
Homogenously, Parker said the goal is to improve every day, develop players with the right mentality and work ethic to reach the season in the fall with right attitude and predisposition.
As the spring semester started, both coaches began working with their teams to set the pace and early expectations. A solid foundation is already established as both coaches explained, their teams are comprised of talented players, filled with positive energy, coachable, and overloaded with an expected hunger for success and enjoyable results.
Goals have been established, a plan has been produced, and now it’s time to work and develop for both coaches, and for our fellow soccer student-athletes. The hope is that the new coaching staff will be able to transmit the necessary values to rebuild a successful program.
