Men's Soccer | 12/14/2018 1:41:00 PM
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Barry Buccaneers were recognized as the best in the nation again after winning the NCAA Division II national championship when United Soccer Coaches announced on Friday the association's 2018 National Staff of the Year. The Bucs brought home the award for D-II.
Recipients for NCAA, NAIA, NCCAA and Junior College men's and women's soccer were voted on by coaches in each division. Head coach Steve McCrath, assistant coach Ali Simmons, keeper coach Brian Galvin and student assistant Maria Zamora led the Buccaneers to the South Region and National titles, compiling a 16-4-3 mark.
Eleven of the 14 award winners claimed the national or divisional championship in their respective division in 2018, with two of the remaining three advancing to the national semifinals.
McCrath, in his 21st year at Barry, has compiled a 228-114-38 career record. He is a four-time Sunshine State Conference coach of the year and has three selections as the south region coach of the year by the national organization.
2018 National Staffs of the Year
- NCAA DI Men: Saint Mary's (Calif.), led by head coach Adam Cooper
- NCAA DI Women: Georgetown University, led by head coach Dave Nolan
- NCAA DII Men: Barry University, led by head coach Steve McCrath
- NCAA DII Women: University of Bridgeport, led by head coach Magnus Nilerud
- NCAA DIII Men: Tufts University, led by head coach Josh Shapiro
- NCAA DIII Women: Washington University (Mo.), led by head coach Jim Conlon
- NAIA Men: Central Methodist University, led by head coach Alex Nichols
- NAIA Women: William Carey University, led by head coach Danny Owens
- NCCAA Men: Southwestern Christian University, led by head coach Neal Cagle
- NCCAA Women: Grace Christian University, led by head coach Scott Teesdale
- Junior College DI Men: Pima CC, led by head coach Dave Cosgrove
- Junior College DI Women: Monroe College, led by head coach Marcus DiBernardo
- Junior College DIII Men: Richland College, led by head coach Sean Worley
- Junior College DIII Women: Santiago Canyon College, led by head coach Ian Woodhead
For Simmons, it's his second selection on the national staff of the year. His Charleston Eagles staff, which captured the 2017 national title, was also named D-II staff of the year.
In addition to the four on-field coaches, strength and conditioning coach BK Sanders, athletic trainer Kyanna Pastore, and the sports psychology team of Kellii Gotry and Lauren Grove were instrumental in the team's success this year.
These staffs will be honored at the United Soccer Coaches Awards Banquet on Jan. 11, 2019 at McCormick Place West in Chicago in conjunction with the 2019 United Soccer Coaches Convention.
Regional Staff of the Year recipients can be found on the Awards Central page at UnitedSoccerCoaches.org. Each Regional Staff of the Year was on the ballot for National Staff of the Year, along with the addition of staffs from all schools which reached the semifinals of their respective championship.
About the United Soccer Coaches
Founded in 1941 and headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., United Soccer Coaches is the trusted and unifying voice, advocate and partner for coaches at all levels of the game. The largest community for soccer coaches in the world, we unite coaches of all levels around the love of the game and we elevate the game through advocacy, education and service. To learn more, visit UnitedSoccerCoaches.org.
