O'NEAL NAMED WOMEN'S SOCCER COACH
5-19-05
CALDWELL, N.J. - Steve O'Neal, who has been an assistant soccer
coach at Caldwell College for the past five years, has been named head women's
soccer coach by Caldwell's Executive Director of Athletics Mark A. Corino.
O'Neal, who replaces Brian Davies, served as an assistant to men's soccer
coach Jamie Nash since 2000, and last year was an assistant coach for
both of Caldwell's men's and women's soccer teams.
"Steve has been an important part of our soccer programs over the past five
years and is familiar with the College and the student-athletes," Corino said.
"He has also been loyal to Caldwell College through the years, and that is
something that is very important to us."
Last fall, both Cougar soccer teams turned in their best seasons, as the
women's team was 11-8-2 and the men's team was 13-8-2. Both squads advanced to
the semifinals of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament and
participated in the ECAC Tournament. O'Neal inherits a Cougar women's team
that returns nine starters, including first-team all-CACC selections
Lindsay Gregoris (Woodbury, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) and Carla Bleiler
(Egg Harbor, NJ/Absegami), the conference's Newcomer of the Year.
"I'm grateful that Mark chose me to continue the success that we've had
recently," O'Neal said. "I'm very comfortable with the College and the
community. There's a lot of support here that makes it easy for the
student-athletes to be successful on and off the field. Plus, with so many key
players back from last year, we're set up to be a very competitive team for a
long time."
Prior to coming to Caldwell College, O'Neal coached soccer at the youth and
high school levels for four years. Currently, he is the coach of the
Parsippany Soccer Club's U-16 boys team that plays in the Super Y League, an
extension of Major League Soccer's developmental league.
As a player, O'Neal earned all-conference and all-state honors at William Penn
High School in New Castle, Del. He played one year at Landers College in
Greenwood, S.C., and two years at William Paterson College. O'Neal graduated
from William Paterson in 1999 with a Bachelor's degree in psychology. He also
holds a Master's degree in physical education and health from La Crosse
University and is currently working on a Master's degree in special education
at Caldwell College.
O'Neal and his wife Wendy were blessed with their first child, daughter Ceara
Beckham, this past February. The O'Neals reside in Franklin Township, N.J.
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