Guilford head soccer coach11/15/2023 It will be streamed via YouTube and the link can be found here. UNCG will hold an official welcome for O’Keeffe on Wednesday, Jan. We have a lot of work to do but I’m excited and humbled to lead the program moving forward.” There is a rich tradition at UNCG Soccer and I look to add to that. UNCG is close to my heart along with so many alums. “I’d like to thank Chancellor Gilliam, Kim and Sport Oversight Jody Smith. “I’m excited to come home,” O’Keeffe said. Prior to his time with the Panthers, O’Keeffe was the Director of Recreation, Championships, Discipline and Appeals for the North Carolina Youth Soccer Association where he managed a yearly $900,000 budget. O’Keeffe is also an official US Soccer National Team Scout and is a member of the United Soccer Coaches National Ranking Committee, United Soccer Coaches Regional Ranking Committee and the NCAA Regional Ranking Committee along with being a MLS Combine Scout/Liaison. The Greensboro native joins UNCG after spending the last nine years at High Point, including four seasons as head coach where he was twice named Big South Coach of the Year and had the Panthers ranked as high as No. His intensity, enthusiasm and passion reflect our commitment to seeking excellence in all that we do. With his leadership and experience - including a trip to the Sweet Sixteen as a player and his coaching success, we fully believe he is the right fit for our program. “EJ was chosen following an extensive national search and stood out with a proven track record of success and as an alum has the passion for what the history and tradition of UNCG soccer is all about. “This is an exciting day for our men’s soccer program,” said Director of Athletics Kim Record. The move represents a homecoming for O’Keeffe, who played at UNCG for three seasons, serving as team captain and leading the Spartans to the 2008 Southern Conference championship and NCAA Sweet Sixteen. GREENSBORO, N.C.- UNC Greensboro today announced that EJ O’Keeffe, a two-time Big South Coach of the Year, has been named the men’s soccer head coach after a national search. UNCG Alum And Former Team Captain EJ O’Keeffe Named Men’s Soccer Head Coach O’Keefe had George Kennedy as his head soccer coach, back in the day, at Western Guilford High School….********** “We just haven’t been playing our best, but I still have hope that there is still a chance to make it to the playoffs with the following games.**********We are pretty sure E.J. “We got some great coaches and the best team,” said junior striker Hector Bernal. Reynolds and the fall season ending, the team and coaches hope to make it to the playoffs this year. With the playoffs around the corner, and recently having games with their rivals Mount Tabor, West Forsyth and R.J. We’re all friends outside of soccer and I think soccer just adds on. “The soccer team welcomed me with open arms and treated me the exact same way as they do for everyone else,” said senior goalkeeper and midfielder Brayan Campos. Not only do the coaches have a good friendship but so do the players, both during soccer and outside of soccer. “I thought it was really cool that coach Donnelly came out of retirement to coach with Ogburn at Reagan.” “I was aware of their recent past,” said junior center back Ian Blutreich. Those who did know were very interested in their past together and were amazed that this fall will be both of their first year back at coaching. Some players were unaware of the history between the two coaches. “I had to brush off the mothballs off of him to get him back here,” Ogburn said. He asked Donnelly if he would be the head coach, and he agreed. This year Ogburn was offered a position to return to coaching for the boys’ varsity soccer team. He then took a break from coaching after that. Ogburn transferred to Reagan to teach and coach the girls’ varsity soccer team for three years. They continued to work together for 12 years at Mount Tabor.Īfter 12 years, Donnelly retired from teaching and coaching. Soon after, Donnelly had a coaching position open at Mount Tabor so Ogburn transferred to coach with him. The two have a long history of coaching and friendship starting from Donnelly’s father coaching Ogburn in youth soccer.Īround 20 years ago, they coached from different sides of the field with Ogburn coaching the East Forsyth soccer team and Donnelly coaching at Mount Tabor. “I have known him since basically my entire life.” “Me and coach Donnelly are old, old friends,” Ogburn said. This fall, head coach Keith Donnelly and assistant coach Bo Ogburn are back together again to coach the Reagan 2021-2022 fall varsity soccer team.
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