McColl Stepping Down As Head Men's Soccer Coach

Veteran Mentor Will Accept Head Coaching Position At Division III Houghton

11/29/2018 1:00:00 PM

By: By Mike Miranto, Sr. Associate A.D. for External Operations & Communications

AMHERST, N.Y. - Daemen College head men's soccer coach Bobby McColl will step down from his position effective Dec. 7 in order to accept the head coaching position with the men's soccer program at Houghton College. A national search to find his successor will get underway immediately, according to director of athletics Traci Murphy.

"The decision to leave Daemen was a tough one and not one that was made lightly. Ultimately, I believe this to be the best decision for my family as it grows and my children get older," said McColl. "I have enjoyed my time working here and it was a great experience being part of such a talented athletic department. I would like to thank [former athletics director] Bridget Niland for giving me the opportunity to build the men's soccer program here at Daemen. I would also like to thank Traci Murphy and [former interim athletics director] Brandi Guerinot for their support in their time as athletics director. The athletic department is in great hands and I look forward to following the Wildcats as a fan."

McColl will leave a lasting impact on Daemen and the men's soccer program in particular. In three seasons as head coach, McColl led the Wildcats to a 14-38-0 record, but his contributions to the program go far beyond wins and losses. He was a driving force behind increasing the team's roster size and competitiveness, and for the first time in the program's history it has become a destination for student-athletes from all over the globe. McColl brought 16 international student-athletes to Daemen during his tenure, including multiple players from Canada, Sweden, Norway and Germany.

After inheriting a program that went 2-26-2 in its first three seasons as a member of the East Coast Conference, McColl led the Wildcats to a 6-12-0 mark in league play during the last two seasons, tying the program record for conference wins (3) each year. In 2017, McColl's Wildcats posted a 7-11-0 overall record, tying the program record for wins in a season, something that hadn't been accomplished since 2006. They did so with a roster that featured 24 newcomers, including 22 freshmen. The 2018 season saw Daemen go 5-12-0 despite playing one of the most difficult schedules in the region and losing several key players in injuries.

"We are incredibly grateful for all that coach McColl has done for our men's soccer program," said Murphy, Daemen's lead athletics administrator since August of this year. "In the short time that I have personally gotten the opportunity to work with and observe Bobby, it's easy to see that he's a dedicated and knowledgeable coach with an intense passion for the game. We wish him and his family nothing but continued success as he tackles a new challenge at Houghton."

At Houghton, McColl will succeed Dr. Matthew Webb who was recently named the Highlanders' director of athletics. Webb led the Highlanders to a 129-121-33 record over 15 seasons as their head coach. Like Daemen, Houghton is a former member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the American Mideast Conference. The Highlanders now compete in NCAA Division III and the Empire 8 Conference.

Upon McColl's departure, graduate assistant coach Ross Stewart will handle the day-to-day operations of Daemen's program until a successor is named.

For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.

Print Friendly Version