Francis Okaroh Named Emmanuel Women's Soccer Head Coach

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Courtesy of EC Athletics Communications

BOSTON, Mass. – Following a national search, the Emmanuel College Athletic Department is pleased to announce the appointment of Francis Okaroh as the Head Women's Soccer Coach. Okaroh becomes the seventh Head Coach in program history and will take over the day-to-day operations later this semester.

"I would like to thank Brendan [McWilliams], Andy [Yosinoff] and Dan [Campagna] for this amazing opportunity," said Okaroh. "I'm excited to begin working with and getting to know the team."

Prior to joining the Emmanuel staff, Okaroh was a member of the men's soccer coaching staff at his alma mater Boston University for 13 seasons. In 2008, 2010 and 2011, he was recognized for being a member of the America East's Coaching Staff of the Year after helping guide BU to America East regular season titles all three seasons and a 2008 NCAA berth.

In 2014, he helped BU claim Patriot League Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Scholar-Athlete and Coach of the Year honors along with the PL regular season title. The Terriers finished with an overall record of 12-4-4 and their first unbeaten conference record (6-0-3 PL) since 1994. They followed up in 2015 by claiming their first at-large NCAA berth since 2007 behind a 12-6-2 record and RPI ranking of 31.

A Boston University Athletics and New England Soccer Hall of Fame member, Okaroh played six years in Major League Soccer (MLS) from 1996-2002 and won an MLS Cup in 1999 with the Chicago Fire. While playing for the New England Revolution in 1996-97, he was twice named Defender of the Year. He also won the Champions U.S. Open Cup and later finished runner-up for the cup in 2000 with the Fire. In 2005, he was inducted into the New England Soccer Hall of Fame. In 2007, he was nominated for the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame and has international experience playing for the junior and senior Nigerian National teams as well as a stint playing with FC Menem out of Belgium.

In the Club Soccer circuit, Okaroh previously served as the head coach for the Greater Boston Bolts - the 2005 U-15 national champions. He's also coached the U-14 Spirit of Massachusetts team, the U-10, U-16, and U-17 Greater Boston Soccer Club teams as well as the Sherborn-Dover High School Girls team. Currently, he serves as the Executive Director and Coach for the FC Blazers Soccer Club and runs Okaroh's Ultimate Soccer Academy.

As a player at BU, he was named an All-American three times and was a four-time All-New England selection. Okaroh started all four years and led the Terriers to back-to-back berths in the NCAA Tournament in 1985 and 1986, including an appearance in the Final Eight in 1986.

The BU standout was part of the 1985 team that set Terrier program records for fewest goals allowed (11) and most shutouts (12) in a season. He finished his collegiate career with 26 goals scored. In recognition of his stellar undergraduate career, Okaroh was inducted into the BU Hall of Fame in 2006.

Okaroh takes the program over from Dan Campagna who served as Interim Head Coach for the past 13 months, handling all program logistics and operations during the head coaching transition.

"We're very excited to have Coach Okaroh join the Emmanuel women's soccer family," said Campagna who also serves as Emmanuel's Assistant Athletic Director. "Francis has an incredible playing and coaching pedigree and will immediately elevate the program on the pitch."

Coach Okaroh obtained his USSF "A" Coaching License in 2001. He graduated from Boston University in 1987 with a BA in Finance and later completed his Master's from BU in 1990 in Urban Affairs.