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[Kuiper]

Knox College Hires Former Bates and Knox Head Coach Tyler Sheikh as Men's Soccer Head Coach

Justin Newell, the Vice President and Director of Athletics at Knox College, today announced the hiring of Tyler Sheikh as the head coach for the Prairie Fire men's soccer program. This is Sheikh's second stint helming the program, having served in this role for the three seasons from 2015-17 while leading the team to an overall record of 39-10-9 and a mark of 22-2-4 in the Midwest Conference.

"We are thrilled to welcome Tyler, his wife Alea and their family back to Knox College," Newell said. "A key architect in building the foundation of excellence within our program during his previous tenure, Tyler returns with a deep passion for Knox and a clear vision for the future. With experience coaching at the highest levels of NCAA Division III, he is a proven recruiter and a consistent winner. We are excited to have him lead our program once again and continue the proud tradition of Prairie Fire men's soccer."

For the past three years, Sheikh has been the associate director of college counseling at The Frederick Gunn School in Washington, Connecticut, while serving as the head coach of the boys' varsity soccer team as well as the girls' varsity tennis squad. Under his leadership, the boys' soccer team enjoyed its first winning season this past fall in over 15 years (7-6-4) and girls' tennis enjoyed its best season in program history.

Sheikh spent four years as the head men's soccer coach at Bates College (2018-21), amassing an overall record of 23-22-1. In 2019, he guided the Bobcats to their first winning record in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) since 2005 as the team received votes in the national poll during the season and finished the campaign with a 9-6-1 overall record.

During his first stint in Galesburg, Sheikh enjoyed great success, winning the Midwest Conference regular-season title in 2017 and setting a conference record with 12 shutouts, after finishing second in each of his first two seasons. In both 2016 and 2017, his Prairie Fire squad went undefeated in league play, a feat not accomplished at Knox since 1988. Sheikh mentored 11 all-conference performers in his three seasons — eight on the first team — as well as the MWC Defensive Player of the Year in every campaign and the 2017 Newcomer of the Year. Five of his players also earned all-region honors during his tenure.

Prior to his arrival at Knox, Sheikh spent one year (2014) as the head coach at Illinois College, securing the Blueboys' first MWC Tournament appearance in over 20 years while posting a record of 10-7-2. He also served two seasons as the head coach of both men's and women's soccer at Mount Aloysius College in Cresson, Pennsylvania. Not only did he guide the men to their first-ever postseason appearance and victory in the postseason in 2013, he also was named the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year.

Sheikh, a Connecticut native, earned his bachelor's degree in history from Quinnipiac University in 2008, followed by his master's of education in 2010 from the University of Connecticut.

[EnmoreCat]

I wasn't familiar with Knox and did some basic research.  By D3 standards (and I am aware there are other examples of this) they have a big international presence on their roster.  I counted as many as 25!

[Another Mom]

My son was recruited by Sheikh when he was at Bates, and liked him.

[Kuiper]

Glad to see that the former Cabrini Head Coach is back in DIII after serving as an AC in DII last season when Cabrini closed

Rob Dallas Named Head Coach at Immaculata

Paul Murphy, Immaculata University Director of Athletics and Recreation announced Rob Dallas as the Head Men's Soccer Coach and Fitness Center Coordinator.

"We are ecstatic to welcome Rob to the Immaculata family. We have certainly had enough experience playing against his teams while at Cabrini, and we are looking forward to putting him in front of the fantastic student-athletes in our men's soccer program," said Paul Murphy. "Rob's experience as a Head Coach at the collegiate level for more than a decade will serve him well as he looks to raise the bar for the Mighty Macs men's soccer program. We look forward to supporting the team as we open a new chapter in the program."

Dallas comes to Immaculata after spending the 2024 season as Assistant Coach at West Chester University. Prior to West Chester University, Dallas spent 18 years as a coach in Cabrini's program serving as Head Coach from 2012-until 2024. While at Cabrini, he was a part of six conference championships teams and NCAA tournament appearances. His team made six conference final appearances from 2015-2021. He has served on the United Soccer Coaches Regional Rankings Committee, the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Committee, and the NCAA Soccer Safety Committee.

[Kuiper]

Brendan Ujvary Named Head Men's Soccer coach at Hamilton

Hamilton College Interim Director of Athletics/Senior Woman Administrator Deidre Pierson announced the hiring of Brendan Ujvary as the Continentals' next head men's soccer coach on Thursday, June 19.
 
Ujvary, who has been an assistant coach at Hamilton since 2015, is just the third person to lead the men's soccer team since 1959. Perry Nizzi is retiring at the end of the month after winning 211 matches over 26 seasons, and Manfred von Schiller won 227 times from 1959 to 1997.
 
"I'm incredibly honored and grateful to be named the next head coach of this program," Ujvary said. "I want to extend my deepest thanks to Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty Ngonidzashe Munemo, Deidre Pierson and the search committee for this incredible opportunity."
 
Ujvary inherits a team that finished 8-6-4 overall and advanced to the second round of the 2024 NCAA Division III championship after a 3-2 win over Calvin University in the first round. The Continentals tied 2-2 with Kenyon College in the next round, but Kenyon advanced on penalty kicks. Hamilton posted a 4-4-2 record in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) – a conference that received seven at-large bids to the NCAA championship.
 
"It's hard to put into words what this place means to me — it's been home for nearly a decade -- and to now have the chance to lead it is something I'll never take for granted. I have to especially thank Coach Nizzi. He's been a mentor, a leader, and more than anything, a great friend. His guidance and trust meant so much to me, and I'll carry that with me in all that's ahead."
 
Ujvary has helped lead the Continentals to 68 wins and seven NESCAC championship appearances. The Hamilton men advanced to the conference final in 2016 and the semifinals in 2017 and 2018. He has coached the conference's 2016 rookie of the year, eight all-region selections and 14 all-NESCAC team honorees.
 
"Coach Ujvary's ascension to the head position of our men's soccer program is a testament to his hard work and commitment to the development of our Hamilton scholar-athletes," Pierson said. "His energy and relatability will continue to propel the success of the program. He brings a healthy outlook towards the future and a respect for the program's successes of the past."
 
Ujvary was an assistant with the Utica University men's team in 2013 and 2014. He helped guide the Pioneers to a pair of Empire 8 Conference playoff appearances, including the team's first trip to the championship game in 2013. Utica players received eight all-conference team honors and one Empire 8 rookie of the year award during his time at the school.
 
Ujvary played college soccer at SUNY New Paltz. The defender appeared in 53 matches with 41 starts over the course of three seasons. As a senior, he helped lead the Hawks to the SUNYAC quarterfinals in 2011. Ujvary was a member of the Dean's List all four years, made the United Soccer Coaches all-academic team and represented the soccer program on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
 
Ujvary has earned his United Soccer Coaches National Diploma. He earned a bachelor's degree in adolescent education with a specialization in social studies and a geography minor, and he has a master's degree in special education from Utica. Ujvary is from Kings Park, N.Y., and played soccer at Kings Park High School

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