NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Niagara University Director of Athletics Simon Gray has announced the hiring of Bill Boyle as men's soccer head coach. Boyle comes to Niagara from the University at Albany, where he spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach for the Great Danes.
 
"In our next head soccer coach, we were looking for an outstanding individual that is knowledgeable about the game of soccer, but most importantly also values the student-athlete experience," Gray said. "Bill was a standout on the field and has honed his acumen for the game while leading and assisting successful programs. Bill's familiarity with soccer in New York State and Canada will be very important in the rise of our program, and his commitment to the holistic development of the student-athlete, as I heard in conversations with his former student-athletes, makes him an excellent fit for Niagara."
 
Boyle spent the previous five seasons coaching collegiate soccer in New York state. In his second season at UAlbany in 2015, Boyle helped the Great Danes to their first-ever America East regular-season title en route to being named the America East's Coaching Staff of the Year. UAlbany also had three student-athletes named to the conference's first-team, one to the second team selection, one to the rookie team, two to the all-academic team and had the striker of the year. 
 
Boyle served as an assistant coach at Colgate University from 2011-14. Colgate won the Patriot League title in 2011, and Boyle played a large role in coaching Patriot League Player of the Year, Mike Reidy. Boyle also recruited a nationally-ranked freshman class to Colgate in 2014, as well as many other players on the Raiders' 2015 Patriot League regular-season championship roster.
 
Boyle also served as an assistant coach at Michigan State from 2010-11, while earning his USSF A Coaching License. He primarily worked with the goalkeepers, as well as directing the day-to-day operations and scouting opponents. The Spartans advanced to the 2010 NCAA Tournament Third Round (Sweet Sixteen).
 
Boyle has previous head coaching experience. He served as head coach at Division III Olivet College in Olivet, Mich. for four seasons from 2005-08. In his first season, Boyle directed the Comets to a 7-6-1 record in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA), matching their conference win total from the previous four seasons. In Boyle's final season at Olivet, he led the team to a program-best No. 14 ranking.
 
From 2004 to 2007, Boyle served as an assistant coach for the Olympic Development Program's 1990 Team, in addition to working as an evaluator for the program's 1988 team in 2004. The Michigan native began his coaching career at Okemos High School from 2001-04 where he led the program to the 2004 Division I State Championship. Boyle also brings to the table 11 years of club soccer coaching experience and over a decade of camp development and instruction experience.
 
As a player, Boyle was a Mr. Michigan Runner-Up at Okemos after scoring 32 goals in his senior campaign. Boyle was a four-year starter at Hartwick College, where he was coached by NSCAA Hall of Famer Jim Lennox. In his sophomore year in 1995, Boyle scored two goals to help Hartwick defeat fourth-ranked Brown to advance to the NCAA Tournament, where his team advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. Hartwick was ranked as high as sixth in the nation during Boyle's time on the roster. Boyle played professionally for the Detroit Dynamite and the Cincinnati Riverhawks before beginning his coaching career.
 
"First of all, a thank you goes to my wife Melinda and our boys Cody and Liam, for being excited and supportive of my new position at Niagara University," Boyle said. "We look forward to joining this amazing community which has already welcomed us with open arms. A very big thank you to President Father Maher, Director of Athletics Simon Gray, Deputy Director of Athletics Steve Butler, and to all of the search committee for this opportunity and the confidence in me to guide Niagara men's soccer going forward. We have everything we need here at Niagara to build a successful team. I look forward to immediately getting to work on building the men's soccer program back to where it was only a short time ago, competing for MAAC championships. Lastly, I want to say that I look forward to meeting the alumni and to developing those relationships so that we can all feel like part of the team." 
 
Boyle received a bachelor's degree in business management from Hartwick College in 1998 and also received a teaching certificate in business education from Olivet College in 2010.
 
What They're Saying
 
"Niagara have made a fantastic hire in Bill Boyle. All of the members of the UAlbany athletics family wish him the best in this new endeavor. His passion for the sport and the student-athletes will immediately shine through in the community. I couldn't be happier for Bill and his family."
- Trevor Gorman, men's soccer head coach, University at Albany
 
"Bill is an incredibly passionate coach who knows what it takes to be successful at the highest level of college soccer.  He has been ready for the next step in his coaching career for some time, and I am confident he will achieve success at Niagara."
- Erik Ronning, men's soccer head coach, Colgate University
 
"We at Michigan State soccer are happy for Bill and excited for Niagara University. Bill's experiences, both as a collegiate player and a coach, combined with his work ethic and passion for soccer, make for an ideal Division I head coach. Having a majority of those experiences in the state of New York makes him a great fit for Niagara. We wish him and his family all the best at Niagara!"
- Damon Rensing, men's soccer head coach, Michigan State University
 
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