Steinert grad Donigan out as Rutgers coach
Two days after Rutgers’ men’s soccer season ended with a loss to Wisconsin in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals, Dan Donigan was let go as head coach on Tuesday.
“After an evaluation of the program’s performance, a change of leadership is appropriate at this time,” Athletic Director Pat Hobbs said in a released statement. “We are very thankful for Dan’s dedicated service to Rutgers and its student-athletes. He contributed to our rich history of soccer success. Moving forward, we are committed to securing a head coach who will help our student-athletes compete and succeed at a Big Ten and national level.”
Rutgers is beginning a national search immediately.
A graduate of Steinert High School and the 1980s Big East Player of the Decade at the University of Connecticut, Donigan came to Rutgers in 2010 after an outstanding career at the University of St. Louis (seven NCAA appearances).
He guided Rutgers to two NCAA appearances in 2011 when the Knights were still in the Big East, and in 2015, when he was named Big Ten Coach of the Year. But the past three seasons have seen a downward slide as Rutgers went 9-40-4 overall and 2-20-2 in the Big Ten.
Donigan politely declined the request for a phone interview, but did text The Trentonian saying he was handling the firing well.
“Life isn’t easy or always fair, but you can’t dwell or make excuses, you move forward with class and dignity,” Donigan texted. “That’s all my family has ever taught me and that’s what my wife and family will do.”
In nine seasons under Donigan, the Knights went a combined 55-95-15 playing the Big East, the American Athletic Conference and Big Ten.
While success on the field was scarce over the past three years, Donigan did take pride in the fact Rutgers soccer continued to be outstanding in the classroom. The Knights earned the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award for the 2017-18 academic year, making it five straight years Rutgers received that honor. The award goes to collegiate soccer teams that post a 3.0 or higher grade-point average.
Rider coach Charlie Inverso, who served as Donigan’s goalkeeper coach during his first year at Rutgers and who actually coached Dan in CYO soccer as a kid, expressed optimistic words for his friend.
“He’s a great coach who has nine NCAA tournament appearances to back it up,” Inverso said. “More than anything he’s a really loyal guy who has made a tremendous impact on soccer in this country and he will keep making an impact for a lot of years to come.”
Follow Rich Fisher on twitter @fish4scores