Ian Hennessy, a former All-American soccer player at Seton Hall University who has served as an assistant coach at Boston College the previous four seasons, has been named the new head coach of the UD men’s soccer program.

Hennessy replaces Marc Samonisky, who announced his retirement after the 2005 season. He becomes the 11th head coach in UD men’s soccer history, which dates back to 1926, and only the third since 1963.

In announcing the selection of Hennessy, UD Director of Athletics Edgar Johnson noted that the coach “has been successful not only as a player but as an assistant coach at the Division I level, and we are confident he will use his great passion and enthusiasm for the game to help bring a winning program here to Delaware.”

 

Johnson added that Hennessy is “well-respected by his peers and players, not only regionally but nationally. We are fortunate to have him here.”

A native of Cork, Ireland, Hennessy earned his bachelor’s degree from Seton Hall University in 1990 and earned his doctorate in molecular biology from Columbia University in 2001.

He began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant at Rutgers University in 2001 and then moved to Boston College, serving as an assistant to head coach Ed Kelly. During his time at Boston College, the Eagles have posted a combined record of 42-26-8, won the 2002 Big East Conference championship and advanced to the NCAA final eight in 2002 and to the final 16 in 2004.