Jim McGirr Position: Head Coach Experience: Third Season Alma Mater: Rider '92

Jim McGirr enters his third season as head coach of the Providence College women's soccer team with high hopes. As the program's eighth coach in its 24 year history, McGirr is looking to improve upon last year's 4-8-5 record. McGirr, who now has two recruiting classes with the Friars, is also looking to lead the Friars to their first winning season since 1993.

"Jim McGirr is the ideal coach to rebuild our program in the highly competitive BIG EAST," Providence College Athletic Director Bob Driscoll said upon McGirr's hiring. "He has coached at many different levels and he has experience recruiting in the BIG EAST. We are excited about the passion and commitment that he will bring to our women's soccer program."

In his two years at Providence, McGirr has begun rebuilding the program with a new recruiting style and intensity along the sidelines. This season, the Friars return 23 letterwinners and welcome seven newcomers. Prior to coaching at Providence, McGirr spent two seasons as an assistant at Villanova University. He helped the Wildcats advance to the NCAA Tournament in 2003 and 2004 as well as being ranked nationally. The 2003 Villanova squad won the BIG EAST title and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16. He was in charge of many aspects of Villanova's program, including scouting, video editing, recruiting, training, and off-season development. McGirr is known for his championship level experience and continues to use it along the Friar sidelines.

Prior to coaching at Villanova, McGirr spent one season as an assistant coach at Loyola College where his team advanced to the 2002 NCAA Tournament. He also served as a volunteer coach for Rutgers in 2001, helping guide the Scarlet Knights to the Sweet 16. McGirr also was the assistant coach on the 2000 Lafayette College men's team that captured the Patriot League regular season title.

McGirr also has extensive experience coaching at the club level. From 1997-2002, he was the head coach for the New Jersey Olympic Development Program. In addition, he was the coach for Wyckoff Torpedoes Under-19 Girls Club Team (1998-2001), head coach at a Player Development Academy for the under-17 boys team (2000-02) and the technical director/assistant coach at the Baltimore Bays Under-14 Girls Club Team (2002-03). Most recently, he served as the director of coaching for the FC Delco Girls Soccer Club, a position he has held since 2003.

He started his coaching career as the head coach of the boys team at Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, N.J. He coached Bergen Catholic from 1995-99 and led the team to the 1999 New Jersey Parochial "A" State title. A 1992 graduate of Rider, McGirr played three varsity seasons for the Broncs.

COACHING CAREER