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Niagara University

Niagara University Athletic Department
 Upper Level Gallagher Center, P.O. Box 2009 Niagara Falls, NY 14109
Division 1 New York Northeast
Private Small National competitor
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Bill Boyle

Boyle was hired as Niagara University men’s soccer head coach in January of 2016 and is currently in his eighth season at the helm.


Highlights


• Total of 64 student-athletes named to MAAC All-Academic Team.


• Five All-MAAC Selections (First Team-2, Second Team-1, Rookie Team-2)


• One United Soccer Coaches All-Region Team Selection.


2022


• Led Niagara to a 5-9-6 overall record and 4-2-4 MAAC record.


• The Purple Eagles recorded five clean sheets on the season, posting a 4-0-1 record in those contests.


• Earned the No. 4 seed in the MAAC Men’s Soccer Championship, the programs third-consecutive trip to the postseason.


• Niagara defeated No. 5 Siena in the quarterfinal round before falling to eventual MAAC Champion Quinnipiac in the semifinals.


• Stephen Hasse and Rodrigo Almeida were named to the All-MAAC First and All-MAAC Second team’s, respectively.


2021 (Fall)


• Niagara went 8-10 overall and 6-4 in MAAC play during the fall 2021 season.


• The Purple Eagles qualified for the MAAC Tournament for the second straight season and clinched the No. 3 seed.


• Jelldrik Dallmann led the NCAA in goals per game and was an All-MAAC First Team selection and United Soccer Coaches East Region Third Team selection.


• A program record 17 student-athletes were named to the MAAC All-Academic Team.


2021 (Spring)


• The Purple Eagles went 5-3 overall and 4-2 in conference in the spring 2021 season.


• Earned the programs first MAAC Men’s Soccer Championship appearance since 2012.


2019


• Niagara improved to a 5-12-1 record and went 3-6-1 in conference play.


• The five wins in a year set a new best for Boyle as the Purple Eagles' head coach and most for the program since 2014.


2018


• The Purple Eagles go 2-14-2 overall with a 1-9-0 mark against MAAC opponents.


• Five players were named to the MAAC All-Academic Team at season's end.


2017


• The Purple Eagles went 1-8-1 against MAAC teams and 2-14-2 overall.


• For the second straight season under Boyle, the Purple Eagles landed a player on the MAAC's All-Rookie Team, freshman back Matthew Krucko-Moeller.


• Nine Purple Eagles players were named to the 2017 MAAC All-Academic Team, the most since 2012 and tied for the second-most ever in program history.


2016


• In his first season leading the Purple Eagles, Boyle guided the team to a 3-6-1 record in the MAAC (4-11-2 overall).


• Boyle’s first win as head coach came against Robert Morris on Aug. 26, 2016, a 4-0 win for the Purple and White.


• Niagara earned its first-ever win over the Quinnipiac Bobcats on Sept. 25, 2016, a 1-0 overtime victory.


• The team was led by 2016 MAAC All-Rookie Team midfielder Mackenzie Roach.


• Boyle's team also excelled in the classroom as seven of 12 eligible players were named to the 2016 MAAC All-Academic Team


• Senior Konrad Zydowicz was honored as a CoSIDA Academic All-District Team member.


Coaching Experience


Prior to Niagara, Boyle spent 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).


In his previous head coaching experience, Boyle led the men's soccer program 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.


Playing Career


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.


Personal


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. In 2022, Boyle earned his Master’s in Sports Management from Niagara.


Bill resides in Grand Island NY with his son Liam.

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Email coach

David Hesch

Hesch brings nearly two decades of Division I coaching experience to the Purple Eagles' staff, with his most recent stop venture being the interim head coach of Niagara County Community College’s men’s and women’s soccer teams for the 2018 season.


Hesch assists the staff with recruiting functions and game-day preparation. Hesch's ties to the Western New York soccer community run deep as a former coach with high school, club, and college teams throughout the region.


Beginning as an assistant at Buffalo in 2001, Hesch spent 12 seasons on the coaching staff of the University at Buffalo. He was elevated to associate head coach in 2005, and was named the Bulls' head coach in August 2011 following the announcement of longtime mentor John Astudillo's retirement.


While at UB, Hesch served as the team's recruiting coordinator as well as the primary leader in the team's day-to-day operation. Hesch helped oversee the scouting of opponents, training sessions, and video analysis used by the Bulls in their match preparation.


In his time at Buffalo, Hesch helped the team to over 100 wins in his time as a head coach and associate head coach. The Bulls qualified for the MAC Tournament 10 of those 12 seasons, including two finals appearances against top-seeded Akron. Hesch recruited 31 All-MAC players, 11 NSCAA All-Region players, and 19 MAC All-Academic Team honorees. Hesch assisted in the development of 18 professional players at Buffalo, including goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth, a Nichols School graduate and an eight-year veteran of Major League Soccer (MLS) currently with Minnesota United FC.


Prior to Buffalo, Hesch was the head coach of Lake Erie College during the 2000 season where he guided the team to a third-place finish in the National Small College Tournament. Hesch also spent one season as the assistant men's soccer coach at Cazenovia and has coached the Premier Club Syracuse Blitz to four New York State West Championships.


Hesch is involved in the Western New York soccer scene at numerous levels. Since moving to Buffalo, Hesch has served as the Director of Coaching for Buffalo Blackwatch, a soccer club in WNY where he oversees all player and coach development and progress. In addition, Hesch is the founder and manager of Raise Your Level LLC., a company set up to develop children of all ages into quality soccer players. Hesch guided the Western New York men's soccer team to consecutive Gold Medals in the Empire State Games with Niagara alumni Matt Stedman, Mark Spooner, Billy Gustafson, and Eric Brodfuehrer highlighting his roster.


As a player, Hesch was the 1998 first overall selection in the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) after attending St. Bonaventure and Rowan University. In 1998, he was a member USL Delaware Wizards when they won the Metro Division Championship.


Hesch is a native of Liverpool, N.Y. and graduated from Liverpool High School, where he played with Niagara men's soccer alumnus Ryan DenHaese. He currently lives in Grand Island with his wife, Kate, and daughters, Natalie and Addison. He holds a USSF "A" Coaching License.

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