Aidan Heaney • Head Coach (9th season) One year after welcoming 16 newcomers to his program, UNCW head Coach Aidan Heaney, the 2008 Colonial Athletic Association Coach-of-the-Year, guided the Seahawks to their first regular season title and enters his ninth season looking to build upon that success. The 2008 season was a tremendous one for UNCW as it captured its first regular season title after topping the standings with 7-4 record. Led by CAA Player-of-the-Year Devan Carroll and CAA Defender-of-the-Year Indy Smith, the Seahawks also returned to the national rankings and finished 48th in the RPI. For his efforts, Heaney earned his second Coach-of-the-Year honor. In 2007, UNCW’s 16 rookies were the second most in the nation, but the Seahawks were able to close out the season with a pair of impressive wins over James Madison and a road victory at Georgia State. The Seahawks played four teams that reached the NCAA tournament, dropping a pair of 1-goal decisions to Campbell and Liberty. The Seahawks closed out the 2006 campaign ranked 47th in the RPI and knocked off No. 3 Duke and No. 19 Old Dominion; both on the road. Heaney’s club won two tournaments - the College of Charleston’s Invitational and the UNCW-Jameson Inn Classic - and finished with an 11-7-1 overall record. During Heaney’s tenure, 15 Seahawks have earned All-Colonial honors, including three in 2008, when Brian Harrison joined Carroll and Smith on the all-conference squads by earning a spot on the All-Rookie squad. Brad Knighton became the first Seahawk to sign a Major League Soccer contract when he inked a deal with the New England Revolution in the spring of 2007. In addition to Knighton’s signing with the New England Revolution, three other former charges have gone on to play professionally following their careers in Heaney’s program. Justin Schatz played with the Wilmington Hammerheads of the USL in 2001. Keith Shevlin followed by signing with Cork City FC of the Eircom League in Ireland. Two-time All-CAA midfielder Chris Murray was signed by the Hammerheads during the spring of 2008. In 2005, the Seahawks reached the semifinals of the CAA Tournament for the first time in school history. In a quarterfinal match at nationally-ranked Old Dominion, UNCW jumped in front of the Monarchs, but was unable to hold onto the lead as ODU notched a pair of goals in the final 17 minutes for the win to advance to the finals. In seven seasons under the direction of Heaney, UNCW has earned a reputation as a giant-killer following wins over nationallyranked teams. In 2005, UNCW vaulted past #1 ranked and undefeated UNC Greensboro, 3-2. It marked the second straight season UNCW edged its in-state rival. In 2004, the Seahawks fashioned a 2-1-2 mark against nationally-ranked opposition with wins over
top-ranked UNCG and 12th-ranked Old Dominion. The Seahawks added draws against No. 9 UNC Chapel Hill and No. 16 VCU. The only loss was a 2-1 setback to eighth-ranked William & Mary. Heaney, 39, led the Seahawks to a 12-6-2 record in 2004 and was named the Colonial Athletic Association’s Coach-of-the-Year by his peers. The Seahawks climbed as high as 25th in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll following a 3-2 upset of top-ranked UNC Greensboro. The Seahawks have made a steady climb to the upper echelon of the CAA under Heaney. In 2003, the Seahawks reached the CAA Tournament following a two-year absence and reached the South Atlantic Regional rankings en route to a 10-73 mark. As a player, Heaney powered C h a r lotte’s 49ers to their first N C A A Brad Knighton and Aidan Heaney Tournament in 1991. He was a two-time team Most Valuable Player and an Academic All-American. He still holds the record for career shutouts and goals against average. Heaney then led the Greensboro Dynamo to a pair of national titles in the USISL in 1993 and 1994, being named Atlantic Division Goalkeeper-of-the-Year in 1993 and team MVP and Defensive MVP in 1994. During a stint with Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution in 1996-97, Heaney started 19 games, finishing fifth in the
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