Coaches

Lain Byrne

At graduation, we want our athletes to tell us that their Oneonta experience has been the greatest four years of their lives. A positive college experience transitions a student athlete into a great alumnus and a lifetime member of our soccer family. Our student athletes make academics their number one priority. On the pitch, we work individually and collectively with our players to help develop them and provide them with the opportunity to compete for conference and national championships. Finally, we encourage our student athletes serve as a role model for fellow students and to contribute to the city of Oneonta and the neighboring communities.


Academically, our expectation for our athletes is that they will have two choices at graduation. If they are not progressing to a recognized graduate school to continue their studies, then they should be positioned as an attractive candidate for a leading company in their chosen field. We provide year-round support with weekly study halls, class selection, pre-registration, advisement and tutoring. The team enjoys the privilege of a Team Faculty Mentor, "Chelsea fanatic" Joanne Murphy, who offers additional advice and guidance to the athletes. In addition, the team features a "big brother policy" where the team leaders and upperclassman counsel the younger players on life at Oneonta.


The three key intangibles we look for in a prospect are a positive attitude, a natural enthusiasm for the game, and a willingness to set aside personal goals for the good of the team. Our recruiting philosophy is to scout prospects in multiple matches, evaluating their potential fit in our attacking style of play. We believe in committing to those recruits who choose Oneonta and providing them every chance to develop and prosper in our program. Open tryouts and preseason cuts are very rare with us because we are selective in our recruiting choices and believe in a smaller squad to ensure a greater chance of individual and team success.


Our style of play favors a game based around pace, movement and technique. We are a possession-oriented team that loves to go forward and attack, so every player must be comfortable on the ball. All successful teams possess a combination of attacking and defensive qualities, so we look to complement our match-winning flair players with a sprinkling of hard-nosed, hard-working team players that possess leadership qualities.


At Oneonta, the team will always face a punishing schedule, competing against some of the toughest regional and national competition. Our non-conference schedule has the sole aim of preparing our team for a potential run in the NCAA Tournament, and not to inflate the team's record. Our practice sessions are influenced by the top professional coaches from across the globe with development and enjoyment at the forefront of our agenda. We conduct a year-round training program where players will develop physically through strength and speed training, muscle development, and nutritional supplementation and guidance. The team enjoys a full spring program, which includes the annual alumni match and competition against Division 1/2 opposition.


In 2023, I will be enjoying my 21st season as the head coach at Oneonta after filling the assistant coaching role for the previous six seasons. At an early age, our family immigrated to Durban, South Africa where I represented the South African School's Team in 1977 and 1978. I turned professional at the age of 18 and played for Durban City and Arcadia in the South Africa Premier League. In 1984 and 1985. I represented the South African National Team in the annual celebratory match against international competition. I settled in the United States in 1986 and spent 10 years coaching and directing youth soccer organizations in Georgia and Florida before relocating to upstate New York to join the Red Dragon coaching staff prior to the 1997 season.


I completed my studies at SUNY Empire State College, graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Sports Management. I am a lecturer in the Health and Fitness Department and teach a soccer coaching course for the “Sports Management" major. In past semesters, I have taught activity classes in "Team Sports", "Body Conditioning", "Racquetball" (I am the reigning team champion, but that doesn't say much considering the current level of competition!) and "Badminton".


During the summer months I am an avid golfer (short off the tee and cannot putt!) and cyclist (I’m not exactly yellow jersey material!) and I enjoy a beach getaway during the winter break (loved Puerto Rico, Mexico, Juno Beach and Siesta Key, Florida). My teams are Liverpool (YNWA), the Red Sox, the NY Rangers, and the NY Giants. So.... for all players on our team who support Manchester United, the Yankees, the Islanders, or the Jets…. it’s a given that they are regulars in our 6am running club!!!!!!!!!!