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Craig Stewart
Craig Stewart enters his 11th season as the head coach of the Providence College men’s soccer team. Stewart is the fourth head coach in school history. In his 13 seasons as a head coach (10 at Providence, three at Franklin Pierce), Stewart has led his teams to a 157-78-30 record, including eight trips to the NCAA Tournament.
Last season, Stewart led the Friars to the Sweet Sixteen for the fourth time in program history. Stewart coached the team to a 2-0 home victory against Marist in the First Round and a 2-1 overtime upset over defending NCAA National Champion and No. 14-seed Marshall in the Second Round, snapping their 22-game win streak. He also coached the Friars to their 15th BIG EAST Semifinal and sixth BIG EAST Championship Game appearance, while guiding six players to All-BIG EAST honors, setting a program record. Stewart steered the team to a 12-5-4 record (5-2-3 BIG EAST). Paulo Lima and Ramzi Qawasmy were named to the First Team. Gevork Diarbian and Luis Garcia were tabbed Second-Team selections and Davis Smith and Malcolm Duncan were featured on the Third Team. He coached Qawasmy and Garcia to the United Soccer Coaches All-East Region First Team and Lima and Diarbian to the Second Team. At the end of the season, Paulo Lima was one of 44 players selected to participate in the MLS College Showcase held on Dec. 10-12 in Cary, N.C. In January, Lima was drafted 32nd overall in the second round by the Houston Dynamo FC. in the 2022 Major League Soccer (MLS) SuperDraft.
In 2020-21, the Friars finished 4-4-1 and 3-3-1 in BIG EAST play. The team played an abbreviated season in spring 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic that canceled fall 2020 play. Stewart coached four players to All-BIG EAST honors in Paulo Lima (First Team), Ramzi Qawasmy (Second Team), Gevork Diarbian (Third Team) and Luis Garcia (Third Team).
In 2019, Stewart steered the Friars to the Sweet Sixteen for the third time in program history. Stewart led the team to a 2-0 win over NJIT in the First Round and a 3-2 overtime upset over No. 13 Penn State. He also coached the Friars to their fifth appearance in the BIG EAST Championship, while guiding five athletes to All-BIG EAST honors. Stewart led the Friars to a 16-7-0 overall record, which tied the program's single season record for victories. Tiago Mendonca and Joao Serrano earned First Team recogniton, while Paulo Lima picked up Second Team honors. Austin Aviza and Danny Griffin were named to the Third Team. He coached Lima, Mendonca and Serrano to the United Soccer Coaches All-East Region Second Team. At the end of te season, Aviza was drafted 44th overall by Orlando City and Griffin was drafted 49th overall by the Columbus Crew SC in the 2020 MLS Superdraft.
In the 2018 season, Stewart guided the Friars to a fifth BIG EAST Semifinal appearance during his tenure. It was also the fifth winning season at Providence for Stewart, as the team went 10-7-2 overall. Five players earned All-BIG EAST recognition, including Tiago Mendonca (First Team), Colin Miller (Second Team), Klisman Sousa (Second Team), Ramzi Qawasmy (Freshman Team) and Gil Santos (Freshman Team). Additionally, Miller and Mendonca earned United Soccer Coaches All-East Region Third Team honors.
In 2017, the Friars finished 5-8-5 and made their fifth-consecutive BIG EAST Tournament appearance. Stewart coached two players to All-BIG EAST honors, including senior forward Mac Steeves and redshirt freshman Matt DePerro. DePerro was an All-Freshman team selection while Steeves garnered First Team honors and United Soccer Coaches Div. I All-Great Lake Region Third Team honors. At the conclusion of the season, Steeves was drafted 43rd overall by the Houston Dynamo in the MLS Superdraft.
In 2016, Stewart led the Friars to their second Elite Eight appearance in three seasons. Stewart coached the Friars to an upset over the No. 1 overall and undefeated Maryland Terrapins, 5-4, in the NCAA Second Round, erasing a 4-1 deficit (Nov. 20). In addition to leading the program to its first BIG EAST Regular Season title, Stewart guided six athletes to All-BIG EAST honors, and claimed three major awards. Julian Gressel was named the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, Colin Miller was named Co-Goalkeeper of the Year and Stweart and his staff were unanimously selected as the Coaching Staff of the Year. Gressel, Miller, and defender Mark Jecewiz were All-BIG EAST First Team selections while Joao Serrano, Liam Wilson and Danny Griffin were named to the BIG EAST All-Freshman team. Stewart coached Gressel, Miller, Jecewiz, Serrano, and Griffin to All-Great Lakes Regional Honors. He guided Gressel to a First Team All-America selection, a MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist, and to the program’s first MLS Superdraft First Round pick (8th overall, Atlanta United FC).
In the 2015 season, Stewart coached the Friars to a BIG EAST Semifinal game where they fell, 2-1, to Creighton and finished with an 8-7-3 overall record. He also guided five athletes to All-BIG EAST honors. Leading goal-scorer Mac Steeves earned All-BIG EAST First Team honors, Julian Gressel earned All-BIG EAST Second Team honors and three freshmen were named to the All-BIG EAST Freshman Team, including Klisman Sousa, Tiago Mendonca and Brendan Constantine. Additionally, Stewart coached Steeves to 2015 NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division I All-Regional honors.
During the 2014 season, Stewart led the Friars to their most successful season in program history. Providence captured its first ever BIG EAST Championship title after defeating Xavier, 2-1, in Philadelphia on Nov. 16. Following the BIG EAST Tournament, the Friars earned an NCAA tournament berth for the eighth time (second consecutive year) and their first First Round bye in program history. After a 3-0 win over Dartmouth in the Second Round (Nov. 23) of the NCAA Tournament, a 1-0 win over UC Irvine in the Third Round (Nov. 30) and a 3-2 win at Michigan State in the Quarterfinal (Dec. 6), the Friars advanced to the College Cup for the first time in program history. At the College Cup, despite a 3-2 double overtime loss to UCLA in the second semifinal game, Steeves was named the 2014 College Cup Most Outstanding Offensive Player. Steeves became the first player in 31 seasons to be named Most Outstanding Offensive Player of the College Cup without being a member of a team in the Cup final. In addition, the 2014 team also set a record for the number of wins in a season (16).
Also during the 2014 season, Stewart coached six players to All-BIG EAST honors. Brandon Adler ‘15, Phil Towler ‘15, Fabio Machado ’15, as well as then-sophomores Dominik Machado and Steeves were all named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team, while Daniel Neustadter was named to the All-BIG EAST Rookie Team. Upon conclusion of the BIG EAST Tournament, four Friars were recognized for their performances. Adler, Keasel Broome ’14, Markus Nagelstad ‘14 and Gressel were all named to the BIG EAST All-Tournament team. Naglestad also was named Most Outstanding Offensive Player of the Tournament, while Adler was named Most Outstanding Defensive Player. In addition, Stewart coached five players to 2014 NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division I All-Regional honors, including Adler, Towler, Dominik Machado, Fabio Machado and Steeves, as well as coaching Towler to his first All-America honor. Towler became the fourth player in Providence College history to earn All-America accolades.
After the season, two of Stewart’s seniors were selected in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, including Broome and Naglestad. Broome was drafted fourth in the third round (46th overall, San Jose Earthquakes), while Naglestad was drafted second in the fourth round (64th overall, New York City Football Club).
In 2013, Stewart coached the Friars to their third BIG EAST Championship Final game in program history and led the team to an NCAA tournament berth for the seventh time. Stewart’s second year with the Friars saw the team finish the season with an overall record of 12-6-4, which included a BIG EAST record of 6-3-0. Providence qualified for the BIG EAST tournament and had an excellent post-season, beating Creighton 2-1 in the BIG EAST quarterfinal and advancing past Georgetown in a penalty shootout in the semifinals. The Friars finished the tournament as runner-up to Marquette in the BIG EAST Final. The team’s success in the BIG EAST tournament helped earn the Friars an at-large selection to the NCAA tournament, where they advanced to the second round. The Friars defeated the University of Pennsylvania in the first round of the tournament in a penalty shootout. Goalkeeper Broome tallied two saves, while Gressel, defender Anthony Baumann ‘14 and Naglestad all converted from the spot to give the Friars a 3-1 penalty kick-advantage win, sending them into the second round.
During the 2013 season, Stewart coached three athletes to BIG EAST accolades. Gressel earned Second Team All-BIG EAST honors and was named to the BIG EAST All-Rookie team. Brandon Adler and Phil Towler earned BIG EAST Honorable Mention. Adler was also named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Northeast Second Team.
In addition to leading the Friars, Stewart has served as the Division I Representative for the New England Intercollegiate Soccer League (NEISL), as a New England Technical Scout for U.S. Soccer, as a Professional Match Evaluator (PME) for Major League Soccer (MLS) and as a U.S. Scout for the British Universities Men’s Football Team. Stewart’s work helped the Great Britain team claim the silver medal in the 2013 World University Games.
Stewart recorded his first career win behind the Providence bench on Aug. 31, 2012 when the Friars posted a 1-0 double overtime win at Bryant in the opening round of the 2012 Ocean State Soccer Classic - ensuring that the Friars advanced to the tournament’s championship game for a third consecutive season. Arboleda scored the game-winning goal at 109:07 to lift Stewart and the Friars to their first win of the year, marking the latest game-winning goal for the Friars since 2000.
Stewart’s first year leading the Friars was highlighted by a 1-0 Senior Day win over third-ranked Connecticut (Oct. 24) and a come-from-behind, 3-2 overtime win against Pittsburgh (Oct. 13). Stewart coached Arboleda to NSCAA All-Northeast Region and All-BIG EAST Third Team honors. Arboleda was the 14th Friar to earn All-BIG EAST honors in program history. Stewart also coached senior Marc Cintron, who became the fourth Friar to be selected in an MLS Draft as he was taken in the second round (34th overall) by the New York Red Bulls in the MLS Supplemental Draft. Eight of his players went on to earn 2012-13 BIG EAST Academic All-Star honors.
Stewart, who spent the previous three seasons as the head coach at Division II power Franklin Pierce University (Rindge, N.H.) before taking over at Providence, succeeded Chaka Daley. Under Daley, Stewart previously served as an assistant coach at Providence from 2006-08.
In 2011, Stewart guided Franklin Pierce to a 21-1-1 overall record as the team captured the Northeast-10 Conference regular season and tournament championships for the second consecutive season. The 21 victories set a single-season school record. In addition, the team earned a trip to the NCAA Final Four. Franklin Pierce also had its first unbeaten regular season record in team history as the Ravens went 16-0-1. For his efforts, Stewart was named NSCAA/Mondo East Region Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. Franklin Pierce also excelled in the classroom as the team earned the NSCAA Team Academic Award with a 3.12 team grade point average and two of his players garnered CoSIDA Academic honors.
In three seasons, Stewart led Franklin Pierce to a 51-8-6 overall record, two Northeast-10 Conference championships (regular season and tournament), two trips to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals and one trip to the Final Four. Stewart also coached four players who combined to win six player-of-the-year awards from either the conference or regional committees. In addition, he guided the Ravens to an undefeated record (24-0-2) in the Northeast-10 Conference during the last two seasons.
Prior to Franklin Pierce, Stewart served as an assistant coach at Providence College for three seasons (2006-08) under Chaka Daley. While at Providence, Stewart helped the Friars to consecutive NCAA Tournament berths and a trip to the 2006 BIG EAST Semifinals. Stewart spent the 2005 season as an assistant coach at Northeastern University. In addition, Stewart is currently the head coach for the U18 Boston Bolts Academy Team which is affiliated with US Soccer and Celtic FC. He also serves as an assistant coach for the British University Team which competes in the World University Games.
In addition to coaching, Stewart also played collegiate soccer at Franklin Pierce, where he earned a master’s in business administration and managerial leadership in 2004. At Franklin Pierce, Stewart was named NSCAA Division II All-American and Northeast 10 Player of the Year in 2004, as he helped the Ravens to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. Following his collegiate playing career, Stewart played professionally for the New Hampshire Phantoms and the Western Massachusetts Pioneers, both of the United States Soccer League.
Stewart was a product of the Newcastle (England) United Football Club youth system, spending almost 10 years at the club followed by stints with Sunderland AFC and Everton FC. Stewart then attended Loughborough University (England), where he was part of a BUSA National Championship team, earning a degree in Sports Science (2002). The native of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England, earned his Football Association (FA) coaching license and served as academy coach at the Newcastle Football Development Scheme.
Stewart and his wife, Jessica, reside in Providence with their sons Jack and Jordan.
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