WORCESTER, Mass. - Clark University head men's soccer coach Matthew O'Toole has stepped down from his position as head coach of the men's soccer team after 13 seasons of leading the program.
O'Toole arrived in Worcester in 2012 and quickly set about establishing a culture of excellence both on and off the field. Under his leadership, the Cougars steadily ascended within the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC). O'Toole compiled 88 total wins and three NEWMAC Semifinal appearances in his time with the Cougars.
Throughout his time at Clark, O'Toole cultivated a program that was both competitive and academically focused. He served as the department's liaison to the Admissions Office, helping to recruit and retain student-athletes, and he was also named the National Chair of the United Soccer Coaches Association Scholar All-America Committee.
One of O'Toole's most notable accomplishments came in 2016, when he led the Cougars to an impressive 14-5 record, a third-place finish in the NEWMAC, and a NEWMAC Semifinal appearance. That year, Clark was ranked among the top 10 teams in New England, and O'Toole was named the NEWMAC Coach of the Year. Between 2016-2019, O'Toole's squads appeared in three NEWMAC Semifinals and topped double-digit victory totals in three of the four.
Under his leadership, several players earned individual recognition, including Connor Maguire (2018), Sean Munroe (2020), and Brian Brennan (2021) were named to the NEWMAC All-Conference First Team. In 2017, Maguire and Munroe were also named to the New England Soccer Journal Best XI's Third Team. Anyolo Makatiani (2023), William Lopez (2022), and Melvin Vincent (2021) also recently earned All-Conference Second Team honors.
O'Toole's coaching career is marked by a series of successful stops at some of the most competitive programs in the country. Prior to joining Clark, he served as an assistant coach at Amherst College, which was ranked the 10th best Division III program in the nation in 2011. While at Amherst, O'Toole helped guide the team to both the NESCAC regular season and tournament championships, and to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. He also had stints as an assistant coach at the University of Richmond and Bridgewater College, as well as a successful early career as an assistant at Wheaton College, where he helped the Lyons reach the NCAA Final Four in 2003.
O'Toole, who also boasts an NSCAA Advanced National Diploma and a USSF "B" coaching license, has been a key figure in the New England soccer community. His coaching acumen was shaped by his playing career, which saw him start 64 of 65 games at Providence College, where he earned All-New England honors. After college, O'Toole trained with Major League Soccer clubs and with Bohemians FC in Ireland's Eircom Premier League.
