Fairfield Women's Soccer Unveils New Locker Room in Fairfield

When Jim O’Brien became the head coach of the Fairfield University women’s soccer team 11 years ago, one of his main goals was to enhance the student-athlete experience. Now, all the current and future members of the Stags program will have a newly-designed and upgraded locker room to call their own.

The program has unveiled their new locker room, which has been made possible by generous benefactors to Women’s Soccer.

“I just think it’s important for us to be at the forefront as our program is concerned,” O’Brien said. “We don’t have a competitor in our conference that has a locker room at this level. It’s also a nice ‘home away from home’ and a comfortable place for the players to get away from and to relax and prepare themselves for practices and games.”

‎The locker room was officially unveiled on Sunday morning (August 30) before Fairfield’s match against Central Connecticut State. After the ribbon-cutting, parents got a look at the new facilities, and took pictures while taking a tour.

“The parents were just wowed by the whole thing,” O’Brien said. “It really helps us because it shows not only the student-athletes but also their parents that we care about our kids.”

“It means a lot to us to show that our coaches really care about what goes on outside the field,” senior captain Sarah Gerali said. “The locker room is just another step, another showing point of how much they really care about us.”

“I just think as a team we’re really lucky to have renovations done like,” senior captain Karolyn Collins said. “I think it’s nice for the university to get behind us and give us a chance to succeed.”

The new locker room is equipped with wooden locker stalls, carpeted interior, and pictures and banners that portray the program’s history. All made possible by generous benefactors to Women’s Soccer.

“The Friends of Soccer program that we have is incredible,” O’Brien said. “We always are very thankful. We try to make the student-athlete’s experience the best it can possibly be. Without the help of the Friends’ program, we wouldn’t have the luxuries to be on the cutting-edge as far as recruiting and facilities are concerned.”