Stratford Resident Named New Coach At Sacred Heart University

STRATFORD, CT — Stratford resident Matt Micros has been hired as the new head coach of the Sacred Heart University women’s soccer team, Executive Athletic Director Bobby Valentine announced this week. Micros is the third coach in the Pioneers’ Division I history.

"We are extremely excited to welcome Matt to the Sacred Heart family," Valentine said in a news release. "With a decade's worth of experience as a head coach and twice that in the coaching ranks, Matt has shown the ability to succeed at every level. We look forward to him continuing that success as a Pioneer."

Micros has spent the past seven seasons as the head coach at Post University, his second stint as the Eagles head coach. Under his tutelage, the Eagles have made six playoff appearances, three ECAC Tournament semifinals and won the ECAC in 2015. Micros was named the 2014 Coach of the Year in the CACC, leading the Eagles to the program's best-ever record, 12-6-1.

"I am honored and humbled to be named the women's soccer coach at Sacred Heart University," Micros said. "I would like to extend my thanks to Bobby Valentine, Deputy AD Brad Hurlbut and Senior Associate AD Mike Guastelle, for their trust and confidence to entrust the program to my leadership. As difficult as it is to leave Post University, the opportunity to return to coach at a school I attended, is too good to pass up. I am excited to get to work and look forward to getting to know the members of our program, the Department of Athletics and the University."

Read more from the news release below:

In addition to his collegiate coaching, Micros is the co-owner and founder of the Connecticut Football Club. He directly oversees the United program, and has coached the nationally ranked U15 and U16 teams, totaling 11 Connecticut State Cup Championships. In addition, Micros coached his CFC squad to the National Semifinals in 2013.

The development of players that can excel at the next level has been paramount in the growth of CFC under Micros' leadership. In the last decade alone, 127 CFC players have signed to play at Division I schools including: Boston College, Clemson, Indiana, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Northwestern, Penn, Penn State, and West Virginia.

Micros served as the head coach of the Connecticut Olympic Development Program from 1997-2004, leading the team to a National Finals appearance in 2003. During that time, he coached numerous elite players, including Alyssa Naeher, a goalkeeper with the US Women's National Team.

"What initially drew our attention to Matt were his strong connections to the women's soccer community in the state of Connecticut." said Brad Hurlbut, deputy director of athletics. "After digging a little deeper, it became readily apparent that he also has tremendous respect among his peers on the regional and national level as well. Matt brings to Sacred Heart an infectious spirit as well as an unmatched dedication to the sport of women's soccer. We are thrilled to welcome him to the Pioneer Family and are confident in his abilities to build a championship level team in Fairfield."

Micros graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a B.A. in American Studies. He earned an M.S. in Television, Radio & Film from Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Communications in 1990 and attended SHU's Graduate School of Education in 1995-96.

A native of Pittsford, N.Y., Micros resides in Stratford with his wife Katy.

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