MANCHESTER, N.H. – First-year Southern New Hampshire University head men's soccer coach Josh Taylor recently announced his coaching staff for the 2015 season. Joining Taylor on the sidelines will be Adam Perron, Major League Soccer veteran Khano Smith and former Penmen standout Keegan Campbell.
"I am happy to have completed the hiring of my staff. It is important to have the right staff in place to be successful and I believe all three of them bring a different perspective to the program," said Taylor. "We all have a wide variety of backgrounds, with experience ranging from college and elite youth coaching to former professional players and to a former SNHU player. I believe the program will benefit from the different experiences and I look forward to working with Adam, Khano, and Keegan on a daily basis."
Perron comes to SNHU from Colby College, where he was an assistant coach for the men's soccer program, which competes in the prestigious New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC). During his time at the Waterville, Maine school, Perron assisted with all facets of the program including recruiting, advanced scouting, practice planning, academic monitoring, as well as the training and development of the goalkeepers. In the fall of 2014, Perron helped Colby reach the conference playoffs for the first time since 2011, compile the best record since 2008, while the team registered in the top three in the league in goals against average at 0.80. He was also instrumental in bringing in one of the best recruiting classes the program has ever seen.
Prior to Colby, Perron was assistant coach at Bridgton (Maine) Academy in 2012 and also has collegiate coaching experience at the University of Massachusetts and Utica College. He played six seasons of professional soccer with the Albany Highlanders (USL PDL), Western Mass. Pioneers (USL) and Massachusetts Twisters (MISL). A 2006 graduate of Colby-Sawyer College, he was a four-year starter in goal and All-Commonwealth Coast Conference performer for the Chargers.
"Adam and I have known each other for quite some time, having played against each other back in college. Adam is a proven recruiter and has experience at all levels of college soccer including the preparatory school scene. Adam is known for his work ethic, commitment, and is well respected within the soccer community. I am thrilled that he has decided to be a part of the great tradition at SNHU," said Taylor.
"I am extremely excited and honored to join one of the top college soccer programs in the country at Southern New Hampshire University. To be afforded the opportunity, with hard work and dedication on our part, to compete year in and year out for a national championship is something every college coach dreams about. I look forward to the challenge of keeping the program in the spotlight as one of the nation's best," said Perron.
Smith, a 2003 graduate of Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, N.C., appeared in a total of 100 games for the New England Revolution, first from 2005-08 and again in 2010. He spent the 2009 season with the New York Red Bulls, and played for Lincoln City FC in Lincolnshire, England late in 2009. Smith is also a veteran of the Bermuda National Team, playing in 32 games from 2003-2011.
A two-time NSCAA All-American, Smith was the Player of the Year in the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference (now Conference Carolinas) as a junior and senior at Lees-McRae. In addition to his professional soccer career, Smith has worked with the Revolution as a Youth Development Player Coordinator as well as a scout for the first team. He has also served as an analyst on the Revolution postgame show on Comcast Sports New England. Smith graduated from Lees-McRae with a Bachelors in Sport Management.
"Khano's strength is his relationships with the players and he really enjoys the development aspect of the game. The players will benefit from the experiences Khano has had in his career as a player and a coach. He understands what it takes to compete and coach at a high level and I look forward to working with him to integrate new ideas and concepts to take the program to another level," said Taylor.
"I am excited by the opportunity to join SNHU and to contribute to the development of a top Division II men's program and its players," said Smith.
A familiar face to followers of the Penmen men's soccer program, Campbell recently wrapped up a stellar four-year career at SNHU. During his career, the Norton, Mass. native played in and started 87 of 89 career games and was a two-year captain. A part of the most successful class in program history, Campbell was a member of the 2013 national championship team, while the team went 76-10-3 (.871) with three national quarterfinal appearances, three straight Northeast-10 tournament titles and a pair of NE-10 regular season championships.
A two-time Northeast-10 All-Conference selection as well as a member of the league's All-Rookie Team as a freshman, Campbell earned Daktronics All-Region honors as a junior. He was also named a Capital One Academic All-American as a senior and manned a defensive backline that was among the national leaders in each of his four seasons.
Campbell graduated from SNHU in December, 2014 with a degree in Business Administration.
"Keegan had an outstanding playing career at SNHU and I am excited he will continue to be a part of the program. I was able to coach Keegan's development as a player and a look forward to helping him in his development into a coach. As a captain of the team for the last two seasons, including the 2013 NCAA national championship squad, Keegan understands the standard and the expectations of the program and the work needed to accomplish the program's goals," said Taylor.
"After playing here for four years, I am excited to come back and join the staff that has been so influential in my development as a player," said Campbell.
The Southern New Hampshire University men's soccer team opens the 2015 season on Sunday, September 6 at home against Chestnut Hill College. The Penmen enter 2015 with the nation's longest active streak of NCAA tournament appearances (seven) and are the defending Northeast-10 regular season and tournament champions.
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