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Five-time America East Coach of the Year Neil Roberts comes into the 2009 season, his 25th at the Terriers' helm, after leading Boston University to the second round of the 2008 NCAA tournament. Since his first season in 1985 when BU rolled to a 14-4-1 record and a bid in the NCAA tournament, Roberts has established the BU men's soccer program as one of the elite in the nation. Ranking 20th in the nation among active coaches in winning percentage, Roberts has guided the Terriers to a 278-134-67 overall record, registering an unprecedented 23 winning seasons. In 2008 with the seventh-best strength of schedule in the nation, BU finished with a 12-6-3 record and advanced to the second round of the NCAAs after knocking off Fairleigh Dickinson at home. A late second-half goal by eventual College Cup participant St. John's snapped a 10-game unbeaten streak for the Terriers, who finished the year with a RPI rating of 20. Under Roberts' direction, the Terriers have appeared in 13 NCAA tournaments, advancing past the first round seven times. During the 1985 season, the Terriers reached the national quarterfinals. In 1988, 1990, 1993, 1994, 2004 and 2008, the Terriers won their first-round matches before being eliminated in the second round. BU has enjoyed similar success in the America East men's soccer championship during Roberts' tenure. The Terriers won five straight conference titles in the 1990s and, during that stretch, had a 10-game tournament winning streak. In the 20-year history of the postseason competition, BU has advanced to the finals nine times and boasts an overall record of 16-6-5 (.685). Similarly, in 21 years of regular-season conference play, the Terriers have won the regular-season title seven times and posted an overall record of 108-34-24 (.723). From September 1989 through October 1993, Roberts' clubs were undefeated in 29 consecutive conference games, compiling a mark of 28-0-1. One of the highlights of Roberts' career came in 1994 when the Terriers posted a 16-0-1 regular-season record, making them the only undefeated team in the nation. The season opened with a stunning 3-2 upset win over No. 1 ranked and eventual national champion University of Virginia. The Terriers set seven team records and finished the regular-season ranked first. They ended the year with a 19-1-1 (.929) mark, including a first-round win in the NCAAs. The all-time winningest soccer coach in program history, Roberts has coached 12 All-Americans and eight Academic All-Americans. In 1994, Nick Bone, who went on to become the Terriers' all-time leading scorer, was voted the National Freshman of the Year. Roberts' association with BU soccer began in 1979, when he served as an assistant under Hank Steinbrecher, who is the former executive director of the United States Soccer Federation. In 1985, when Steinbrecher left the University, Roberts was named the head coach. Sincere then, he has been recognized 13 times for coaching excellence. He was the NSCAA New England Coach of the Year in 1985, 1986, 1988, 1994 and 2004. In 1986, 1990 and 1994, he was also the New England Soccer Coach of the Year as selected by the Eastern Massachusetts High School Soccer Coaches Association, and in 1991, 1994, 2001, 2004 and 2008, he was the America East Coach of the Year. In 1995, he received the William French Award for coaching excellence from the Boston University Athletic Hall of Fame. Having coached eight academic All-Americans, Roberts is equally proud of his players' successes in the classroom. During the 2005 season, 13 players earned America East academic honors, while Steve Walker (1993) and Ola Olsen (1994) received the conference's Scholar-Athlete Award as the outstanding student-athlete in men's soccer. Last year, senior co-captain Dan Schultz earned national academic honors from CoSIDA and NSCAA. The holder of a USSF license, Roberts has been actively involved with soccer at all levels. Most recently, he guided the Massachusetts Under-15 team to the 1999 regional title, while he has also coached the Mass Bay Strikers to the 1993 Under-17 State title. In 1984, he led the Cambridge Portuguese Sport Soccer Club to an undefeated season and the American Soccer Association title. A native of Braintree, Mass., Roberts was an All-New England selection and captain of the 1976 Mitchell Junior College team that finished second at the junior college national championships. He then enrolled at Southern Connecticut State University, where he enjoyed two outstanding seasons. Roberts captained the team during his junior and senior seasons and led the Owls to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances. Currently residing in his hometown, Roberts and his wife, Sue, have a son, Dan, and a daughter, Deidre. |
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