Former Major League Soccer and Terrier standout Francis Okaroh rejoined the Terrier staff for the 2007 season and enters his 13th year as an assistant coach. In 2008, 2010 and 2011, he was recognized for being a member of the America East's Coaching Staff of the Year after helping guide BU to America East regular season titles all three seasons and a 2008 NCAA berth.
In 2014, he helped BU claim Patriot League Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Scholar-Athlete and Coach of the Year honors along with the PL regular season title. The Terriers finished with an overall record of 12-4-4 and their first unbeaten conference record (6-0-3 PL) since 1994. They followed up in 2015 by claiming their first at-large NCAA berth since 2007 behind a 12-6-2 record and RPI ranking of 31.
A Boston University Athletic and New England Soccer Hall of Fame member, Okaroh played six years in Major League Soccer (MLS) from 1996-2002 and won an MLS Cup in 1999. While playing for the New England Revolution in 1996-97, he was twice named Defender of the Year. He also won the Champions U.S. Open Cup and later finished runner-up for the cup in 2000 with the FIre. In 2007, he was nominated for the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Okaroh has experience playing for the junior and senior Nigerian National teams, and has served as the head coach for the Greater Boston Bolts - the 2005 U-15 national champions. Currently, he coaches the U-14 Spirit of Massachusetts team, the U-10, U-16, and U-17 Greater Boston Soccer Club teams and the Sherborn-Dover Girls team.
He was named an All-American three times and was a four-time All-New England selection. Okaroh started all four years and led the Terriers to back-to-back berths in the NCAA Tournament in 1985 and 1986, including an appearance in the Final Eight in 1986.
Okaroh was part of the 1985 team that set program records for fewest goals allowed (11) and most shutouts (12) in a season. He finished his collegiate career with 26 goals scored. In recognition of his stellar undergraduate career, Okaroh was inducted into the BU Hall of Fame in 2006. His brother, Ben, joined him in 2010.
