Gerry Cleary
Head Coach
Women's Soccer
Gerry Cleary, a native of Dublin, Ireland, enters his Sixth season as head coach of the RedHawks women's soccer program. During his five seasons, Cleary has led MMC to an 88-19-5 record, Two NAIA National Championships, Two Region XI Championships and back-to-back-to-back-to-back TranSouth Athletic Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championships.
His team has made five consecutive appearances to the TranSouth Conference Tournament Championship game and winning it four times. Five consecutive appearances to the NAIA Region XI Tournament and four consecutive trips to the NAIA National Tournament. Astonishly Winning it twice in three years.
He has received numerous coaching honors including being named the NAIA/Brine National Coach of the Year twice (2005 and 2007), NSCAA/Adidas NAIA National Coach of the Year twice (2005 and 2007), NSCAA/Adidas Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year twice (2005 and 2007), NAIA Region XI Coach of the Year twice (2005 and 2007) and TranSouth Athletic Conference Coach of the Year four times (2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007).
His coaching tips have also been published twice in the World Soccer Magazine. His coaching session where published in the July/August 2007 and 2008 editions of the bi-monthly magazine World Class Coaching - the world’s leading resource magazine for soccer coaches. The coaching sessions, entitled "Combination and Penetration "and “Passing to keep possession”, appeared among sessions written by U.S. National Team assistant coach Glen "Mooch" Myernick, the Wales U21 National Team coaching staff and legendary NCAA D-I coach Barry Gorman of Penn State University.
In his time at Martin Methodist he has coached 40 All conference players, 7 Conference players of the years (twice co-players of the year), 4 Conference freshman of the years, 36 All region XI players, 4 Region XI players of the year, 25 NAIA All-Americans, and 2 National Players of the year. His team has lead the NAIA Nationally in goals scored, goals average per game, goals against, and fewest goals allowed for three different seasons.
Cleary came to MMC after three seasons as a member of the 2002 NCAA Division II National Champion Christian Brothers University coaching staff. That team where 72-5-2 in Cleary’s 3 years with them. He was assistant coach to the women and ran the daily training sessions. At CBU he received a master’s degree in Education from in 2002.
A member of the National Team Pool in Ireland at the youth level. At Colaiste Ide, a post secondary school, he was part of a soccer program aimed at producing professional soccer players and coaches. There the team won the All Ireland National Championship with Cleary playing midfield. He was touted to play in the top league in Ireland but he decided to make a complete change. Cleary came to the United States and played soccer at Lambuth University. A 1999 graduate of Lambuth University, he earned a B.S. in Physical Education and Health. During his playing career with the Eagles, he was a three time NAIA All-American, four time First Team All-Mid South Conference selection, and was voted twice as the Mid-South Conference Player of the Year. During Cleary’s tenure, Lambuth captured three Mid-South Conference Championships and he was captain for 3 years.
Cleary is coaching Mid South Rovers under 17 girl’s team. This team has the potential to be Tennessee State champs in 2008. He is also helping develop players in the surrounding areas - Lincoln County, Giles County, and Columbia with the help of Martin soccer players.
Cleary’s club teams have also won numerous Tennessee State Championships. He has the honor of being a Superclubs National Team Coach, in which the team travels to England once a year to compete against English Premier League teams. He has coached many players both men and women who have gone on and played professional in the US and around the world.
NAIA Award Winners & Team Accomplishments
TranSouth Championships
2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
NAIA Region XI Titles
2005 and 2007
NAIA Region XI Tournament Appearances
2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
NAIA National Tournament Appearances
2004 – 2nd Round
2005 -- National Champions
2006 -- 3rd place
2007 – National Champions
Coaching Recognition:
TranSouth Conference Coach of the Year in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007.
Region XI Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2007
NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) Regional Coach of the Year for the Southwest Region in 2005 and 2007.
Brine-NAIA Women's Soccer National Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2007.
NSCAA National Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2007.
Four Time National Champion. Two at MMC and one at CBU. One as a player in Ireland.
