Dan Donigan begins his second season as head coach of the Rutgers men’s soccer program after taking over the reins prior to the 2010 campaign.
Donigan arrived ‘On the Banks’ after nine successful seasons at Saint Louis University, where he led the Billikens to seven NCAA appearances, including a second round showing at the 2009 tournament.
In first season at Rutgers, Donigan and his staff took over an inexperienced squad and despite the ups and downs of the season, the Scarlet Knights finished one win shy of earning a berth the BIG EAST Tournament.
A Hamilton, N.J. native, Donigan posted a 118-42-23 (.708) overall record in nine seasons at Saint Louis. Donigan was a three-time conference and two-time NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year while at Saint Louis, guiding the Billikens to a pair of trips to the quarterfinals in seven NCAA Tournament appearances.
Donigan began his coaching career as an assistant coach with the University of Connecticut, his alma mater, in 1994. He spent three seasons with the Huskies before joining the Saint Louis staff as an assistant from 1997-2000.
While at Saint Louis, Donigan coached seven NSCAA All-Americans, 36 NSCAA All-Region selections and 65 student-athletes who received all-conference (C-USA, A-10) honors. In addition, Donigan has mentored 11 players that garnered conference Player of the Year accolades. Always placing an emphasis on academic excellence, Donigan had a total of four NSCAA Scholar All-Americans, four CoSIDA Academic All-Americans and 14 student-athletes named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District team.
Donigan also enjoyed great success in helping his former players advance their careers to the professional ranks. During his time, 12 student-athletes have been drafted by Major League Soccer (MLS), five total by the USL and MISL, as well as a number who have played overseas.
With over a decade of coaching experience on various levels, Donigan possesses a vast array of knowledge for the game. He holds a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) “A” coaching license as well as an NSCAA Advanced National Coaching Diploma.
In addition to collegiate coaching, Donigan has held posts on the staff of camps and Olympic Development Programs for several years.
A member of the USSF national staff of coaches, Donigan is certified to assist with coaching courses. He joined the national staff in 2002, and in 2008, he hosted the Coach It Right Soccer Clinic, a free seminar offered to youth coaches and parents emphasizing the positives of the sport.
Donigan carved out quite an illustrious playing career as one of the most heralded collegiate soccer players at the University of Connecticut from 1985-88. He was a three-time All-American and First Team All-New England forward. He also was selected as the BIG EAST Conference Northern Division Player of the Year in his final two seasons. As part of the BIG EAST’s 10-year anniversary in 1991, Donigan was further honored by his selection as the BIG EAST Player of the Decade.
Donigan received the adidas Adi Dassler Award as the nation’s “Most Outstanding Senior Soccer Player” in 1988. He also was one of 11 players selected as a 1988 Soccer America MVP, registering team highs of 11 goals and 11 assists while leading UConn to its third NCAA Tournament berth in four seasons. An All-America pick his final three seasons, Donigan was a finalist for Missouri Athletic Club Player of the Year honors as a junior and senior.
Donigan finished his career at Connecticut with 35 goals and 40 assists for 110 points. In the UConn record book, he ranks sixth in all-time scoring, third in career assists and tied for ninth in career goals.
Donigan began playing professionally in 1990. His longest tenure was with the Milwaukee Wave of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL), where he appeared in 92 matches over two stints from 1992-94, then again from 1996-97. He registered 100 goals with the Wave.
Donigan got his start on the professional circuit playing for the Boston Bolts and Penn-Jersey Spirit. He also played outdoor soccer for the Tampa Rowdies, Washington Warthogs and Rockford Raptors. Donigan’s indoor teams included the Wichita Wings, St. Louis Storm, St. Louis Ambush and St. Louis Steamers.
Scholastically, Donigan attended Steinert High School in Hamilton Township. He scored 34 goals in his senior year, leading Steinert to the Group III State Championship. In 1999, he was named by the Newark Star-Ledger as one of the top 10 New Jersey high school soccer players of the 1980s.
Donigan earned a degree in business administration from the University of Connecticut and later completed his master’s degree in higher education at Saint Louis University.
Donigan married the former Corey Stephens in 2008 and the couple have a son named Kaden and are expecting their second son in November.
DONIGAN BY THE NUMBERS
Overall Record: 118-42-23 (.708) in nine seasons at Saint Louis
Conference Record: 62-15-6 (.783)
(C-USA 2001-04, A-10 2005-09)
Coach of the Year:
Conference-USA – 2001
NSCAA Midwest Region - 2003
Atlantic-10 – 2006
Atlantic-10 – 2007
NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Region – 2007
NCAA Appearances:
2001 – Quarterfinals
2002 – Third Round
2003 – Quarterfinals
2006 – Second Round
2007 – First Round
2008 – Second Round
2009 – Second Round
Conference Tournament Championships:
Conference-USA – 2001, 02, 03
Atlantic-10 – 2009
NSCAA All-Americans (7)
NSCAA All-Region Selections (36)
All-Conference Selections (65)
Conference Player of the Year Honorees (11)
NSCAA Scholar All-Americans (4)
CoSIDA Academic All-District Team members (14)
CoSIDA Academic All-Americans (4)
MLS Draft Picks (12)
MLS Combine Invitees (14)
