McCourt at Monmouth Year-By-Year Results

YEAR

OVERALL

PCT

CONF

PCT

FINISH (PTS.)

2004

7-8-3

.472

2-4-3

.389

8th (9)

2005

10-4-6

.650

6-0-3

.833

1st (21)

2006

14-4-3

.738

7-0-2

.888

1st (23)

2007

12-5-2

.684

7-2-0

.777

1st (21)

2008

12-3-4

.737

6-1-2

.777

1st (20)

2009

18-2-2

.864

8-1-1

.850

1st (25)

2010

14-2-4

.800

6-0-4

.800

1st (22)

2011

14-6-2

.682

7-3-0

.700

1st (21)

2012

11-4-4

.684

6-2-2

.700

3rd (20)

2013

8-6-6

.550

7-1-2

.800

1st (23)

2014

11-4-6

.667

4-1-5

.650

4th (17)

2015

13-4-4

.714

7-0-3

.850

1st (24)

2016

6-9-3

.417

5-5-0

.500

6th (15)

2017  

7-9-2

.444

4-5-1

.450

7th (13)

2018  

2-14-1  

.147

0-10-0

.000

11th (0)

2019  

3-12-2

.235

3-6-1

.350

9th (10)

2020-21 

6-3-1

.650

2-2-1

.500

6th (7)

2021      

8-9-2

.474

5-5

.500

7th (15)

TOTAL

176-108-57

.599

92-48-30

.629

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McCourt Year-By-Year 

NJ Stallions  USL Professional Soccer

2000:  14-3-1  USL National Champions USL National Coach of Year

                    MLS Round US Open Cup

2001:  13-4-2  USL Semi Finalists  MLS Round US Open Cup

Virginia Commonwealth University – Asst Coach

2002 : 15-5-1  CAA Reg Season Champs NCAA Tourney  # 8 seed

                        CAA Tourney Champs NCAA  Tourney 2nd round

                        CAA Coaching staff of year

2003:  17-5-0   CAA Reg Season Champs NCAA Tourney #9 seed

                        CAA Tourney Champs NCAA Tourney 3rd round

Monmouth University - Head Coach

2004:  7-8-4  

2005:  10-4-6  NEC Reg Season Champs NEC Coach of Year

                      Undefeated in NEC play

                      NEC Tourney Finals

2006:  14-4-3  NEC Reg Season Champs NEC Coach of year

                      NEC Tourney Champs, NCAA 1st round

                              Undefeated in NEC play

2007:  12-5-2   NEC Reg Season Champs, NEC Coach of Year

                      NEC tourney semifinal

2008:  12-3-4  NEC Reg Season Champs

                      NEC tourney semifinal

2009:  18-2-2, NEC Reg Season Champs, NEC tourney champs, NEC Coach of the Year, NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year, Program record for wins, NCAA 1st Round win over #12 UCONN, Ranked as high as #5 in the nation

2010: 14-2-4, NEC Reg Season Champs, NEC tourney champs, NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year, NCAA 1st Round home match, Ranked as high as #4 in the nation

2011: 14-6-2, NEC Reg Season Champs, NEC tourney champs, NSCAA North Atlantic Coach of the Year, NCAA 1st Round win over Stony Brook at home, Ranked as high as #13 in the nation

2012: 11-4-4, NEC Tourney Semifinal

2013: 8-6-6, MAAC Reg Season Champs

2014: 11-4-6, MAAC Tourney Champs, NCAA 1st Round

2015: 13-4-4, MAAC Reg Season Champs, MAAC Coach of the Year

2016: 6-9-3, MAAC Quarterfinals

2017: 7-9-2

2018: 2-14-1

2019: 3-12-2

2020-21: 6-3-1, MAAC Tourney Champs, NCAA 1st Round Win, Finished Season with RPI of 9, MAAC Coach of the Year

Monmouth in the NSCAA/Continental Tire National Rankings under McCourt

2006: 10/24 tied-15th; 10/31 16th, Final Rankings-16th

2007: 25th

2008: 9/16 35th; 9/23 38th; 9/30 32nd; 11/4 33rd; 11/11 30th 

2009: 9/8 24th; 9/15 19th; 9/22 14th; 9/29 10th; 10/6 10th; 10/13 8th; 10/20 7th; 10/27 14th; 11/3 9th; 11/10 8th; 11/17 5th; Final Rankings-13th

2010: 8/10 15th; 9/7 7th; 9/14 5th; 9/21 4th; 9/28 10th; 10/5 10th; 10/12 12th; 10/19 13th; 10/26 12th; 11/2 11th; 11/9 13th; 11/6 11th; Final Rankings -25th

2011: 8/9 32nd; 8/30 25th; 9/6 18th; 9/13 30th; 9/27 38th; 10/4 38th; 10/11 34th; 10/18 41st; 10/25 25th; 11/1 36th; 11/8 27th; 11/15 23rd; Final Rankings – 28th

2012: 8/7 31st; 8/28 32nd; 9/4 28th; 9/11 19th; 9/18 25th; 9/25 39th; 10/16 35th

2013: 11/5 37th

2014: 8/6 46th

2015: 10/20 25th, 10/27 22nd

2016: 8/28 30th

2020-21: 5/18 Received votes

2021: 8-9-2

Hawks in the Pros: Tommy Gray (Kansas City Wizards), Damon Wilson (Overseas), Hugh MacDonald (New York Red Bulls), Ryan Kinne (New England Revolution), Bryan Meredith (Seattle Sounders FC, San Jose Earthquakes), RJ Allen (Chivas USA, New York City FC), Anthony Vazquez (Puerto Rico Islanders), Ryan Clark (New York Red Bulls), Matt Jeffery (Colorado Rapids), Derek Luke (FC Cincinnati), Eric Klenofsky (D.C. United), Jake Areman (Charlotte Independence), Colin Stripling (FC Tucson), Bobby Edwards (FC Cincinnati), Sean Murray (FC Tucson), Julian Gomez (NYCFC II) 

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Robert McCourt has orchestrated the transformation of the Monmouth University Men’s Soccer program from a conference and regional power into one that consistently ranks among the nation’s elite.

The 19th-year head man of the Monmouth University men's soccer team has led the Hawks to historic and unprecedented success in his tenure in West Long Branch. The Kearny, N.J. native has piloted the Hawks to nine conference regular season titles, six league tournament crowns, and three home matches in the NCAA Tournament. 

In the 2021 campaign, McCourt had the Hawks off to one of their best starts in conference play in nearly 15 years after Monmouth went a flawless 5-0 in its first five MAAC outings. It was the first time since the 2007 season that the Hawks started conference action with five straight wins, tying the program record. The five consecutive victories also marked the longest regular season conference win streak since 2013.  Under McCourt’s watch, five Hawks garnered All-MAAC honors.

McCourt led Monmouth to one of the best seasons in program history in 2020-21 despite also navigating through the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hawks won the MAAC Championship as the No. 6 seed, and defeated Bowling Green in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. By the end of the season, Monmouth was receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Poll and had an RPI as high as 9. McCourt was named MAAC Coach of the Year after leading the team to four straight road wins en route to the conference championship, including a game-winning goal in the 86th minute at No. 1 Quinnipiac. Under McCourt's guidance, George Akampeke was named MAAC Defensive Player of the Year and Sean Murray was tabbed MAAC Co-Goalkeeper of the Year. In addition, Robin Oswald and Ben Zakowski were named to United Soccer Coaches' Second Team All-Region.  Five players were named to the All-MAAC Team, including Akampeke, Murray, Zakowski, Julian Gomez, and Luke McBeth.

McCourt's 2019 Hawks ended the season on a two-game winning streak, outscoring opponents 6-2. Freshman Ben Zakowski had a breakout season, earning MAAC All-Rookie Team honors after leading the team with seven goals, the most by a freshman in 16 years. Former goalkeeper Bobby Edwards joined the professional ranks early in 2020, signing with MLS' FC Cincinnati.

The 2018 team welcomed a lot of new faces, and the Hawks picked up wins over Princeton and Hartford. Redshirt freshman Sean Murray was named to the All-MAAC Rookie Team after ranking third in the NCAA with 87 saves. Colin Stripling became the newest student-athlete to go pro, joining the USL League One's FC Tucson following the season.

In 2017, the Hawks earned a 1-0 win in the season opener at Georgia Southern, scoring on a diving header in the 69th minute. Monmouth went 6-1-1 at home during the season, including a 2-0 win over Penn, 3-1 wins over Hartford and Saint Peter's, a 3-2 win over Iona, a 1-0 win over Quinnipiac, and a 4-0 margin in the season finale against Niagara. The team played two nationally-ranked teams, drawing #14 West Virginia, 0-0, and falling late to #25 UMass Lowell, 3-2.  Redshirt senior Colin Stripling and redshirt freshman John Antunes were both named to Third Team All-Region and Second Team All-MAAC. Sophomore George Akampeke was named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team. Following the season, senior Jake Areman signed with the USL's Charlotte Independence.

In 2016, McCourt and the Hawks began the season hosting #15 Denver in West Long Branch, ending in a 1-1 draw to a team that would later advance to the College Cup Semifinals. After six wins on the season, Monmouth placed six athletes on All-MAAC teams. Eric Klenofsky was named Co-Goalkeeper of the Year and Second Team All-MAAC, as he left Monmouth with the fourth-best goals against average in program history (0.745), the third highest save percentage (0.842). David Nigro was named First Team All-MAAC after his 18-point season, while Anderson Asiedu, Colin Stripling, and Zachary Pereira were named to Second Team All-MAAC. In addition, freshman defender Andy Martinez was named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team. On January 13, goalkeeper Eric Klenofsky was selected 34th overall by D.C. United in the MLS Superdraft, becoming the sixth Monmouth student-athlete selected by an MLS team in the last seven years under McCourt's guidance. 

McCourt's 2015 squad rattled off 17-straight games without a loss, the second-longest unbeaten streak in the nation, to reach the MAAC Championship Game and earn the team's second league title in three years in the conference. In addition to mentoring a league-high eight all-conference selections, including Goalkeeper of the Year Eric Klenofsky and Defensive Player of the Year David Acuna Camacho, McCourt earned his fifth league Coach of the Year honor. David Nigro, Anderson Asiedu, Colin Stripling, Derek Luke, Klenofsky and Camacho each earned All-MAAC First Team honors, while John Egan was named to the Second Team. Zachary Pereira was also selected to the All-Rookie Team. Asiedu and Klenofsky were named to the All-Region First Team, while Acuna Camacho took Second Team honors.  

McCourt had his team playing its best soccer at the end of the 2014 campaign, when it went 5-0-1 in its last six games to reach the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in nine seasons. For the season, Monmouth led the nation in both goals-against average (0.48) and save percentage (.883), with the offense coming alive in the late surge to the tune of 2.33 goals per game in the conference tournament. For the season, Monmouth went 11-4-6 (4-1-5 MAAC), with Matt Jeffery, who earned MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, being drafted in the fourth round of the MLS SuperDraft by the Colorado Rapids. Emmanuel Senyah Agyemang and Dom Sarle joined Jeffery as All-Region selections, while Eric Klenofsky earned the goals-against average NCAA Division I Statistical Championship (0.48) for the second-consecutive year. Under McCourt's tutelage, Associate Head Coach Hugh MacDonald was named one of the top 15 assistant coaches in the nation by College Soccer News. Jeffery, Sarle, Agyemang, Klenofsky, Derek Luke and Dave Nigro were each named All-MAAC.

Under McCourt's guidance, Monmouth won the league regular season title in its first year in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in 2013. The Hawks went 8-6-6 (7-1-2 MAAC), with Matt Jeffery earning MAAC Defensive Player of the Year honors. Jeffery and MAC Hermann Watch List honoree Joseph Schmid were each named to the All-MAAC First Team, while also taking All-Region honors. Emmanuel Senyah Agyemang also earned First Team recognition, while 2013 NCAA Goals-Against Average Statistical Champion Eric Klenofsky took Second Team honors. Klenofsky, Dave Nigro and Colin Stripling also took MAAC All-Rookie Team recognition.

The Hawks went 11-4-4 (6-2-2 NEC) in 2012. Five of McCourt's players were named Regional All-Americans, led by First Team selection Joseph Schmid. Emmanuel Senyah Agyemang, Alex Blackburn and Ryan Clark each earned Second Team honors, while Matt Jeffery took Third Team recognition. Schmid and Blackburn also earned All-NEC First Team honors, while Agyemang and Clark took Second Team. Following the season, Clark was selected with the first overall pick in the MLS Supplemental Draft by the New York Red Bulls.

McCourt received his fourth NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year honor in 2011 after leading the Hawks to their seventh-straight Northeast Conference Regular Season Championship, third-straight NEC Tournament Championship and third consecutive NCAA Tournament First Round home game. The Hawks advanced to the NCAA Tournament Second Round with a thrilling 5-4 win in penalty kicks over Stony Brook under the lights on The Great Lawn. Following four years under McCourt’s tutelage, RJ Allen was selected by Chivas USA with the fifth overall pick in the MLS Supplemental Draft, while Anthony Vazquez signed a professional contract with the Puerto Rico Islanders.

In 2010, McCourt earned NSCAA North Atlantic Regional Coach of the Year honors, his third regional honor, in leading MU to a 14-2-4 record and a national top-25 ranking all season, peaking at fourth nationally on September 21. In addition to leading the Hawks to unparalleled success on the pitch, McCourt also mentored a pair of Major League Soccer draftees last season in seniors Bryan Meredith and Ryan Kinne. Meredith was selected by Seattle Sounders FC with the 11th pick in the second round, the 29th overall pick, while Kinne went to the New England Revolution with the draft's sixth pick in the third round, the 42nd overall.

In addition, MU boasted a pair of All-Americans in 2010 for the second consecutive campaign. Kinne was named a First Team All-American for the second straight season, while rising senior RJ Allen earned Third Team All-American accolades. In 2009, Kinne also appeared on the first team, while Daniel Bostock claimed second team honors.

McCourt led the Hawks to an 18-2-2 record in 2009, the best mark in program history, as well as the program's fifth straight Northeast Conference Regular Season Title and third league tournament championship overall. The Blue and White defeated the 12th-ranked University of Connecticut in the NCAA Tournament First Round at home in one of the most emotional sporting events ever on campus, which also marked the furthest advancement any Monmouth team has ever made in its respective NCAA postseason.

Monmouth, which registered a 24-game unbeaten streak in NEC play from 2005-2007, opened the 2007 campaign with a 1-0 victory over No. 16 North Carolina, en route to a 12-5-2 overall mark.

In addition to his success on the field, McCourt mentored Tom Gray, who was selected by the MLS's Kansas City Wizards in the supplemental draft, and Damon Wilson, who signed a professional contract to play in Austria, in addition to helping former Hawk and current Monmouth assistant Hugh MacDonald play for the New York Red Bulls.

Prior to Monmouth, McCourt joined the VCU staff in the spring of 2002, after two seasons as head coach of the New Jersey Stallions of the USL Division 3 professional soccer league. He was Division 3 league National Coach of the Year in 2000 when his team finished 17-5-1, won the regular-season national championship and advanced to the playoff national final. In 2001, his Stallions advanced in the US Cup to face DC United of Major League Soccer.

At VCU, McCourt helped lead the Rams, as part of Tim O'Sullivan's staff, to the Colonial Athletic Association regular season and tournament titles in 2002 and 2003. The Rams were 15-5-1 overall and 7-1-1 in the CAA in 2002. VCU was the #8 seed in the NCAA Tournament in 2002. The Rams were 17-5 overall and 8-1 in the CAA in 2003, setting a school record for wins. VCU was the #9 seed in the NCAA Tournament in 2003.

A proven winner at all levels, McCourt has been involved with the US Olympic Development Program (ODP) since 1997, serving as head coach of the Region 1 ODP U16 since 1999. During his tenure, he has coached against national teams from the United States, Brazil, Guatemala, Canada, Thailand and New Zealand. A USSF A licensed coach, he has coached international matches in a variety of countries, including Spain, France, Sweden, Costa Rica, Denmark and Mexico. On the collegiate level, McCourt was an assistant coach at Seton Hall during the 1998 season, and at New Jersey City University during the 2001 campaign.

McCourt graduated from Adelphi University with a BBA in business management/finance in 1989. At Adelphi, McCourt started and played on teams that made the second round as well as the final eight of the NCAA tournament. In 1988, Adelphi was ranked as high as fifth in the country, while during the 1987 season, McCourt earned All-Tournament accolades at the University of Virginia Tournament. He later played professional soccer with both the Albany Capitals (1990-91) and New Jersey Stallions (1993-97), and semi-pro with the Kearny Scots Americans.

While playing pro and semi-pro, McCourt worked on Wall Street as a currency trader for the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi (1989-96).

McCourt is also active in the local New Jersey Shore community with various youth soccer clinics and community service projects.  He also runs an annual Monmouth Soccer golf outing for the program.

McCourt, his wife and two children reside in Monmouth County.