BC Alumnus Michael Callaghan Takes Over Lady Rams Soccer Program
Bluefield College alumnus and former Rams soccer player Michael Callaghan has returned to his alma mater and to the BC field as the new head coach for Lady Rams soccer.
Callaghan played three years on the BC men’s soccer team from 2011 to 2013, and during his time as a player he received several awards, including Mid-South Conference (MSC) Second Team All-Conference, Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) First Team All-Conference, National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) All-American, and two-time Daktronics Scholar Athlete. In the classroom, Callaghan was a member of the Alpha Chi National Honor Society.
A former head coach of the Roanoke Star Soccer Club, Callaghan said he came back to his alma mater to coach to make a change in the women’s soccer program. As one of the first ever Bluefield College soccer players to compete in the AAC post-season tournament, he said he hopes his experiences will help him develop a winning culture for the Lady Rams.
“Being in a rebuilding process, (we have to) take each step as it comes,” Callaghan said. “We know we have a lot to work on, and at this point now we’re looking at bringing in quality players who will contribute to team success on the field and in the classroom.”
Senior Camaro Cook from Manassas, VA, said the team was “in desperate need of authority and leadership” after a 6-11-1 overall win-loss record in the season prior to Callaghan’s arrival and the turbulence of two head coaches in two seasons, 2016 and 2017. She said the turnover made it difficult for the Lady Rams to build and keep a strong team dynamic.
Despite an 0-14 win-loss record in Callaghan’s 2018 debut season – plagued by a significant number of injuries that even forced the team to forfeit five of its games due to too few players on the roster to field a full squad – the Lady Rams are optimistic about the future.
“Personally, I would love to see the team be a competing factor in the AAC,” Callaghan said, “and I see us competing for a college championship.”
The team is currently in the beginning of its off-season training for the fall 2019 season.