North American Irish Coaches Show

Our annual Paddys day social call with special guests Kevin Grogan and Stevie Conway.

Steven – a former Kerry League of Ireland U21 player is the COO of Kerry FC in the league of Ireland. He has held multiple positions in the US with clubs such as the Boston Bolts as well as currently being the Head Coach at Dexter Southfield School. Stevens love for Kerry and sport in Kerry has led to the creation of Kerry FC with several other fanatical Kerry people. Steven played college soccer at Thomas University in Georgia and graduated with a bachelor's degree.

Paul Conway is a native of Dublin. He played his college soccer at Lambuth University in Jackson TN. Paul or Paulie as hes known is a legend in West Tennessee. Paul ended up playing for Richie Grant at Lambuth and later joining him at the University of Memphis as a Graduate Assistant. Paul has held roles at Lambuth University as the Head Coach as well as several roles with the Jackson Soccer Club and ODP. He is currently a faculty member at the University School of Jackson and is the Head coach for the boys and girls soccer teams. Paul holds both bachelors and masters degrees and is a USSF A license Coach. In this podcast we discuss everything from Colaiste Ide, growing up, life as a head coach and many other football related topics. Paul resides in Jackson, Tn with his wife April and son Jack. Enjoy the Listen Everyone!!!!!!

We are joined by Co-Founder and Chairperson of the Head in the game group to discuss the organization and Mental Health within the game. Chicago based Dean gives us a great insight in to the group and the topic of mental health, we discuss mental health in football as well as being a football coach abroad and what it all means.   Head in the Game was initially set up by a group of Dundalk FC fans, with the goal of starting a positive conversation about mental health and well-being in the Irish football community, and wider Irish society. We want to provoke an important discussion and create awareness about mental health while breaking down the stigma that comes with it. In recent years we have seen the topic of mental health come to the forefront more than ever before. However, common mental health issues such as depression and anxiety still have negative connotations attached to them, and admission of suffering is still perceived as a weakness by many. We are very aware League of Ireland clubs have init

Here is our recent podcast with GoPlay Sports Tours. Joining the discussion are NAICA President John O'Rourke, and board members, Enda Crehan, and Darragh Boyle. Thanks to GoPlay for having us on to discuss our organization and what it means for the Irish in America.  Dont forget to check us out on social media and register for our Free membership https://linktr.ee/NorthAmericanIrishCoaches  Cheers!!!

Pearl has played for Raheny United in the Women’s National League in the 2012/13 season after returning home from college in America. In the USA Pearl played for Hutchinson CC and Clayton State University. She was part of a squad for the next three seasons that won two league titles and three FAI Cups, while also competing in the 2013/14 and 2014/15 Champions Leagues. She is the Shelbourne captain and has been rock solid as well as being an integral part of the Shelbourne project going into 2020. She also combines her playing career with her job in the FAI. Pearl holds a UEFA A coaching qualification. Enjoy the podcast folks. 

Johnny McKinstry is a UEFA Pro Coach and Professional football manager from Northern Ireland.  He has experience coaching in Asia, Europe, North America and Africa, he has a track record of consistently raising performance at elite level - by developing teams, players and staff. A fascinating story and journey. Below is a list of clubs and countries Johnny has worked for. Enjoy the Listen Everyone. Experienced: Head Coach, Uganda National Team; Head Coach, SAIF Sporting Club (Premier League, Bangladesh); Head Coach, FK Kauno Zalgiris (A-Lyga, Lithuania); Head Coach, Rwanda National Team; Head Coach, Sierra Leone National Team; Academy Manager, Craig Bellamy Foundation; Academy Coach, Right to Dream and New York Red Bulls.

Molloy, who is from Dublin, hails from a soccer family: His father, Trevor, was a prominent striker in the League of Ireland. The younger Molloy began his career at Drogheda United in 2016 before moving across the pond to Keiser University (Fla.) and then Penn State. Molloy starred for Reading United AC in his college off-season's, winning USL League Two’s Young Player of the Year award in 2017.

Larry Mahony is a former FAI UEFA ‘A’ License instructor with over 30 years of coaching experience. He has provided expert coaching for players at every level of football in Ireland, from the youngest beginners all the way up to the professionals of Ireland’s National League. He has worked with underage international teams and – as coach on the FAI player education programs – was instrumental in the development of full internationals Roy Keane and Mark Kennedy. A former youth international himself, he was previously a first-team coach at Ireland’s premier club, Shamrock Rovers, as well as Drogheda United, Bray Wanderers and Athlone Town. He was also a national league and cup winner as head coach of the University College Dublin women’s team. We discuss coaching, LOI, the USA pathway and more!! ENJOY!!!!

Patricia Hughes comes to the position as the College Programs Officer after three and half years as Athletic Director of Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC. During her successful tenure at Salem, she led multiple community initiatives, developed a college-wide NCAA Compliance education program, and implemented and monitored Title IX training strategies plans and processes. Her career path has included not only athletic administration at Salem, the University of New Haven and the University of Montevallo, but a wide variety of NCAA committees and projects, head soccer coach roles at the University of Montevallo and Belmont University, assistant coach at Auburn University and a stint as Director of Operations for a large youth soccer club. She also had a playing career, which included both college and appearances for the Ireland Women’s National Team.

McCourt is a former Northern Ireland International whose playing career spans over 17 years. At the height of his time as a pro, Paddy played for Celtic and had 18 senior appearances with Northern Ireland. A winger by trade, Paddy was nicknamed ‘the Derry Pele’ due to his technical ability and propensity for scoring ‘wonder goals’. Today, Paddy is the Technical Director at League of Ireland Derry City FC, where he is charged with overseeing the clubs aspiring academy players. Paddy kicked off the recent North American Irish Coaches Clinic and is interviewed by Dublin born Fox Soccer Analyst  Keith Costigan.  A fantastic listen!! Enjoy 

As a young player, Sean Kelly stood out within Arsenal’s youth academy. A talented center back with a high soccer IQ, he captained Arsenal in the FA Youth Cup and played with Cesc Fabregas, one of the most accomplished players in English Premier League history. Kelly also has caps for the Irish U17 and U19s.  Through a series of unfortunate injuries, Kelly’s time with Arsenal came to an end, and he later played with Cork City, Galway United and Pike Rovers in Ireland. Kelly’s life and career were transformed when he received a phone call from Lansdowne. The club offered him a chance to play and the opportunity for work in the construction business. Kelly is now the first team manager at Lansdowne and is pursuing his coaching badges. A fantastic listen about the Kerry Mans journey. Enjoy!

Steve Guppy as a player appeared in over 550 matches as a professional from 1989 to 2008, including two separate stints in the English Premier League with Leicester City (1997-2001 and 2004). Guppy recorded 161 appearances for the Foxes as a left winger. Guppy also appeared for Newcastle United, Port Vale, Celtic Leeds United, Stoke City, Wycombe Wanderers, D.C. United, Stevenage F.C. and the Rochester Rhinos. At the conclusion of his playing career, Guppy joined Gary Smith’s coaching staff at Colorado Rapids from 2009 to 2012. In their time together, Guppy and Smith went on to win the 2010 MLS Cup in a playoff run that saw the club give up one goal or less in every match. After his time in Colorado, Guppy returned overseas and joined the coaching staff of Sunderland A.F.C. in the Premier League. In Guppy’s most recent coaching stop, he spent the last five years working on the National Team staff of the Republic of Ireland along with Martin O’Neill before joining him at Nottingham Forest in 2019. An incredibl

Don O'Riordan (born in Dublin) is an Irish former professional footballer and football manager. O'Riordan notably played for Middlesbrough, Grimsby Town and Notts County among others and has been on the coaching staffs at Sheffield United, in the role of technical director/coach of their feeder club Chengdu Blades F.C. in China. Don has also coached the Chinese womens national team in the Olympics and spent time in the USA as a player playing against the likes of George Best. O' Riordan has also managed in the LOI with Galway United, Sligo Rovers and the Galway WFC.  A fascinating journey with some great stories and tales that include Brian Clough as well as some other famous players in the mens and womens game. No doubt a part 2 will have to take place on this interview!! 

Dolores Deasley begins her 13th season as head coach of the Jones College Bobcats in 2020.  Deasley received a BS degree in education from Hofstra University in 2004 and her master’s in sports management from the University of Southern Mississippi, where she was an assistant coach for the Lady Eagles’ soccer team. During her senior year at Hofstra, Deasley was named Female Student-Athlete of the Year, the Colonial Athletic Association’s Defensive Player of the Year, First team All-CAA, Third Team All-American and First Team All-Region by the National Soccer Association of American and Soccer Buzz magazine. A member of the Irish National Team since 1999, Deasley has also played for the New York Magic, the Long Island Lady Riders, Bristol Rovers and was a Women’s Premier Soccer League national champion with the Long Island Fury. Deasley is the daughter of William and Bridget Deasley and has five brothers and four sisters. Deasley is a native of Drumkeen in County Donegal. 

Paddy Barrett began his professional playing career with Scottish side Dundee United FC before being loaned to his hometown club Waterford FC in 2014. From 2015-17, Barrett spent three years with League of Ireland Premier Division powerhouse Dundalk FC, where he competed in a UEFA Europa League playoff match and Champions League qualifiers during his stay before heading back to Waterford on loan. Barrett ventured stateside in 2018 after being signed by FC Cincinnati, going on to tally 83 clearances, 34 interceptions and a single goal in his 16 appearances in the club’s final USL Championship campaign. Paddy currently plays for Indy Eleven in the USL Championship.  Peader Cleary is a native of Waterford in Ireland and at 16 years of age moved to the USA to attend High School.  Peader went on to play at the NCAA D2 level and is now living and working in New York State. Peader recently opened up about his mental health struggle and missing home as well as missing the football life that college soccer g

A native of Ballina, Ireland, Sully has worked at many different levels in the United States and abroad. While at the Atlanta Beat, O’Sullivan coached USA National team players, Hope Solo, Tobin Heath, Lori Chalupny & Angie Kerr; also present were many top international players, including Japan’s captain Aya Miyami, 2008 Hermann Winner Mami Yamaguchi, England’s Eniola Aluko  and current Damallsvenskan stars Johanna Rasmussen of Denmark and Ramona Bachmann of Switzerland. Before coming to the Beat O’Sullivan was a professional head coach in the Icelandic Premier League for three seasons. However, it’s at the NCAA Division II level where O’Sullivan has made his mark, serving as head coach at Christian Brothers, West Georgia and Clayton State. O’Sullivan was head coach for both the men’s and women’s teams at Christian Brothers from 1997 to 2003. He posted a record of 87-19-3 with the Christian Brothers women, leading the Lady Bucs to three straight Gulf South Conference championships, an NCAA Division II nat

Brendan Teeling holds a UEFA A license and is currently working within the Vancouver Whitecaps organization. Brendan has also worked as an assistant director of the Elite Development League program for LA Galaxy in Orange County, California. Brendan grew up in County Meath and attended University in Ireland as well as doing his graduate work in Ontario, Canada. Brendan also has experience working in the youth npl league in Australia. Another great story of an Irish man coaching and following his passion in North America. Enjoy Everyone!!!!

Shane Edward O'Neill (born September 2, 1993) is an Irish-American soccer player who plays for Seattle Sounders in the MLS. O’Neill began his career with the Colorado Rapids in 2012.  Shane has also played in Holland and England. O'Neill is the son of former All-Ireland winning Cork Gaelic Footballer, Colm O'Neill  , and is a nephew of former Kerry Gaelic footballer, Maurice Fitzgerald. In this episode we talk all things soccer and what it was like growing up with two famous people from the GAA around him as well as his soccer journey which included many summers in Ireland training with Cobh and Cork City as a young lad. Enjoy everyone!!! 

Méabh De Búrca (born 11 August 1988) is an Irish Footballer who played for the Republic of Ireland women's national football team and Women's National League club Galway. At club level she previously played in America for Boston Aztec, in Norway for Amazon Grimstad and for Swedish club Eskilstuna United. De Búrca can play in defence or midfield. Meabh also played in the United State at the University of New Haven. Meabh also was a commentator on the women's world cup. A super listen, ENJOY!!!!