DePaul University Athletics
Reynolds Earns Promotion to Associate Head Coach
4/24/2017 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S SOCCER
CHICAGO - Blue Demon assistant coach Craig Reynolds has been named associate head coach for the men's soccer program after helping lead DePaul to the BIG EAST Championship the last two seasons.
DePaul Athletics Director Jean Lenti Ponsetto and Senior Associate Athletics Director Kathryn Statz notified Reynolds late last week.
"I was very excited when I heard the good news, and I want to thank Jeanne, Kathryn and head coach Craig Blazer," Reynolds said. "I've put in a lot of work these last six years, and this is a nice gesture of recognition. It is a validation of all that I've been doing.
"My strengths are in the areas of recruiting and identifying players along with designing and running on-field training. I've been recruiting for a long time dating back to my days heading up the regional Olympic Development Program for the states from Virginia to Maine.
"Our recruiting has been a collaborative effort from the entire coaching staff. We've been fortunate to bring in a number of talented international student-athletes who have really enhanced our program."
Reynolds had been a key component in recruiting seven of the team's top returning players---Philipp Koenigstein, Hans Wustling and Anton Sell from Germany, BIG EAST All-Freshman Team defender Max de Bruijne and Stijn van der Slot from the Netherlands and Zach El-Shafei and Joshua Bowser from Canada. The recent influx of talented international players began with 2015 graduate and stellar defender Koray Yesilli from Germany.
In addition, Reynolds figured prominently in the recruiting of All-BIG EAST First Team midfielder Simon Megally and standout seniors Kevin Beyer and Erik Rodriguez.
"Coming out of high school, Kevin was underrated by colleges," Reynolds said. "But as a good person, talented player and excellent student---he is the complete package."
Reynolds said he impresses upon recruits the high-quality education and strength of a DePaul degree and along with the university's time-honored connection to Chicago.
"A key selling point, especially for international student-athletes, is the career and entertainment opportunities of Chicago," Reynolds said. "The international players appreciate a big city and all that it has to offer.
"The last two seasons have demonstrated how we have changed the culture of the soccer program. We are in a good place and headed in the right direction. But we want to do more, including winning the BIG EAST Championship and competing in the NCAA tournament."
Blazer fully appreciates his new associate head coach.
"Craig has been very dedicated the last six years, and myself, our staff, the players and our administration recognize his valuable contributions to improving our program," Blazer said. "He has brought in a wealth of college and professional experience that has strengthened the Blue Demons.
"It's been a pleasure working with Craig, and we're very pleased with him receiving this promotion."
Reynolds was an All-American defender who helped lead SUNY Brockport to the NCAA Division III championship as a senior in 1974.
He played pro soccer from 1976-1982 with the Rochester (N.Y.) Lancers of the NASL (North American Soccer League), holding his own against the likes of Pele, Johan Cruyff and Franz Beckenbauer---the top three players in the world.
He competed in the MISL (Major Indoor Soccer League) from 1978-1982 with the New York Arrows, Detroit Lightning, Chicago Horizon and New Jersey Rockets.
Reynolds was a Virginia assistant coach from 1996-2004 and was named Aflac National Assistant Coach of the Year in 2003. He was also an assistant coach with the men's U-18 national team and was named an assistant coach with the Chicago Fire from 2004-2007.
From 1988-1996, Reynolds was the head soccer and tennis coach at Newport University in Newport News, Va.
