Neil Stafford Hired by Boston Renegades

October 15, 2005

'Gades hire Stafford: Assumption coach returns to MPS

By Mike Biglin

Metrowest Daily News Staff

Sunday, October 16, 2005

It'll be a blast from the past next summer for the Boston Renegades, as the W-League women's soccer outfit officially named former assistant Neil Stafford as its newest head coach.

Stafford, the Marlborough High alum and current women's head coach at Division II powerhouse Assumption College, returns to the club he served from 1999-2001, where he helped guide the 'Gades to the first of back-to-back W-League championships.

Stafford jumped at the chance to return to the Mass Premier Soccer club, especially since he just moved back into the area -- in West Newton -- and has taken a job as a special education teacher at Newton North High.

"I think the stuff I've done since I've been away (from the Renegades) the last three or four years has really matured and molded me," said Stafford while he was traveling north Friday night with his Greyhounds to face host St. Michael's yesterday. "I think I'm more experienced and ready to take on the head coaching duties. When (MPS Director of coaching) Pete (Bradley) asked me, I don't think I gave him the chance to finish the sentence before saying yes."

Stafford served under Bradley during his previous MPS stint, but this time Bradley will serve as Stafford's No. 1 -- something both are looking forward to.

"I will be able to help out a little more this year, so it should be a fun season," said Bradley. "He'll take most of the responsibility, but we'll both be involved recruiting players."

That has already begun, with Stafford meeting up with famed North Carolina coach Anson Dorrance after his Tar Heels beat Boston College Thursday.

"Peter and I, we want to put the Renegades back where we were before, in the (W League) final four, winning national championships," said Stafford. "We want to put those kind of expectations back where they should be."

Stafford replaces Luis Reis, the Wheaton coach who served just this past season for MPS, as the 'Gades went 9-5-0 and won a playoff game before losing in the Eastern Conference semifinals to Toronto. Family commitments over the summer proved too much for Reis to juggle, opening the door for Stafford.

Right now, he's busy guiding Assumption to a 9-0-3 mark heading into yesterday's game and a No. 3 ranking nationally. He is the reigning Northeast-10 Coach of the Year.

"There's a nice group of women around this area who are hopefully interested in being part of the Renegades organization," said Stafford. "I'm really looking forward to the challenge this summer."