Alan Dawson Hometown: Belfast, Ireland Last College: Lock Haven '84 Position: Head Coach Experience: 16th Season

The winningest coach in Old Dominion University Soccer history and a four-time CAA Coach of the Year, head coach Alan Dawson has guided the Monarchs for 16 seasons producing nine All-Americans, four MLS players and ODU has reached the NCAA Tournament three straight and nine of the lasts 11 years (This includes two top 16 seeds).

Dawson's Monarchs reached the second round of the NCAA College Cup eight of the last 11 years. In 2006 and 2007 ODU advanced to the third round.

In 2012, the Monarchs were 11-3-3 and ranked as high as fourth nationally by Soccer America and College Soccer News on Sept. 18th after defeating then second ranked Creighton.

Dawson won his 300th collegiate game on Nov. 11th, 2011 in the CAA semi-finals against Georgia State. This year's Monarchs (12-6-2) ranked as high at seventh nationally and finished the regular season second in the CAA and CAA Tournament runners-up. The Monarchs RPI coming into the NCAA College Cup is 16. This year's Monarch squad ranked second nationally in goals scored with 48 for a 2.4 per game average.

Entering the 2011 MLS season four former Monarchs: Carlos Mendes (NY/NJ Red Bull), Nane Joseph (Colorado Rapids), Evan Newton (Houston Dynamos) and David Horst (Portland Timbers) were on the rosters.

In 2010, the 10-7-2 Monarchs defeated then second ranked North Carolina in a regular season match at the ODU Soccer Complex. ODU recieved an at-large spot in the NCAA College Cup and promptly knocked off defending National Champion Virginia in the first round.

In 2009, the Monarchs compiled an 11-5-2 record as senior Nane Joseph earned NSCAA second team All-American honors and was selected in the fourth round of the MLS Super Draft by Toronto. Steffen Rabben was named ODU Scholar Athlete of the Year with the prestigious Wilkins/Howard award.

In 2008, ODU tied for second in the CAA and newcomer Steffen Rabben became the fourth Monarch under Dawson to earn CAA Rookie of the Year honors.

In 2007, the Monarchs captured the Colonial Athletic Championship and advanced to the round of 16 after beating Providence and sixth ranked Brown. David Horst earned CAA Defensive Player of the Year honors for the second straight year and became the first Monarch ever selected in the first round of the MLS Super draft.

In 2006, ODU compiled a 14-6-2 record and advanced to the round of 16 in the NCAA College Cup, knocking off Winthrop, and tenth ranked North Carolina before losing a 2-1 decision to eventual national champion UC Santa Barbara. ODU also ranked among the nation's top 20 in attendance.

In 2005, the Monarchs rolled to a 15-4-2 record, reaching the CAA championship Match for the second straight year and earning a number ten seed in the NCAA College Cup. During the season ODU knocked off nationally ranked Virginia, Davidson, and N.C. State. As the regular season champion, ODU hosted the CAA tournament. Dawson was named CAA Coach of the Year for the fourth time and the Virginia Coach of the Year by VaSID for the second time.

In 2004, the Monarchs were 13-6-2 and reached the championship match of the Colonial Athletic Association. For the first time in school history ODU was awarded a number 12 seed and a first round bye of the NCAA Tournament. The soccer Monarchs defeated North Carolina, Rutgers and handed CAA rival James Madison it's first loss of the year.

In 2003, the Monarchs reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year. Old Dominion defeated N.C. State 6-3 at home in the first round before falling to #2 seed Maryland 2-1 on the road in the second round. The Monarchs were ranked as high as #2 during a season that saw ODU race to a 14-0-0 start and become the last Division I team to lose a game. The Monarchs started the season with a nine game shutout streak before VCU found the net in the 10th game. The Monarchs' 15-4-1 record marks the fourth season since 1999 in which Dawson has led his team to double-digit wins. For his efforts, Dawson received his third CAA Coach of the Year award and was named the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) South-Atlantic Coach of the Year.

In 2001, the Monarchs finished 10-6-2 as CAA semifinalists and captured a slew of post-season awards, including Dawson's second CAA Coach of the Year honor. In 1999, the men's team finished 15-4-0, winning the CAA regular season title and earning him CAA Coach of the Year honors and the Virginia Sports Information Directors' Coach of the Year Award.

Dawson, a former assistant coach at the University of North Carolina (1996) and a two-time NCAA Division III South Region Coach of the Year at Methodist, has always been known as a winner. In 1995, he led Methodist to the NCAA Division III Championship game. While at Methodist, he guided the school to seven consecutive conference championships and six straight NCAA tournament appearances in only nine seasons. He was inducted into the Methodist College Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.

His combined career record at Methodist was 129-30-1 and his squads finished in the top 10 of the ISAA national polls for seven consecutive seasons. The 1995 team was ranked number one nationally all eight weeks of the regular season as it advanced to the 1995 championship game. He also guided Methodist squads to the round of 16 in 1990 and 1991 and into the quarterfinals in 1992.

Dawson accumulated several coaching awards during his stay at Methodist. He garnered Dixie Conference Coach of the Year honors five times and South Region Coach of the Year honors in 1990 and 1995. He produced 32 All-South selections, seven All-Americans, and two Academic All-Americans during his tenure at the school.

Dawson also coached three teams to undefeated seasons: in 1991 (15-0-3), 1992 (14-0-2) and 1993 (17-0-0). He served as head coach of the North Carolina Olympic Development team from 1989-94, winning the USSF Region III championship game in 1993. He was a USSF South Region (III) staff member from 1992 to 1996, and served as the 1979 Region III head coach.

From 1988-91, Dawson served as a member of the NCAA Division III South Region selection committee and is currently a member of the Adidas Scholar-Athlete All-American Committee. He has also served as Chairman of the Intercollegiate Soccer Association South Region rating committee. This year, Dawson will be a member of the NCAA Regional Selection Committee for the South-Atlantic Region.

Before coaching at Methodist, he served as a graduate assistant coach at UNC-Greensboro from 1984-86. UNCG reached the NCAA Division III quarterfinals in 1984 and won the championship in 1985. He also led the Virginia ODP team to back-to-back regional championships as the head coach in 1999 and 2000.

Dawson holds a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) `B' license, and a Full Irish Badge (Grade One) coaching license. Dawson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Lock Haven University in 1984, and a Master of Science degree in physical education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1986.

He and his wife Mari have three children, Alec (18), Garrick (17) and Ellesse (15). Alan is the son of Isabel and the late Stanley Dawson of Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Year-by-Year with Alan Dawson:
1987   Methodist College   8-6-3
1988   Methodist College   12-5-0
1989   Methodist College   14-5-0
1990   Methodist College   15-3-1     NCAA Division III Tourn.
1991   Methodist College   16-1-3     NCAA Division III Tourn.
1992   Methodist College   16-1-2     NCAA Division III Qtrs
1993   Methodist College   14-4-0     NCAA Division III Tourn.
1994   Methodist College   13-4-1     NCAA Division III Tourn.
1995   Methodist College   21-1-0     NCAA Division III Finalist
1997   Old Dominion        7-9-1
1998   Old Dominion        8-8-2
1999   Old Dominion        15-4-0
2000   Old Dominion        10-6-2
2001   Old Dominion        8-7-2
2002   Old Dominion        10-9-1     NCAA Division I 2nd Rd
2003   Old Dominion        15-4-1     NCAA Division I 2nd Rd
2004   Old Dominion        13-6-2     NCAA Division I 2nd
Rd.
2005   Old Dominion        15-4-2     NCAA Division I 2nd
Rd.
2006.  Old Dominion        14-6-2     NCAA Division I third
Rd.
2007   Old Dominion        14-7-3     NCAA Division I third Rd.
2008   Old Dominion        9-7-3
2009   Old Dominion        11-5-2
2010   Old Dominion        10-7-2     NCAA Division I 2nd Rd.
2011   Old Dominion        12-6-2     NCAA Division I 2nd Rd.
2012   Old Dominion        11-3-3     NCAA Division I

Methodist College Total: 129-30-10 Nine Seasons
Old Dominion Total       182-98-30  16 Seasons
Totals:                  311-128-40 25 Seasons

First Win at ODU: 1-0 vs Robert Morris (9-5-97)
100th Win at ODU: 2-0 vs. W&M (11-4-05)
300th career win: 5-3 vs. Ga. State (11-11-12)CAA semifinals

COACH OF THE YEAR HONORS AT ODU
CAA: 1999,2001, 2003, 2005
Virginia(VASID): 1999, 2005
NSCAA S.Atlantic Region: 2003