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UMass Lowell head coach Ted Priestly enters his 12th season at the helm of the men's soccer team, having turned and maintained the program into a regional and national contender.
Over the last eight years, Priestly has guided UMass Lowell to eight postseason berths as well as two Northeast-10 Conference Tournament championships and the program's first-ever trips to the NCAA Tournament in 2003, 2004 and 2007. In 2003, the River Hawks won the NCAA New England Region Championship and advanced to the quarterfinal.
The River Hawks highlighted the 2004 season with their second straight Northeast-10 Conference Tournament championship, defeating Franklin Pierce, 6-5, on penalty kicks following 110 minutes of scoreless play. Along the way, UML shattered school records for fewest matches lost (three); goals surrendered (14, previously 21) and shutouts (10).
Since Priestly's arrival in 1997, the men's soccer program has consistently improved with each season and is regarded as one of the premier Division II teams in the New England Region and the country. After finishing 7-12-0 and 5-14-1 in his first two seasons, he has guided UML to a sterling clip of 106-46-23 (.606) over the last nine years.
Priestly has compiled an all-time record of 118-72-24 (.551). Additionally, he has guided UML players to All-America status five times (including 2007 standouts Matias Pietropinto and Edens Chery); All-New England Region honors 20 times; and all conference accolades 36 times, including 28 over the last five seasons.
Priestly's commitment to the University runs very deep. He spearheaded the first annual production of "Opening the Door to College Sports," a symposium designed to educate high school student-athletes, coaches and administrators in the rigors of college athletics.
A native of Westford, MA, Priestly graduated from UMass Amherst in 1994 with a degree in political science and was a three-year standout defender for the Minutemen.
Priestly lives in Chelmsford, MA, with his wife, Melanie, and their son Luke (7) and daughter Madeline (4).
