WHEELING, W.Va., March 6, 2019 — West Liberty University President Dr. Stephen Greiner and WLU athletic director Lynn Ullom officially introduced Sean Regan as the Hilltoppers’ new men’s soccer coach during a Wednesday morning press conference at the WLU Downtown Center.
Regan replaces Thomas Olivier, who submitted his resignation following West Liberty’s 2018 season.
“This is a very exciting day for our men’s soccer program,” Ullom said. “Sean is a very well-established and respected coach who comes to our university with more than a decade of collegiate coaching experience under his belt. He also has great ties to the local soccer community, having literally grown up with the sport here as a member of a very successful soccer family.
“Sean is a high-character individual who sets high standards for his student-athletes and works very hard to help them achieve them. We’re convinced he will build a West Liberty men’s soccer program that will be successful on and off the field for years to come.”
As Ullom noted, the Hilltoppers’ new head man is a familiar face on the local soccer scene. The son of Bethany College Hall of Famer and long-time Wheeling Jesuit head coach Jimmy Regan, Sean earned All-West Virginia Conference honors while playing for his father at WJU before following him into the coaching profession at Bethany.
“This is a very exciting day for me and my family,” Regan said. “I want to thank President Greiner, Coach Ullom and the selection committee for giving me this opportunity. I also want to thank Bethany for 10 wonderful years helping prepare me for this moment and, last but not least, a big thank you to my wife Rikki who has supported me all the way.”
Regan spent the last decade as head coach at his father’s alma mater. The 2010 PAC Coach of the Year, he developed numerous All-PAC standouts during his tenure and led the Bison to several post-season berths – including a run to the 2010 ECAC semifinals.
Last year’s Bethany squad made its second PAC Tournament appearance in the past three seasons, battling eventual PAC champion and NCAA Division III Tournament qualifier Westminster (Pa.) to the wire before dropping a 1-0 decision.
A 2-time All-West Virginia Conference honoree and an NCAA Division II Regional All-American while playing for his father at Wheeling Jesuit, Regan helped lead the Cardinals to a pair of WVIAC titles and Top 25 rankings.
After graduating from Wheeling Jesuit in 2005, Regan began his coaching career as an assistant at Washington & Jefferson (Pa.). He spent three years on the W&J staff, helping guide the Presidents to the school’s first PAC championship and NCAA Tournament berth in 2007, before being hired as head coach at Bethany in 2008.
“The main point I want to make is that the road to success starts today,” Regan said. “I can’t wait for Oct. 3 when I’ll be coaching against my father in our first game against Wheeling Jesuit. That will make a great rivalry even better. The Mountain East Conference is one of the top five soccer leagues in the country but I’m ready to hit the ground running on the recruiting trail, meeting with my players and putting my staff together. I’m really happy to be a Hilltopper.”
Regan and his wife, Rikki, live in Wheeling with their two sons, Liam and Declan. For complete Hilltopper Athletics news, visit hilltoppersports.com.