Southern Connecticut State University Men's Soccer

W HAVEN, Conn. — Southern Connecticut State University Director of Athletics and Recreation Terrance Jones named Reuben Ayarna as interim head coach of the men's soccer program, effective Feb. 25, 2026. Ayarna completed his third season with the Owls as an assistant coach in 2025. He joined Southern Connecticut following an assistant coaching stint at his alma mater, Boston College, where he planned and led drills focused on tactical development, individual skill work and leadership training.  Ayarna was an All-American as a student-athlete at Boston College for Ed Kelly, while also serving as team captain. In addition to his All-American accolades, Ayarna earned All-ACC Freshman Team, All-ACC Second Team, All-ACC First Team honors during his career. After graduating in 2008, he played professionally from 2008-2022, captaining two European clubs and working as a player/coach for two others. In those roles he mentored players on technical skills and performance while organizing community-service initiatives centered on social justice and civic responsibility.  He also consults for the Africa Football Agency, advising professional clients on club selection, contract negotiations and investment opportunities tied to development projects in Ghana.  Ayarna holds a Bachelor of Arts in sports management from University College of Northern Denmark (2019) and a Bachelor of Arts in corporate systems from Boston College (2023). 

Ed Kelly is in his third year with the Owls where he serves as an assistant coach and the recruiting coordinator. Before Southern Connecticut, Kelly served as the head coach at Boston College for 32 seasons, retiring at the end of the 2019 season. He spent three years at Seton Hall prior to his time at BC.  Between the two schools he amassed a record of 329-252-73 and was one of 15 active coaches with 325 or more career wins.   He left Boston College with the most wins in program history and conference championships in both the Big East and ACC. Kelly coached to 13 NCAA Tournament births, four Sweet Sixteen appearances, and two Elite Eight appearances. In 2007, his squad was ranked No. 1 in the country – they also were ACC Regular Season Champions, ACC Champions, and he was named ACC Coach of the Year.   Kelly was named the 2002 Soccer America Coach of the Year after the team set the program record for most wins in a single season finishing with an 18-5-0 record. He was also named the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Regional Coach of the Year four times.   In the Big East, he led the team to three conference championships and was named Big East Coach of the Year three times. He also won two Big East Championships during his stint at Seton Hall.   Kelly coached two Big East Offensive Player of the Year recipients and one Big East Defensive Player of the Year. When BC moved to the ACC, he coached two Offensive Player of the Year honorees, and an ACC Freshman of the Year recipient. He also coached eight NSCAA All-Americans – including Reuben Ayarna who is a member of the Owls coaching staff.   Prior to coaching, Kelly competed professionally for eight years in the American Soccer Leage and North American Soccer League. He was selected to represent the United States in international play five times.

Michele Griffith enters her second season as SCSU's diving coach in 2024-25.  Griffith joined head coach Tim Quill's staff after an extensive scholastic coaching career that spanned 30 years at Woodland Regional, Holy Cross, Watertown recreation and Sacred Heart (Wtby.) from 1993 through 2023. Griffith has been a Western Connecticut Association Swim and Dive Offical from 1999 and also served as the head softball coach at St. Mary Magdalen School in Oakville, Conn. from 1994 through 1997.  Since 2006, Griffith has also operated Michele's Backyard Swimming Program which offers home-based swim programs that provide specialized instruction to healthy children from ages three to teens and children with developmental disabilities of all ages.