University of North Carolina - Wilmington Men's Soccer

Heaney has guided UNCW to 132 wins, 11 berths in the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament and two appearances in the NCAA Tournament. He has also led the Seahawks to their lone CAA Tournament championship in 2009 and three regular season crowns. In 2015, the Seahawks earned their sixth CAA Tournament appearance in the last eight years while finishing with an 8-8-3 record. Senior Colin Bonner completed an outstanding career by becoming the first player in program history to be selected in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft after being taken in the third round by FC Dallas. Two other players Michael Mecham and Sean Melvin also signed professional contracts after the season.  During the season, Heaney also became the programs all-time leader in wins when he earned his 130th victory as the Seahawks bench boss in a 1-0 decision over Northeastern.  Led by Heaney, the Seahawks enjoyed an historic 2014 campaign that featured the programs first-ever NCAA Tournament victory, wins over four nationally-ranked opponents and a CAA regular season title. In addition, the Seahawks spent much of the season in the national rankings. The Seahawks success in 2014 did not go unnoticed. Heaney was named as the CAA and NSCAA Midwest Region Coach of the Year. In addition, his players earned a bevy of awards, including a third team NSCAA All-America distinction for senior Jamie Dell, who joined Bonner and Jacob VanCompernolle on the All-Midwest Region Teams. The momentum has been building for the Seahawks since a 2013 campaign that saw them finish third in the tough CAA and post road wins over nationally-ranked North Carolina and Duke. UNCW also broke into the national rankings in the second week of the season after winning the Wolstein Soccer Classic with victories against Ohio State and Cincinnati. UNCW boasted three All-CAA performers in VanCompernolle (first-team), second-teamers Bonner and David Sizemore and All-Rookie selection Kellen Foster. In 2012, Bonner and Dell were All-CAA performers and finished as the teams leading scorers. Bonner was an All-Rookie performer while Dell snagged first-team All-CAA honors. The Seahawks continued to send players on to the professional level in 2011 as Brandon Miller signed with Rochester while Daniel Roberts joined Wilmington, both of the USL Pro Division.  Joining Roberts with the Hammerheads was Christian Davidson, who was a four-year starter for the Seahawks at defender. In 2013, standout Shawn Utterson joined the Hammerheads, giving the hometown team three Seahawks on its roster. Roberts became the first Seahawk to be drafted when his hometown Houston Dynamo selected him in the MLS Supplemental Draft. Miller, meanwhile, became the third consecutive netminder during Heaneys reign to play at the professional level, joining Brock Duckworth and Brad Knighton. Injuries hampered the program in 2010 as the Seahawks finished sixth in the CAA, narrowly missing the conference championship tournament. At times, there were as many as four freshmen in the starting lineup, but UNCW still compiled an impressive 8-6-4 record overall and 4-3-4 in the sixth-ranked conference. Three Seahawks were honored on the all-conference teams with Indy Smith making the first-team for the third consecutive year and Etienne Boulanger and Duckworth on the third team. Smith was also selected to the South Atlantics All-Region squad. In 2009, just two years after welcoming 16 newcomers to the program, Heaney led the Seahawks to their second straight conference regular season title, their first league tournament championship and an appearance in the NCAA tournament where they reached the second round. The Seahawks edged Northeastern, 1-0, in the finals to earn the conferences automatic berth to the NCAA tournament. UNCW topped the 12-team league with an 8-0-3 record while going 12-2-4 during the regular season. The Seahawks set a school record with eight conference wins and 27 points in the standings. UNCW also set a school-record with a 13-game unbeaten streak that ended with a 2-1 setback at Wake Forest in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. UNCW concluded its season ranked 10th nationally in goals against average (0.64) and checked in as high as 18th in both Soccer Americas and College Soccer News final top-25 rankings. The Seahawks were ranked in all four national polls. Smith, the leader of the Seahawks defense, was honored as a third-team All-America selection, making him the first Seahawk to attain that distinction. The 2008 season was a tremendous one for UNCW as the Seahawks captured their first regular season title after topping the standings with 7-4-0 record. Led by CAA Player of the Year Devan Carroll and Smith, who earned the leagues Defender of the Year award, the Seahawks also returned to the national rankings and finished 48th in the RPI. For his efforts, Heaney earned his second Coach of the Year honor. The success of those two seasons began in 2007 when UNCWs 16 rookies were the second most in the nation. UNCW, though, closed out the season strong as the Seahawks finished with a pair of impressive wins over James Madison and a road victory at Georgia State. The Seahawks played four teams that reached the NCAA tournament, dropping a pair of one-goal decisions to Campbell and Liberty. The Seahawks closed out the 2006 campaign ranked 47th in the RPI and knocked off No. 3 Duke and No. 19 Old Dominion, both on the road. Heaneys club won two tournaments - the College of Charlestons Invitational and the UNCW-Jameson Inn Classic - and finished with an 11-7-1 overall record. In 2005, the Seahawks reached the semifinals of the CAA Tournament for the first time in school history. In a semifinal match at nationally-ranked Old Dominion, UNCW jumped in front of the Monarchs, but was unable to hold onto the lead as ODU notched a pair of goals in the final 17 minutes for the win to advance to the finals. Heaney, 47, led the Seahawks to a 12-6-2 record in 2004 and was named the Colonial Athletic Associations Coach-of-the-Year by his peers. The Seahawks climbed as high as 25th in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll following a 3-2 upset of top-ranked UNC Greensboro. The Seahawks have made a steady climb to the upper echelon of the CAA under Heaney. In 2003, the Seahawks reached the CAA Tournament following a two-year absence and reached the South Atlantic Regional rankings en route to a 10-7-3 mark. During Heaneys tenure, 36 Seahawks have earned All-Colonial Athletic Association honors, including five last year. VanCompernolle was honored as the 2014 CAA Defensive Player of the Year while Dell and Bonner joined him on the All-CAA first team. Knighton became the first Seahawk to sign a Major League Soccer contract when he inked a deal with the New England Revolution in the spring of 2007. After spending time with the Vancouver Whitecaps and Philadelphia Union, Knighton rejoined the Revolution and has spent the last three seasons with the team.   While Knighton is the first UNCW player to sign professionally, several others have continued their careers into the professional ranks. Justin Schatz played with the Wilmington Hammerheads of the USL in 2001. Keith Shevlin followed by signing with Cork City FC of the Eircom League in Ireland and now plays for APAI Leichhardt of the NSW Premier League in Australia. Two-time All-CAA midfielder Chris Murray was signed by the Hammerheads during the spring of 2008. As a player, Heaney powered Charlottes 49ers to their first NCAA Tournament in 1991. He was a two-time team Most Valuable Player and an Academic All-American. He still ranks among the 49ers all-time leaders in career shutouts and goals against average. Heaney then led the Greensboro Dynamo to a pair of national titles in the USISL in 1993 and 1994, being named Atlantic Division Goalkeeper of the Year in 1993 and team MVP and Defensive MVP in 1994. During a stint with Major League Soccers New England Revolution in 1996-97, Heaney started 19 games and finished fifth in the league in goals against average. Heaney began his professional career in Germany in 1992 before moving to MLS. Heaney served as an assistant coach at North Carolina from 1995-96 where he was involved in all phases of the program. National Team member Eddie Pope was a first-team All-ACC selection that season. Joining Pope on the Tar Heel roster during that time span were Carey Talley (Real Salt Lake), Kerry Zavagnin (Kansas City and USA) and Eddie Robinson (US National team). He moved on to Penn State from 1997-99 and the Nittany Lions finished in the top 20 and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Heaney sharpened his coaching and teaching skills under the direction of Barry Gorman, who is considered one of the foremost teachers of the game in the country. Heaney then moved to Boone, N.C., where he coached two years at Appalachian State before taking over the helm at UNCW. In Boone, Heaney helped the Mountaineers compile a 13-7-0 record in 2000 and advance to the championship game of the Southern Conference tourney. The Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, native earned his Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from UNC Charlotte in 1992. He holds an FA Preliminary Badge, NSCAA Premier Badge and USSF A Coaching License. He serves as a Region III Staff Coach. Heaney also has worked with North Carolinas ODP program and with Region three as a staff coach. Heaney is married to the former Dr. Stephanie Freccia, of Fayetteville, N.C., and they have three children - Maeve Claire, Millie Marlene and Harry. Aidan HeaneyAidan Heaney Year-by-Year