Emmanuel College (Ma.)

Francis Okaroh heads into his fourth season as Head Coach of the Women's Soccer program, taking over in April of 2021. 

After three seasons with the Saints, Okaroh has coached the team to one of their best three-season stretches in a decade, going 39-15-4 (30-9-2 GNAC) over that span. Included in that run is a program-record 18-win season in 2023, besting the previous record held by the 2007 squad that won 17 matches. Among his other accomplishments, Okaroh and the Saints have qualified for the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Playoffs in all three of his seasons while making a trip to the GNAC Championship Game in 2023.

In just three seasons, Okaroh has coached 14 GNAC All-Conference Players, including the 2022 GNAC Rookie of the Year (Sarah Dullaghan), 2022 GNAC Goalkeeper of the Year (Patricia Kirejczyk), and the 2021 GNAC Defender of the Year (Kennedy Davignon). The Saints head coach was also named the GNAC Coach of the Year in 2022, following a 9-2-2 season in the GNAC to finish third in the conference that year. 

Following the 2023 season, Okaroh's squad placed five Saints on the United Soccer Coaches (USC) All-Region I Team, including a historic First Team nomination for Dullaghan, who became the first player in Emmanuel Women's Soccer program history to receive a First Team selection by the USC. Gaby Baker, Annebel Balogh de Galantha, Maya Daryanani, and Ciara Horan were also recognized by the USC on the All-Region I squad. Before these five Saints were recognized on an All-Region Team, only seven Saints in women's soccer program history had been voted to an All-Region Team, dating back to 1997.

Over the last two seasons, 10 Saints have been recognized for their dedication in the classroom, being recognized by the College Sports Communicators (CSC) as part of their Academic All-District Team.

Prior to joining the Emmanuel staff, Okaroh was a member of the men's soccer coaching staff at his alma mater Boston University for 13 seasons. In 2008, 2010, and 2011, he was recognized for being a member of the America East's Coaching Staff of the Year after helping guide BU to America East regular season titles all three seasons and a 2008 NCAA berth.

In 2014, he helped BU claim Patriot League Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Scholar-Athlete, and Coach of the Year honors along with the PL regular season title. The Terriers finished with an overall record of 12-4-4 and their first unbeaten conference record (6-0-3 PL) since 1994. They followed up in 2015 by claiming their first at-large NCAA berth since 2007 behind a 12-6-2 record and RPI ranking of 31.

A Boston University Athletics and New England Soccer Hall of Fame member, Okaroh played six years in Major League Soccer (MLS) from 1996-2002 and won an MLS Cup in 1999 with the Chicago Fire. While playing for the New England Revolution in 1996-97, he was twice named Defender of the Year. He also won the Champions U.S. Open Cup and later finished runner-up for the cup in 2000 with the Fire. In 2005, he was inducted into the New England Soccer Hall of Fame. In 2007, he was nominated for the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame and has international experience playing for the junior and senior Nigerian National teams as well as a stint playing with FC Menem out of Belgium.

In the Club Soccer circuit, Okaroh previously served as the head coach for the Greater Boston Bolts - the 2005 U-15 national champions. He's also coached the U-14 Spirit of Massachusetts team, the U-10, U-16, and U-17 Greater Boston Soccer Club teams as well as the Sherborn-Dover High School Girls team. Currently, he serves as the Executive Director and Coach for the FC Blazers Soccer Club and runs Okaroh's Ultimate Soccer Academy.

As a player at BU, he was named an All-American three times and was a four-time All-New England selection. Okaroh started all four years and led the Terriers to back-to-back berths in the NCAA Tournament in 1985 and 1986, including an appearance in the Final Eight in 1986.

The BU standout was part of the 1985 team that set Terrier program records for the fewest goals allowed (11) and most shutouts (12) in a season. He finished his collegiate career with 26 goals scored. In recognition of his stellar undergraduate career, Okaroh was inducted into the BU Hall of Fame in 2006.

Coach Okaroh obtained his USSF "A" Coaching License in 2001. He graduated from Boston University in 1987 with a BA in Finance and later completed his Master's from BU in 1990 in Urban Affairs.

CAREER RECORD

(Last updated Nov. 18, 2024 - 4:00 PM)