Ron Dias Retiring After 22 Seasons as Head Women’s Soccer Coach at Western New England
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (July 27, 2016) – After 22 successful seasons as the head coach of the women's soccer program at Western New England University, Ron Dias has announced his retirement.
Dias, who retires as Western New England's all-time wins leader, led the Golden Bears to four NCAA Tournaments. |
Dias, who was inducted into the University's Downes Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008, steps down as the program's all-time wins leader with a career record of 241-184-32 (.562). His win total ranks 31st in NCAA history among Division III head coaches. Dias' teams captured five Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament titles and appeared in the NCAA Division III Tournament four times. He was recognized as the conference Coach of the Year on three occasions, twice by the GNAC (2001, '02) and once by The Commonwealth Coast Conference (2007).
Five of Dias' former student-athletes have been enshrined in the Downes Hall of Fame, the most recent being Kristin Hensinger '07, who has served on his staff as an assistant coach since 2007 and was inducted last fall. A sixth, Nicole Poli '11, will enter the Hall of Fame this September in the 2016 class.
"The Western New England athletic family would not be where it is today without Ron's tireless efforts in his coaching and his commitment to the University," Director of Athletics Dr. Mike Theulen said. "The very start of this current era of excellence can be directly traced to the 1998 ECAC Championship team. They gave us legitimacy and inspired other teams to achieve greatness as well."
"As great of a coach Ron is, he is an even better person. I want to publicly thank him for all that he has done for our athletic family, both on and off the field."
Dias took charge of the women's soccer program in 1994 with Western New England coming off eight consecutive sub-.500 seasons, and directed the Golden Bears to a 12-8 mark and the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) title in 1995. Three seasons later, in 1998, Dias led Western New England to a program record 20-2 campaign that culminated in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Metro Tournament championship.
The following year, Western New England made its debut in the NCAA Division III Tournament after claiming the program's second GNAC title and finishing with a record of 14-8-1. The Golden Bears continued to establish their dominance in the GNAC in 2001 and '02, securing consecutive conference crowns and making two more trips to the NCAA Tournament as Dias won back-to-back Coach of the Year awards.
Dias earned three conference Coach of the Year awards and mentored six Western New England Hall-of-Famers. |
After three straight GNAC runner-up finishes from 2003-05, Dias and the Golden Bears made their return to the national stage in 2006 after earning the program's fifth conference crown. The Ludlow, Mass. native was recognized as a conference Coach of the Year for the third time in 2007 after leading Western New England to a 13-6-3 record and an appearance in the ECAC New England Tournament in the program's first season as a member of The Commonwealth Coast Conference.
Dias has helped to establish the Golden Bears as a consistent contender in the CCC over the last decade, as the program reached the postseason every year from 2007-14, making semifinals appearances in both 2010 and 2011 after posting a runner-up effort in 2009.
"Today I announce my retirement as the head women's soccer coach at Western New England University," Dias said. "I will forever be grateful to Dr. Caprio, Mike Theulen, Joe Sassi, Sharianne Walker, and the entire WNE athletic family.
"I want to thank all of my current and former players for allowing me to do the one thing that I have loved to do over the past 22 years – be your coach. It has been an honor to work with each and every young lady who has worn the Western New England jersey. We have shared a great deal together and I am so proud of all of your accomplishments. More importantly, I am grateful for all of the enduring friendships that we have fostered together. I would also like to thank all of my past assistant coaches, and especially my current assistant Kristin. I can't express how much all of you have meant to our program and to me personally.
"I would not have been able to pursue my coaching passion for over 48 years without the support of my wife, Ellie, and my two children, Michael and Michele. I will forever be grateful for their patience and understanding.
"I expect to remain active on the sidelines, cheering on the Golden Bears and offering my support to all of our great programs."
