As a four-year starter on the La Salle University women?s soccer team from 2006-09, Ally Kenney never got to celebrate a conference championship.
She knew the program was close, though, and she didn?t want to miss the party when the day finally arrived.
Thanks to her new career, she didn?t have to.
Kenney decided to stay at La Salle as an assistant coach, and had a front-row seat for the Explorers? march to the program?s first-ever Atlantic 10 title this past fall.
She was recently recognized for her role in the historic season as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Assistant Coach of the Year in the Mid-Atlantic region.
La Salle head coach Paul Royal pushed for the honor for his No. 1 assistant.
?He didn?t tell me he was nominating me, but I kind of figured he would,? Kenney said. ?I wouldn?t say I was embarrassed about it ? I was honored. It was a true testament to our team success and Paul, everything that he?s done for the program. That?s why I was honored, because of how well our team did this year and our national recognition.?
A former Washington Township High School standout, Kenney went on to a terrific career with the Explorers as a defender. She was named to the Atlantic 10 Second Team as a senior in 2009 and started a school-record 76 games in her career.
After graduating, she worked in marketing at a Philadelphia company while staying with the Explorers as a volunteer assistant. The following fall, in 2011, she was elevated to full-time assistant and left marketing behind to dedicate herself to coaching.
?I love the whole camaraderie of La Salle, the whole family atmosphere that it provides,? Kenney said. ?The administration has been very supportive of the women?s soccer team and they want to see us succeed.
?That?s why I wanted to stay around and give back to the program and Paul, for everything that they?ve given to me in the past. I saw the success that was building. The vision that Paul has is the same vision that I believe in.?
Royal was more than happy to see Kenney remain in the program.
?It?s truly amazing to see Ally grow from being one of our program?s best players into one of the premier assistant coaches in the entire country,? Royal said in a press release.
In both of her years as a full-time assistant, the Explorers have been undefeated in the conference during the regular season. This past fall they capped the year by beating Virginia Commonwealth, 2-1, in overtime for the A-10 crown.
La Salle lost to Virginia, 4-1, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and finished the season 17-5-1.
?As a player, we were kind of building the program up again with Paul,? Kenney said. ?To see where it?s at now, and all the girls? dedication and the success they?ve had, it?s amazing. All of the alumni are just proud of where the program?s at. Even the girls who came before me, everything that they did has led us to do what we?re doing now.?
Kenney?s main responsibility with the team is working with the defense, which has been stellar the past two seasons. She is also heavily involved in recruiting, an important role for her since she?s a product of the program.
?I love identifying the girls and seeing them develop over the years and become part of the program,? she said. ?I went through it, so I can tell them exactly what to expect. I also know what type of player is gonna do well at La Salle, because every school is not right for everyone.?
While La Salle is perfect for Kenney at the moment, she does have head coaching aspirations. She realizes that in order to get that chance, she?ll most likely have to leave the area.
?Once I learn more and get more experience, my ultimate goal is to become the head coach of a program,? Kenney said. ?Hopefully, I can do what Paul did at La Salle and put a team on the national scene. As much as I wouldn?t want to leave my family, if the opportunity comes I?m definitely willing to move around, and I?ll probably have to.?
Until that day, Kenney is excited about the future at La Salle. She believes the program will continue to improve under Royal.
?We graduated five key players, but the core of our team will be returning and the 2013 class coming in is gonna jump right in and compete for spots,? she said. ?We?re going up next year to play Penn State, and down to Wake Forest. It just shows the level that we?re at now. Penn State was in the national championship last year, and Wake Forest is always a top five program. So it?s gonna be a great year for us next year and for many years to come.?
Contact Matt Cosentino at 856-845-9478 or mcosentino@southjerseymedia.com
Source: http://www.nj.com/south-jersey-sports/index.ssf/2013/01/washington_township_grad_and_l.html
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