Graham Kennedy named head coach for StFX soccer programs

ANTIGONISH, NS – Director of Athletics and Recreation Leo MacPherson is pleased to announce Graham Kennedy as the new head coach for StFX soccer programs, overseeing both the men's and women's teams. 
 
“Graham is an award winning coach with a great passion for soccer,” comments MacPherson. “His experience and coaching philosophy will serve him well as he leads our men's and women's soccer programs. The intent of this plan is to have one person focused exclusively on soccer operations which will be a significant enhancement to our previous model which had two part-time coaches.”

“I am really excited to be named head coach for our StFX soccer programs,” comments Kennedy, who recently wrapped up his fourth season as head coach of the X-Men soccer team. “I had a long stint as a coach and director of a large and successful club before I came to StFX, so I am seasoned in the operation, building and advancement of soccer clubs and programs.”
 
“I see enormous potential here at StFX. The commitment made in moving towards this positive direction for soccer is outstanding. The opportunity now exists for us to build a consistent regional powerhouse in both men's and women's soccer. It won't happen overnight, but the foundation has been put in place, and I am looking forward to building something we can all be proud of.”
 
Kennedy has been at the helm of the X-Men soccer program for the past four years. The 2010 CIS coach of the year, Kennedy led his X-Men to an undefeated 11-0-2 season in 2010 and a CIS No. 1 ranking, the first time ever in the history of the program. Kennedy has a career coaching record (regular season, AUS and CIS playoffs) of 28-16-11 over the past four seasons and is an X-Men soccer alumnus.
 
For seven years, Kennedy was the technical director of the Calgary Foothills Soccer club, one of Canada’s top youth clubs. During a two-year hiatus, he was the Director of Soccer at the Edge School for Athletes, pioneering a successful junior and senior high soccer program. During this period Kennedy also was the head coach for national silver medalist Calgary Foothills B18, North American Super-Y finalists, FC Calgary, and Calgary Villains Elite of the Alberta Major League. In 2009, Kennedy coached the Calgary Foothills G18 to a national championship.
 
In 2005 Kennedy received his Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) B coaching license while working in association with the youth academy at Birmingham City Football Club. He served as Canadian scout for BCFC during this period and has coached almost 100 players who have gone on to collegiate levels of play in Canada and the USA. Most recently he has assisted in the creation and administration of the XFC soccer club in the local Antigonish area.
 
With the movement to the consolidated head coaching position for the soccer programs, StFX Athletics bids farewell to Trevor Reddick, former head coach of the X-Women soccer team for the past nine seasons. Reddick led the X-Women to eight consecutive Atlantic University Sport (AUS) playoff appearances and two CIS national appearances. With a 55-49-31 career coaching record (regular season, AUS and CIS playoffs), Reddick led his X-Women to an AUS championship title in 2009, their first since the inaugural year of the program in 1986.  

MacPherson comments, “Trevor Reddick has a long standing association with StFX as a player and later a coach. His contributions to StFX soccer are significant and I respect his decision not to pursue the head coach position given his other commitments.”
 
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