STORRS, CT (January 8) – Sixth-year head coach of the University of Connecticut men’s soccer team Ray Reid has hired Paul McDonough as a new assistant coach for the program. He comes to Connecticut after spending the last two seasons as an assistant at the University of South Carolina.

McDonough has strong credentials as an assistant coach and a player, as he has been a part of winning programs throughout his career. At UConn, he will assists in all aspects of the day-to-day operations of the Husky soccer program with a particular focus on recruiting.

In his two seasons at South Carolina, the Gamecocks earned two consecutive NCAA tournament bids, and posted a 23-12-3 record in those two years. Before South Carolina, McDonough spent three seasons as an assistant for nationally recognized Wake Forest University, helping the Demon Deacons earn an NCAA Tournament appearance in 1999.

Before his stint as a Demon Deacon assistant, McDonough worked at the University of South Carolina-Spartanburg, where he served as an assistant men’s soccer coach for three seasons. During his coaching tenure at USC-S, McDonough led the Rifles to a 48-16-5 combined record, including an appearance in the 1995 NCAA Division II Finals and the 1997 Regional Finals. In 1996, the Rifles reached a ranking as high as No. 2 in the nation.

McDonough also served as the site coordinator for the 1995 NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer Final Four, which was hosted by USC-Spartanburg. McDonough also has experience in the youth coaching ranks, coaching with the Spartanburg Youth Soccer Club since 1995.

A native of Marshfield, Mass., McDonough attended Massasoit Community College from 1991-93. During his tenure, the Warriors advanced to the NJCAA national semifinals and, he earned NSCAA Junior College All-America honors in 1992. McDonough then attended USC-Spartanburg from 1993-96, helping them to NCAA Tournament berths in both 1993 and 1994. In 1996, USC-Spartanburg was ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation.