Stone led the program to historic heights during the 2015 campaign. On Monday, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) named Stone Northeast Region Coach of the Year for the remarkable job he did in leading the program this past season.
In his decorated 22-year tenure leading the Red Storm, this is the second time, the first coming in 2009, that Stone has been selected as the winner of the Northeast Region Coach of the Year award. The honor also puts Stone on the eight person NSCAA ballot for National Coach of the Year. The national honoree will be announced on Dec. 16.
To be considered for the regional award a coach must exemplify specific standards that include knowledge of the game, rapport with the team, team conduct on the field, work for coaches organization, outside involvement, community involvement, rapport with other coaches, officials and media and service to the NSCAA.
For any one that knows coach Stone, he is certainly more than deserving of this prestigious honor.
Two of the program’s graduating seniors forward Rachel Daly and defender Georgia Kearney-Perry, took to Twitter to congratulate their coach.
“Congrats coach!! Couldn’t be more deserved,” Daly said. “Phenomenal coach and role model!”
“Congratulations and THANKYOU to the best Gaffa out there,” Kearney-Perry said. “So unbelievably well deserved coach.”
The Big East also honored Stone and his coaching staff this season as they were named the Big East Coaching Staff of the Year.
During the 2015 season Stone led St. John’s to the best season in program history. The team won a program record 15 games, won the first Big East Regular Season title in the program’s history, recorded a program record 12 shutouts and went on the longest winning streak, seven games, in program history. Stone made history himself this year as well as he won his 200th career game.
The student athletes under Stone’s tutelage this season also had remarkable seasons. The Red Storm won three major Big East awards as Daly was named the Big East Offensive Player of the Year, Kearney-Perry garnered Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors and Diana Poulin took home Big East Goalkeeper of the Year honors.
Stone also led the team to its third ever NCAA Tournament this past season (2009, 2013, 2015) as the program secured its first ever home game at Belson Stadium in the NCAA Tournament.
