John O’Connor

Summit FC is extremely fortunate to be able to offer young players in Central Vermont an instructional program that is second to none, in a focused and fun-filled atmosphere. John O’Connor serves as Technical and Coaching Director for Summit FC, and is responsible for all aspects of player development and training. Under his guidance, Summit has made tremendous strides in the on-field success and achievements of its players in just a few short years.

Coach O’Connor has coached at the collegiate level since 1990. He is currently the men’s head coach for the 2017 North Atlantic Conference regular season and tournament champion Castleton University. In his first five seasons at Castleton, he has been named NAC Coach of the Year three times and had multiple players named to all-conference and all-region teams.  2018 marks the Spartans’ inaugural season in the competitive Little East Conference.

Prior to Castleton, O’Connor served as the head coach for the University of Rhode Island from 2006-2012. During his tenure with the Rams he won an Atlantic 10 Tournament Championship and reached the tournament semifinals on two other occasions. Five of his former players went on to play professional soccer; three of them played in Major League Soccer, including Geoff Cameron, who is currently a member of the U.S. Men’s National Team and Stoke City of the English Premier League.

In addition to his work at the Division I level, O’Connor also served as the head coach at Division III University of Chicago from 1995-2006. In just his second season the team reached the national semifinal and he was named the NSCAA Division III National Coach of the Year. He reached the NCAA Tournament again in 2001 and 2005 when his teams were ranked in the top-15 nationally. While at Chicago he also served as an associate professor in the department of Physical Education.

O’Connor earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from the University of Maine-Orono in 1984, and two years later completed his Masters degree in Education with a concentration in Leadership. From 1990-95, he spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Dartmouth under Bobby Clark, the present coach at the University of Notre Dame. He was a part of two Ivy League Championships with the Big Green, who reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division I Tournament twice during his tenure in Hanover.

Coach O’Connor earned a USSF “A” License and holds a NSCAA Premier Diploma. In addition to his leadership role at Summit, he is active in coaching education through the NSCAA and works with the Vermont Olympic Development Program.

O’Connor resides in Rutland with his wife Sheila, the Castleton University Aquatics Coordinator, and their children Megan and Michael.