Matt Langone and Matt Doherty chat with UMass Men's Soccer Head Coach Fran O'Leary. They discuss the upcoming 2025 season, the success of the 2024 season, the team’s impressive clean sheet record, and the challenge of replacing key player Alec Hughes. The conversation also delves into the importance of recruitment, team leadership, and the move to the highly competitive Summit League. The episode concludes with a fun segment called 'Extra Time' where the guests answer soccer-related questions.

Topics

00:32 Meet the Guest: Fran O'Leary

01:14 UMass Soccer Season Preview

02:40 Challenges and Strategies

04:37 New England Soccer Talent

07:30 Building a Successful Program

09:47 Transition to the Summit League

12:44 Recruitment Insights

15:25 Advice for Incoming Freshmen

17:01 State of Division One Soccer

19:10 Looking Ahead to 2025

20:15 Reflecting on the Season's Philosophy

21:03 Applying Life Lessons from Soccer

21:19 Previewing the Upcoming Season

21:42 Extra Time: Fun and Wild Questions

21:57 Youth Soccer: Positive and Negative Habits

24:41 The Importance of Leadership in Soccer

27:09 Comparing Coaching Roles Across Sports

33:26 Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts