Slippery Rock Athletics Hall of Famer Noreen Herlihy will begin her second stint as head coach of The Rock women's soccer program in April of 2025.
Herlihy spent 20 years leading the SRU women's soccer team as the program's second head coach from 1995-2014. She became the winningest coach in program history through those two decades, amassing a 250-113-30 (.674) record. She then spent seven years as a Division I head coach at the University of Akron and has spent the last three years as head coach at Indiana University (Pa.).
CAREER AT A GLANCE
• Career record: 305-206-62 (.586).
• One of 15 active Division ? coaches with 300 wins.
• Ranks 14th for career victories among active head coaches in in Division ?.
• Ranks 23rd in Division ? history for wins in a career.
• Selected as the 2003 and 2012 United Soccer Coaches (formerly known as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America) Atlantic Region Coach of the Year.
• Has been named the PSAC Coach of the Year on four occasions (1996, 2003, 2012, 2024).
• Mentored 13 All-America selections, 61 all-region honorees and 84 All-PSAC choices including four PSAC Athletes of the Year (Sarah Arsenault (2x), Julie Kirwan, Meghan McGrath).
• A member of three Hall of Fames (Slippery Rock Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, Massasoit Hall of Fame and Mercyhurst Athletics Hall of Fame.
SEASON-BY-SEASON BREAKDOWN
2024 (at IUP)
• Indiana (Pa.) went 11-3-4 and finished second in the PSAC West.
• IUP broke a 15-year NCAA Tournament drought with an at-large bid.
• The Crimson Hawks saw five student-athletes earn All-PSAC honors.
2023 (at IUP)
• IUP went 5-9-4 and finished sixth in the PSAC West.
• The Crimson Hawks had three players placed on All-PSAC teams.
2022 (at IUP)
• IUP went 5-4-8 and finished sixth in the PSAC West in Herlihy’s first year with the Crimson Hawks.
• The Crimson Hawks placed three student-athletes on All-PSAC teams.
2021 (at Akron)
• Akron went 3-15-1 and finished 12th in the MAC in Herlihy’s last year at the program.
2020 (at Akron)
• Akron went 3-5-1 and finished fourth in the MAC East in the spring of 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2019 (at Akron)
• Akron went 8-10-2 and finished fifth in the MAC.
• The Zips made the MAC tournament for the second consecutive season.
• Libby Harper became the program’s first MAC Freshman of the Year.
• The Zips had three players earn All-MAC honors, including Ashley Amato with first team honors, the first to achieve this with Herlihy at the helm.
2018 (at Akron)
• Akron went 8-10-2 and finished sixth in the MAC.
• The Zips made the MAC tournament for the first time during Herlihy’s tenure and the fourth time in program history.
• The Zips placed three student-athletes on All-MAC teams.
2017 (at Akron)
• Akron went 2-13-4 and finished fifth in the MAC East.
• The Zips had one player earn All-MAC honors
2016 (at Akron)
• Akron went 4-11-0 and finished fifth in the MAC East.
• The Zips placed one on All-MAC teams.
2015 (at Akron)
• Akron went 6-13-12 and finished fifth in the MAC East in Herlihy’s first year at the helm.
• The Zips had one player on All-MAC teams.
2014
• Slippery Rock went 11-6-1 and finished fifth in the PSAC, earning a PSAC Tournament bid.
• The Rock placed three on All-PSAC teams and four on USC All-Region teams.
2013
• Slippery Rock went 15-4-2 and finished second in the PSAC, earning a spot in the PSAC and NCAA Tournaments.
• SRU made a run to the NCAA Quarterfinals via wins over Shippensburg and California (Pa.) before losing to American International College.
• The Rock finished the season ranked No. 6 in the nation.
• SRU placed four on All-America teams.
• The Rock had six student-athletes on All-PSAC and eight on USC All-Region teams.
2012
• Slippery Rock went 14-6-3 and finished seventh in the PSAC.
• The Rock captured their third PSAC Championship with wins over West Chester, East Stroudsburg and No. 16 California.
• SRU made a run to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament with triumphs over No. 24 Edinboro and No. 16 California before losing to West Chester.
• The Rock finished the season ranked No. 14 in the nation.
• Herlihy named USC Atlantic Region Coach of the Year and PSAC Coach of the Year.
• Rock had two earn All-American status.
• Rock placed 10 on USC All-Region and seven on All-PSAC teams.
2011
• Slippery Rock went 16-5-2 and finished third in the PSAC.
• SRU fell to No. 17 Kutztown in the PSAC semifinals after a quarterfinal victory over West Chester.
• The Rock made it to the Sweet 16 with wins over Alderson-Broaddus and No. 15 Kutztown before falling to No. 2 California.
• SRU finished the season ranked No. 14 in the nation.
• One Rock athlete earned All-America honors.
• The Rock placed four on USC All-Region and six on All-PSAC teams.
2010
• Slippery Rock went 14-3-5 and finished fifth in the PSAC.
• The Rock beat Bloomsburg but fell to West Chester in the Semifinals of the PSAC Tournament.
• SRU made the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a win over West Virginia Wesleyan before falling to California.
• The Rock finished the season ranked No. 23 in the nation.
• Slippery Rock saw four make USC All-Region and five make All-PSAC.
2009
• Slippery Rock went 10-5-3 and on a “down year” failed to make the PSAC Tournament.
• SRU placed one on the USC All-Region and three on the All-PSAC teams.
2008
• Slippery Rock went 14-7-1 and finished third in the PSAC West.
• The Rock made the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a victory of Bloomsburg in the first round, but then fell to Mercyhurst in the second.
• SRU saw six student-athletes make USC All-Region and five make All-PSAC teams.
2007
• Slippery Rock went 17-5-1 while finishing second in the PSAC and finishing runner-up in the PSAC Tournament.
• Slippery Rock made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a win over Adelphi before losing to West Chester.
• SRU finished the season ranked No. 22 in the nation.
• The Rock saw three student-athletes earn All-America honors.
• SRU had four players earn USC All-Region and five players earn All-PSAC honors.
2006
• Slippery Rock went 12-7-1 and made it to the PSAC Semifinals.
• The Rock saw two student-athletes make USC All-Region and five make All-PSAC teams.
2005
• Slippery Rock went 13-5-3 and won their second PSAC Tournament in program history.
• SRU had two student-athletes make USC All-Region and six make the All-PSAC team.
2004
• Slippery Rock went 13-3-2 and made the PSAC Semifinals.
• The Rock saw two student-athletes make USC All-Region and six on All-PSAC teams.
2003
• Slippery Rock went 15-3-2 and were crowned the PSAC Champion.
• The Rock earned a NCAA Tournament appearance.
• SRU finished the season ranked No. 12 in the nation.
• Herlihy earned PSAC and USC Coach of the Year awards.
• The Rock saw two players earn All-America honors.
• SRU had four players make USC All-Region and five make All-PSAC teams.
2002
• Slippery Rock went 10-6-1, but failed to make the PSAC Tournament.
• The Rock saw two players earn All-PSAC honors.
2001
• Slippery Rock went 14-5-0.
• The Rock earned their first NCAA Tournament berth in program history, making it to the second round as well.
• SRU finished the season ranked No. 14 in the nation.
• The Rock saw one player earn All-America honors.
• SRU found four of its student-athletes on USC All-Region and three on the All-PSAC teams.
2000
• Slippery Rock went 11-6-1 and earned first PSAC tournament bid in program history.
• The Rock had four players make All-PSAC teams.
1999
• Slippery Rock went 13-4-0.
• SRU finished the season ranked No. 24 in the nation.
• The Rock saw one player earn All-America honors, the first in program history.
• SRU had two players make USC All-Region and four players make All-PSAC teams.
1998
• Slippery Rock went 10-7-0.
• SRU placed two student-athletes on the USC All-Region and All-PSAC teams.
1997
• Slippery Rock went 9-8-1.
• The Rock saw one player earn USC All-Region and two players receive All-PSAC recognition.
1996
• Slippery Rock went 14-5-0.
• Herlihy earned PSAC Coach of the Year.
• The Rock placed one on the USC All-Region and three on the All-PSAC teams.
1995
• Slippery Rock went 5-13-1.
THE ROCK IN THE CLASSROOM
• From 1995-2015, Rock women’s soccer had two players named to the CoSIDA/CSC Academic All-America team (Lauren Impey and Nicole Krueger), along with 191 PSAC Scholar-Athletes.
• Three SRU women’s soccer student-athletes have been named members of the USC Scholar All-America team, as well as the PSAC Fall Top 10.
COACHING TIMELINE
• 1992-94: Mercyhurst (assistant coach)
• 1995-2015: Slippery Rock (head coach)
• 2015-22: Akron (head coach)
• 2022-25: Indiana (Pa.) (head coach)
• 2025-Present: Slippery Rock (head coach)
CAREER PATH
• Herlihy’s first collegiate coaching position came in 1992 as an assistant at Mercyhurst University. Herlihy helped guide Mercyhurst to an NCAA Tournament Semifinal appearance in 1994.
• After two seasons at Mercyhurst, Herlihy was named the head coach at Slippery Rock where she went on to begin her hall of fame career.
• After 20 seasons with SRU, she left for Division ? Akron where in seven seasons she rebuilt the Zips and reached the Mid-American Conference tournament three times, doubling the amount in the program’s history.
• Herlihy then took the head coaching position at IUP. She took the Crimson Hawks to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 15 seasons.
PLAYING CAREER
• Herlihy was selected to the Irish National Team from 1985-88, where she played in qualifying competition for the tournament now known as the UEFA Women’s Championship.
• Attended Massasoit Community College where she played basketball and soccer.
• Then transferred to Mercyhurst for two seasons.
PERSONAL
• A native of Cork, Ireland
• Received associates degree in liberal arts from Massasoit Community College
• Received bachelor’s degree in sports medicine Mercyhurst University
• Oversaw SRU Athletes for Forgotten Angels, a community service group which was made up of student-athletes from all Slippery Rock sports teams.
| Noreen Herlihy Head Coaching Career |
| Year |
W |
L |
T |
Season Notes |
| 1995 |
5 |
13 |
1 |
- |
| 1996 |
14 |
5 |
0 |
- |
| 1997 |
9 |
8 |
1 |
- |
| 1998 |
10 |
7 |
0 |
- |
| 1999 |
13 |
4 |
0 |
- |
| 2000 |
11 |
6 |
1 |
PSAC Tournament (SF) |
| 2001 |
14 |
5 |
0 |
NCAA Tournament (2nd) |
| 2002 |
10 |
6 |
1 |
- |
| 2003 |
15 |
3 |
2 |
PSAC Champions / NCAA Tournament (1st) |
| 2004 |
13 |
3 |
2 |
PSAC Tournament (SF) |
| 2005 |
13 |
5 |
3 |
PSAC Champions |
| 2006 |
12 |
7 |
1 |
PSAC Tournament (SF) / NCAA Tournament (1st) |
| 2007 |
17 |
5 |
1 |
PSAC Runner-up / NCAA Tournament (2nd) |
| 2008 |
14 |
7 |
1 |
PSAC Tournament (QF) / NCAA Tournament (2nd) |
| 2009 |
10 |
5 |
3 |
- |
| 2010 |
14 |
3 |
5 |
PSAC Tournament (SF) / NCAA Tournament (2nd) |
| 2011 |
16 |
5 |
2 |
PSAC Tournament (SF) / NCAA Tournament (3rd) |
| 2012 |
14 |
6 |
3 |
PSAC Champion / NCAA Tournament (3rd) |
| 2013 |
15 |
4 |
2 |
PSAC Tournament (QF) / NCAA Tournament (QF) |
| 2014 |
11 |
6 |
1 |
PSAC Tournament (QF) |
| 2015 (Akron) |
6 |
13 |
2 |
MAC Tournament (SF) |
| 2016 (Akron) |
4 |
11 |
4 |
- |
| 2017 (Akron) |
2 |
13 |
4 |
- |
| 2018 (Akron) |
8 |
10 |
2 |
MAC Tournament (QF) |
| 2019 (Akron) |
8 |
10 |
2 |
MAC Tournament (QF) |
| 2020 (Akron) |
3 |
5 |
1 |
- |
| 2021 (Akron) |
3 |
15 |
1 |
- |
| 2022 (IUP) |
5 |
4 |
8 |
- |
| 2023 (IUP) |
5 |
9 |
4 |
- |
| 2024 (IUP) |
11 |
3 |
4 |
PSAC Tournament (QF) / NCAA Tournament (1st) |
| 2025 |
12 |
3 |
1 |
- |
SRU Career
|
262
|
116
|
31
|
SRU Winning Percentage: .678
9 NCAA Tournament Appearance
3 PSAC Championships
12 PSAC Tournament Appearance |
| Akron (2015-21) |
34 |
77 |
16 |
3 MAC Tournament Appearances |
| IUP (2022-24) |
21 |
16 |
16 |
1 NCAA Tournament Appearance |
| All-Time Career |
317 |
209 |
63 |
.592 |
| Division II Career |
283 |
132 |
47 |
.663 |
