June 16, 2003

VILLANOVA, PA. - Villanova University head women's soccer coach Ann Clifton recently announced the hiring of Jim McGirr as an assistant coach for the Wildcat women's soccer program. McGirr replaces former assistant Paul Royal who was named head coach at La Salle University in May.

McGirr arrives at Villanova from Loyola College in Maryland with an extensive soccer background. He was an assistant coach at Loyola in 2002, helping lead the school to the 2002 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament Championship and a berth in the 2002 NCAA Tournament. At Loyola, McGirr was responsible for recruiting players from a number of regions, in addition to organizing in-season and off-season training, and developing opponent scouting reports.

Prior to coaching at Loyola, McGirr was a volunteer assistant coach for the Rutgers University women's soccer program from 2001-02, and assistant coach for the Lafayette College men's soccer team from 2000-01.

In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, McGirr also has a number of years at the club ranks. From 1997-2002, he was the head coach and trainer for the New Jersey Olympic Development Program. In addition, he was a coach and trainer for the Wyckoff Torpedoes Club Team (U-19 Girls Team) from 1998-2001, head coach and Trainer at the Player Development Academy (U-17 Boys Team) from 2000-2002 and technical director for the Baltimore Bay Soccer Club from 2000-present.

McGirr began his coaching career at the high school level as head varsity soccer coach and trainer at Bergen Vocational Technical High School, where he stayed from 1993-94. From there, McGirr served as head coach of the varsity squad at Bergen Catholic High School from 1995-99.

A 1992 graduate of Rider with a bachelor's degree in Psychology, McGirr was a three-year member of the Rider men's soccer team. He is currently working on his master's degree in special education from New Jersey City University.