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 Tom Poitras is headed home.
Poitras stepped down after seven seasons as UW-Green Bay men's soccer coach Tuesday to accept the same position at the University of Hartford.
A Connecticut native, Poitras led the Phoenix to a 72-46-18 record, including the Horizon League tournament championship and an NCAA tournament berth in 2009 – the program's first in 26 years.
"It has been an honor to be the head men's soccer coach at Green Bay," Poitras said in news release. "I have had the privilege of coaching many outstanding student-athletes, and I cannot thank the players over the last seven years enough. The current team is a special group of individuals who have been a major part of my life and family. I am extremely proud of all the success we have had in the last seven years."
Last fall, the Phoenix were 13-4-2 overall and 6-2-0 in the Horizon League. It was their fourth 10-win season in the past five seasons.
"Tom has built this program into one that regularly competes for Horizon League championships and NCAA tournament berths, and we want to thank him for his time and dedication to our men's soccer program, athletics department and University during his time at Green Bay," UWGB athletic director Ken Bothof said in a news release. "Tom has the opportunity to continue his career near his family and hometown in Connecticut, and we wish him the best of luck at Hartford."
Poitras, 42, succeeds Dan Gaspar, who left Hartford after six seasons to take a position as an assistant coach with the Iranian national team. The Hawks were 5-10-0 last season and finished seventh in the eight-team America East Conference with a 2-5-0 record.
"Tom is a dynamic veteran men’s soccer coach who has achieved incredible success at a number of levels," University of Hartford president Walter Harrison said in a news release. "We are delighted that he will be joining us at the University of Hartford."
“In Tom, we have an individual who has been a head coach at three highly-respected institutions and comes to Hartford with a wealth of experience,” Hartford athletic director Patricia Meiser added. “In each case, he made a significant impact on the success of the men’s soccer programs. Not only has he established a winning tradition, but he has created a culture of excellence in the classroom as well. We are very pleased to welcome Tom back to the Nutmeg State and I am confident he will lead the Hawks to a bright future.”
Before taking over in Green Bay, Poitras – who played at Southern Connecticut State – compiled an 81-25-16 mark at Southern New Hampshire and a 38-32-5 record at University of New Haven. Both are NCAA Division II programs.
Seventeen of Poitras' players have gone on to play professionally. Included in that group are former UWGB forward Tosaint Ricketts, now with Romanian top-division club Poli Timisoara, and midfielder JC Banks (Milwaukee Riverside), who recently signed with the Rochester Rhinos of USL PRO.
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