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Todd Plourde
Iona Director of Athletics Matthew Glovaski announced the appointment of Todd Plourde as the new head coach for the Iona women’s soccer program in January of 2019. Plourde entered New Rochelle with 14 years of Division I college coaching experience, including the prior 12 years as an assistant coach with Yale University. Plourde begins his fifth season as head coach of Iona women's soccer in 2023 as the winningest coach in the program's history.
In his first season at the helm of the program, the Gaels posted a 7-11-2 record (4-5-1 MAAC) overall. The seven wins in 2019 was one less than its total over the prior three seasons combined. The seven-win season also matched the program's best mark of the decade, having won seven games in both 2012 and 2013. Amber Crispin (First Team) and Samantha Hogan (All-Rookie) garnered All-MAAC honors; 15 student-athletes earned MAAC All-Academic distinction.
In year number two, Iona finished 1-4-1 overall (1-3-1 MAAC). The Maroon & Gold fell to No. 1 Siena, the eventual MAAC Champions, in the opening round of the conference postseason. Kelsie Kearns was selected to the All-MAAC Team and 10 Gaels earned MAAC All-Academic Team honors.
Year three was a record-setting one for Plourde and the Gaels; the Maroon & Gold won 11 games, the second most in a single season in program history. Iona's six conference wins also matched a program record, helping them earn its highest seed in the MAAC Championship (No. 5) since 2013. The Gaels had eight shutouts in 2021, another program record. Iona ended the season on a six-game win streak, the longest winning streak of the 21st century for Iona women's soccer. Five different Gaels earned postseason honors, including the MAAC Rookie of the Year in Kedarjah Lewis. Mackenzie Meixner earned All-MAAC First Team status, the third straight year that a Gael appeared on the first team. Meixner was also an All-ECAC honoree. A record-setting 17 Gaels appeared on the MAAC All-Academic Team in 2021.
The Gaels finished 8-7-4 overall and 3-6-1 in league play in 2022. Iona enjoyed a season-best five-game win streak during the early portion of the non-conference slate. With Iona's 1-0 victory on the road over Rider on October 5, Plourde became the winningest head coach in program history (26 wins). Mackenzie Meixner and Kayla Thomas were tabbed All-MAAC Second Team, while Sofia Banegas earned a spot on the All-MAAC Third Team. 11 Gaels earned MAAC All-Academic distinction in 2022.
Plourde started at Yale in 2006 after having spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Manhattan College. With Yale, he oversaw the day-to-day operations, which included but was not limited to practice planning, talent instruction and identification, fundraising, budget planning and leadership of other members on staff.
During his 12 years in New Haven, Connecticut, Plourde helped the Bulldogs to 10 seasons of seven or more wins and nine seasons with an above .500 record. The Bulldogs finished top three in the Ivy League five times, including two second-place finishes in 2007 and 2009. Multiple student-athletes took home postseason accolades under Plourde, highlighted by Becky Brown being named the Ivy League Player of the Year in 2009. He also had three freshmen be named the Ivy League Rookie of the Year, one Defensive Player of the Year and one Offensive Player of the Year.
Plourde has a relationship with the MAAC, having spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Jaspers. During his time in Riverdale, he helped the program improve in short time from a record of 2-15-1 to 12-5-2.
While with Yale, the Connecticut Olympic Development Program invited Plourde to serve as a coach with the team. From 2008 to 2014, he lent his expertise in identifying and educating the top young soccer athletes in the state. The Olympic Development Program pools together the best players and coaches in the state to then compete against other ODP programs in the region and across the nation.
Since 2009, Plourde has been a member of the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) Advisory Board and Founder Club. It is a platform where he and the board aim to improve the level of competition through improved coaching standards, appropriate athletic competitive identification and the creation of safe and developmental learning environments for athletes.
Plourde served as the Head of Operations of the Elm City Express professional soccer team in 2016. The program plays in the NPSL and saw success under Plourde, winning the league’s national championship in its first year of existence.
Plourde graduated from Quinnipiac University in 2004 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing. He played soccer for the Bobcats, serving as a captain his junior and senior seasons. As a student-athlete, he was an All-League selection as well as an All-Northeast 10 Selection. Plourde has completed the NSCAA National Coaching Diploma.
He resides in Wallingford, Connecticut with his wife Laurie, daughters Kassidy, Rylee, Aubrey and Kyra, and son Bryce.
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