GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Gettysburg College head men's soccer coach Devin O'Neill has resigned in order to assume an assistant coaching position at NCAA Division I Bradley University according to Director of Athletics David Wright. With the season quickly approaching, Wright will slide in as acting head coach while assistant coach Brett Kelly '03 has been elevated to associate coach.

O'Neill leaves behind a successful seven-year stint as Gettysburg's mentor. He posted a record of 68-46-18 overall, including 38-25-8 in the highly competitive Centennial Conference. The Bullets finished runner-up in the CC in both 2005 and 2007. Twenty-seven student-athletes garnered all-conference recognition under O'Neill, and nine more were tabbed All-East Region by the NSCAA.

“When I took over at Gettysburg, I felt like I was taking over a special program and I felt a real responsibility to maintain a certain level of success,” said O'Neill. “One of the things we tried to instill in the student-athletes was maintaining a sense of responsibility to uphold the good name that comes with Gettysburg men's soccer.”

“Devin was a great soccer mind and excellent recruiter of quality student athletes. He will be greatly missed,” noted Wright. “We thank him for his tenure as head coach here and wish him well in his new endeavor at Bradley University.”

A 1991 graduate of Middlebury College, O'Neill's coaching stops have included a range of Division I programs including The Ohio State University, Fresno State University, and Lafayette College. From 1999 to 2002, he was the head coach of the now defunct men's soccer program at East Carolina University.

O'Neill takes over as an assistant for a Bradley squad that has competed in the NCAA Tournament four times in the last decade under Head Coach Jim DeRose, including in 2007 when the team finished 16-6-4 and advanced to the national quarterfinals. The Braves finished 2009 with a 6-11-1 overall record.

“I'm really excited about the opportunity at Bradley,” stated O'Neill. “It will allow me to coach in a conference that has some of the best soccer programs in the nation. I'm looking forward to coaching at the Division I level once again.”

Due to timing – the men's soccer preseason is just seven weeks away – Wright decided to take over as acting head coach and promote Kelly to associate coach instead of conducting a national search for O'Neill's replacement. Wright will determine the best direction for the program this fall and make a decision on the head coaching job by the beginning of November.

Wright served as head men's soccer coach for 17 years prior to O'Neill's hiring in 2003, while Kelly has been an assistant with the program for each of the last five years. The duo will share the major responsibilities in running the soccer program this fall.

“Brett's responsibilities will increase tremendously in his new role,” said Wright. “He will provide great leadership, continuity, and passion for the program. I expect that we will share in much of the coaching duties, while recruiting will be primarily Brett's responsibility. I will be focusing on the development of each individual, on and off the field, while working to develop team chemistry and systems of play.”

Men's soccer at Gettysburg was arguably at its apex under Wright. From 1986 to 2002, the Bullets posted a record of 216-89-24, captured three Centennial Conference championships, won a pair of ECAC South Region titles, and competed in the NCAA Tournament seven times. Wright's student-athletes were tabbed CC Player of the Year five times and he coached four Bullets to All-America status.

“I am very excited to have a chance to coach again. I loved my tenure as head coach and will enjoy the opportunity to coach this team. I look forward to getting to know the student-athletes on an individual level. Also, after this summer's World Cup, who wouldn't be thrilled to do this again?”

Wright will receive plenty of assistance from Kelly as the associate coach. A 2003 Gettysburg graduate, Kelly served as an assistant with the program in both 2002 and 2003, the former year under Wright, before a two-season coaching stint at East Carolina. He returned to his alma mater in 2006 and has helped guide the team to a 41-25-11 record and three conference playoff berths. Kelly played for Wright from 1998 to 2001 during which time the team went 63-15-3, won two CC championships and one ECAC South title, and made three trips to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Adding to the coaching mix is recent graduate Drew Erickson '10 who will be a part-time assistant. Erickson was a four-year letterwinner and two-year starter on the defensive side of the field for the Bullets. In 2009, he was named All-CC Honorable Mention.

Gettysburg ran its string of consecutive winning seasons to 20 by posting an 8-7-2 record last fall with six of those setbacks coming by just one goal. Nineteen letterwinners, including a dozen with starting experience, are set to return to the fold in 2010.