Mark Dawson Tabbed As Women's Soccer Coach
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Apr. 2, 2008) - C.W. Post director of athletics,
Bryan Collins, announced Wednesday that
Mark Dawson, an assistant coach under former Pioneer head coach Drayson Hounsome for the past three seasons, has been appointed head coach of women's soccer. Hounsome accepted a head coaching position at Division I Rider University.
“Mark has been with Long Island University many years and achieved great success in producing not only winning programs but strong academics,” remarked Collins. “Mark has demonstrated an ability to take the program to the next level and has a good understanding of our current program and we look for him to continue the success the program has achieved.”
Dawson takes over a program that he helped to a 17-1-3 record last season, winning an East Coast Conference Championship while advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament and setting a new program record for wins in a season.
In 2005, Dawson helped the team to their first-ever NYCAC tournament championship, defeating conference rival Adelphi and tenth-ranked New Haven. The Pioneers advanced to the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship tournament, marking the first time the Pioneers had reached the national tourney since 1999.
Dawson has extensive knowledge of soccer in the Northeast Region, both with the C.W. Post program, and with the former Long Island University – Southampton College.
Dawson originally joined the Pioneers after a seven-year stint at Southampton College, where he was the head coach of the women's program.
He led the Colonials to an 80-50-6 mark during that time span, as well as a No. 3 national ranking in the 2004 campaign when Southampton played host to the NCAA Division II Championship's Northeast Regional.
A two-time NYCAC Coach of the Year (2001, '04), Dawson also received Northeast Region Coach of the Year accolades from the NSCAA in his final season with the program.
The Mastic, N.Y. resident also served as an assistant coach with Southampton's men's soccer program from 1996-2004, helping the Colonials to the "round of eight" in an NCAA Division II Championship tournament.
Since 2004, Dawson has also coached in the Eastern New York Olympic Development Program (ODP) in the Under-12 to Under-19 age groups.
Dawson, the former director of Pro Soccer Camps from 1998-2003, serves as a physical education instructor in the William Floyd School District.