June 11, 2008
VILLANOVA, Pa. - New Villanova men's soccer coach Tom Carlin today announced the addition of B.J. Callaghan to his staff in the role of assistant coach. Callaghan spent the previous two years serving as the top assistant coach on the women's soccer staff at Villanova.
"We are very excited to add B.J. to the men's soccer staff," states Carlin. "He has been a top assistant with the women's program for several years so his knowledge and familiarity with the Villanova University Athletic Department makes him a key component to the daily happenings of the program. His expertise on goalkeeping plus his passion and energy to motivate will provide a boost of energy to our program."
Callaghan spent two seasons with the Villanova women's squad, where he had a hand in all aspects of the program, working with the goalkeepers and defense on the field. In his first season with the Wildcats, Callaghan was instrumental in helping the defense have its best season in program history. Villanova allowed just 11 goals all season long, the fewest in a single-season in the team's 24-year history as a varsity sport. Along the way, the Wildcats posted 15 shutouts in 22 games. Villanova opened the season with a 15-game unbeaten streak (15-0-2) and was scored on just twice in that span. In the midst of that stretch, the Wildcats posted seven straight shutouts and went a program-record 769:52 without allowing a goal.
Prior to his arrival at Villanova, Callaghan was an assistant coach for two seasons for the women's program at Saint Joseph's University. He handled recruiting and travel for the Hawks while working with the team's defense. In his two years with the team, Saint Joseph's totaled 17 victories and posted a goals-against average of less than 1.50 each year.
The first stop in Callaghan's coaching career came at his alma mater, as he served as an assistant coach to the Ursinus men's soccer team after graduating from the school as a four-year letter-winner. He served as team captain his senior season, when he played in 18 games and logged 952 minutes in goal. He collected 60 saves for the season while allowing just 18 goals, finishing the year with a 1.70 GAA for the Bears.
Callaghan is the grandson of long-time Villanova men's basketball coach Jack Kraft. In leading the men's basketball program for 12 seasons from 1961-73, Kraft amassed 238 victories and a .715 winning percentage. His teams won at least 20 games seven times and reached the national championship game in 1971.
A 2003 graduate of Ursinus, Callaghan earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics and Business Administration. He is currently working on a Master's of Education at Saint Joseph's University. He was certified with a USSF B License in July 2005 and received NSCAA Goalkeeping certification in April 2008.
Callaghan and his wife Leigh reside in Conshohocken, Pa.
