Press Release courtesy of Saint Francis Athletics.
Saint Francis University is excited to announce the hiring of Jay O’Neil as the second water polo coach in program history.
“We are very excited to welcome Jay to our Red Flash Family,” Saint Francis Diretor of Athletics Susan Robinson-Fruchtl said. “Jay brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our relatively new Water Polo program. Our student-athletes are determined to grow our program and take it to new heights.”
O’Neil comes to Loretto by way of Washington and Jefferson University where he coached the men’s and women’s water polo teams for four seasons. He led the Presidents to a combined record of 104-100 including an impressive 56-38 mark on the women’s side and earned the 2012 CWPA Women’s Water Polo Coach of the Year honor.
“I would like to thank St. Francis, Susan Robinson Fruchtl, Dr. Damico, Shane Tay, and the rest of the search committee for this opportunity,” Jay O’Neil said. “I’m very honored and humbled to be selected as the next Women’s Water Polo head coach for Saint Francis University! I look forward to building on the success and momentum from the inaugural season of Red Flash women’s water polo. I am excited to get started with these highly motivated student athletes! Their determination and motivation for success in and out of the classroom will be the driving factor for our program’s success.”
O’Neil is a 1997 graduate of Bucknell University where he played four seasons with the Bison. Prior to his time at Washington and Jefferson he had stops at his alma mater as well as Salem International. He also was the aquatic director and head varsity swimming coach at Somerset Area High School for 10 years.
“Jay’s values and sense of mission will help our program experience this continued growth,” Robinson-Fruchtl added. “Jay has been involved in the sport of Water Polo for many years, particularly on the east coast and in our region. We believe that this will help drive the success of our program and maintain stability in our program for many years to come.”
