Head Coach P.J. Gondek

P.J. Gondek has guided the Blue Devils for eight seasons. The last three seasons have been three of his most successful ones.

The 2007 season saw the Devils capture the SUNYAC title and make their second appearance in the NCAA Tournament in three years. The team finished 9-1-1 in conference play, earning the top seed in the conference tournament. Overall, the team finished 12-7-2.

The Devils advanced in the first round of the SUNYAC tournament with a 1-0 victory over Cortland. The Devils then made their fourth trip to the championship game under Gondek. The team was pushed to the limit, finishing the game with a 0-0 double-overtime tie. The Devils would prevail with a 4-2 advantage in penalty kicks to claim the title. They would eventually bow out in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The past three seasons saw the Devils claim a SUNYAC title (2007), an ECAC Upstate New York Title (2006), and advance to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament (2005).

The march through the NCAA's in 2005 saw the Devils string together three straight overtime road wins, while advancing all the way to the quarterfinal round of the national tournament. They fell to eventual NCAA finalist Gustavus Adolphus, 2-0, on the campus of Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich.

The 17-4-4 final record in 2005 represented the third time a Blue Devil men’s soccer team finished with as many wins in a season, the third most in school history. It was the most successful season in Gondek’s eight-year tenure. Over that time, he has posted a record of 100-46-17, which makes him the third winningest coach in the history of the program.

He has coached three All-Americans, 16 All-Region players, 35 All-SUNYAC players and one SUNYAC Tournament MVP (Scott Bergen, 2007). In addition, Gondek’s conference coaching won-loss percentage of .752 (52-17-5) is the third best and his overall record of .685 (100-46-17) in third best in the history of the Blue Devil program.

And quite a history it is of which Gondek has become the caretaker. The Blue Devils have posted 14 straight winning seasons, and 15 straight non-losing seasons -- among the longest non-losing streaks among all NCAA Division III schools.

Gondek’s familiarity with soccer in New York State is the result of his background. He played collegiately at Cortland State, where he earned a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in physical education. After receiving his college degree, Gondek was hired as boys’ head soccer coach at Seton Catholic High School in Plattsburgh, N.Y. He inherited a team that had been below .500 the season before he took over. By 1995, he had Seton Catholic in the New York State Class B quarterfinals.

Gondek returned to Cortland State to complete a master’s degree in physical education. That led to an appointment as men’s assistant soccer coach at Cortland in the spring of 1999, followed by a return to Plattsburgh -- this time as an assistant coach of the Plattsburgh State Cardinals. While he was there, the Cardinals won the 1999 SUNYAC Championship and advanced as far as the second round of the NCAA Tournament, where they fell to eventual NCAA champion St. Lawrence.

Gondek has received coaching licenses from two organizations. He has a national diploma and an advanced national diploma from the National Soccer Coaches of America. He also holds a prestigious “A” license from the United States Soccer Federation. To further familiarize himself with international soccer, Gondek traveled to England in the spring of 2005 and attended training sessions conducted by English professional clubs like Manchester City.

Gondek’s involvement in soccer is not limited to college coaching and recruiting. For the second straight year, he was coach of the Western Region men’s open division team in the Empire State Games who won the gold medal in both 2005 and 2006. He also serves as an instructor with the New York State West Youth Soccer Association, which offers USSF licensing courses for youth coaches in Western New York and the Southern Tier.

In addition to his coaching duties, Gondek teaches at Fredonia State in the department of Health, Wellness and Recreation. He resides in Fredonia with his wife, Alison, the director of guidance at Silver Creek Central School, and their 2-year old daughter Annie.

Assistant Coach Dan Smith

Dan Smith is in his third season as an assistant coach on P.J. Gondek’s staff.

A graduate of Buffalo State, Smith was a two-year starter for the Bengals and earned a bachelor of science degree in industrial technology. Prior to college, he attended Lewiston-Porter High School, where he was a First Team All Western New York selection and was chosen for the Western New York Select team.

Smith holds a United States Soccer Federation Class E coaching license. In addition to his high school coaching duties, he has coached youth soccer at various levels for the Northern Chautauqua Soccer Association. He also coached three seasons at Dunkirk High School and is in his second season as an assistant coach with the Boys U-17 Riverside Express premier team.

Smith resides in Dunkirk with his wife, Carol, and their two children, Ian and Rachel.

Assistant Coach Bryon Thoin

Bryon Thoin begins his first season as a Fredonia State assistant coach after a four-year playing career for the Blue Devils from 2002-2005.

A sports management major, Thoin co-captained the 2004 and 2005 teams and was chosen First Team All-SUNYAC in 2005. Bryon played in one SUNYAC championship game, one ECAC tournament game and was instrumental to the Devils 17-4-4 season in 2005 winning three NCAA tournament games on the way to the “Elite Eight”. He was also the field general of a defense that shutout 19 of 25 opponents, an NCAA record, that same year.

The son of a coach, his father, Mike, is head coach at St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute, one of the finest high school programs in Western New York. Bryon’s sister, Meg, plays for the women’s team at Fredonia State.