Head Coach - Iain Byrne
Email: BYRNEIJ@oneonta.edu
Tel: 607-436-2102

Iain Byrne enters his sixth season as the head coach of Oneonta State after previously filing the assistant coaching role for six seasons. The Red Dragons are coming off a record setting year in 2007, posting a perfect 11-0 record in the SUNYAC. The Red Dragons also managed to dominate the All-Conference balloting with six selections (4 first team selections) including the conference Rookie of the Year Award. Academically, the team received 13 different nominations including seven SUNYAC All-Academic Team honorees, three players on the Commissioner's List, the SUNYAC Chancellor's Award for men's soccer and the Fred Holloway award recipient.

Ineligible for Conference or NCAA post-season play due to a two-year reclassification process, the Dragons managed to advance to the ECAC Tournament as the Number 1 seed for a second straight year, but were upset in the quarterfinals, ending its season with a 14-6 record. With the reclassification process now complete, the Red Dragons are now an official member of Div. III and look forward to competing for SUNYAC and NCAA post-season qualification.

Byrne took over the program in 2003 and ended his first season with a 10-2-6 record, going unbeaten in the Atlantic Soccer Conference, and earning Coach of the Year honors. Graduating 12 seniors, Byrne then went about rebuilding the program with an emphasis on New York state talent. Over the next two seasons Oneonta compiled a 4-4-3 record in the conference and advanced to the championship match in 2005, the first year a tournament format was introduced. Beating Howard 2-1 in the semi final, Oneonta then fell in the championship match, thus ending the Dragons long association in NCAA Div. I.

Born in England, Byrne was introduced to the game by his father who played professionally in England and Scotland for 20 years. At an early age the family emigrated to Durban, South Africa where Byrne represented the South African School’s Team in 1977 and 1978. He turned professional at the age of 18 and played for Durban City and Arcadia, both top club teams in South Africa. In 1984 and 1985 he represented the South African National Team in the annual celebratory match against international competition.

Byrne settled in the United States in 1986 and spent 10 years coaching and directing youth soccer organizations in Georgia and Florida before relocating to upstate New York to join the Red Dragon coaching staff prior to the 1997 season.

Byrne completed his studies at SUNY Empire State College, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management. During the summer Byrne serves as the Tournament Director for the National Soccer Hall of Fame while also conducting youth soccer camps in the Oneonta area.

Assistant Coach - Chris Saggese

Christopher Saggese is an Oneonta State graduate with a degree in Secondary Education-Social Studies. He was a Goalkeeper for the Red Dragons during the 1995 and 1996 seasons. Prior to playing at Oneonta Saggese played two years at Herkimer County Community College where he was part of the 1994 NJCAA Nation Championship Team that went 25-0 (129GF, 3 GA).

Saggese graduated from Milford Central High School in 1993 and was voted a Daily Star 1st Team All-Star. During this period, he was a member of the New York State West’s ODP Team.

He has coached a variety of levels ranging from k-2 leagues, U10 Girls, U14 Boys, U19 Boys, and Modified teams. Chris recently completed his master’s degree in Education at American International University in Springfield Massachusetts, graduating with a 4.0 GPA.Chris is currently teaching Social Studies at Milford Central School and he resides in Oneonta with his wife Angie and their four daughters.

Assistant Coach - John Cook

Cook begins his second season with the Red Dragons this fall. After a stellar high school career at Laurens Central School, located just outside Oneonta, he committed to attend Colgate University in Hamilton.

Cook was a 4-year starter at center forward and served as the team captain in his senior year. He received all-league honors in the Patriot League as well as being named a NSCAA All-Region team.

After graduating, Cook played two years with the Albany Admirals, a semi-pro team, before accepting a contract with the Western Mass Pioneers of the USL second division during the 2006 season.

Career opportunities ended John’s playing career but he continues to be involved in the game and is currently a youth coach for the Oneonta Soccer Club.

Cook graduated from Colgate with a degree in English and Education and is a certified English teacher. He is currently employed by BOCES where he works as a high school Behavior Adjustment teacher at the Milford center. He has been married for two years to Elizabeth Cook and they reside just outside of Oneonta in the town of Schenevus.