STANDISH, ME – The Saint Joseph's College Athletics Department has announced that Steve Babineau has stepped down from his position as the head coach of the Monks' men's soccer program.
Babineau, who also served as the Game Operations Coordinator at Saint Joseph's, dealing with game contracts, officials, travel and lodging for each of the Monks' 19 varsity programs, cites family reasons for leaving the College, as he and his family will be moving to North Carolina later this month.
"This was certainly a bittersweet decision for me," adds Babineau. "I'm excited to begin the next chapter of my life, but deciding to leave Saint Joseph's and the athletic department was not easy. Saint Joseph's truly is a special place and the support I've received during this transition can't be put into words. I truly enjoyed working with the people in this department and I may be leaving, but I will be a 'Monk' for life."
Babineau departs after posting a 52-40-6 (.565) overall record over five seasons and ranks as the winningest coach in the 24-year history of the SJC men's soccer side. He guided the Monks to Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament appearances in each of his five years at the helm and led the Royal Blue to a pair of GNAC Championships (2009, 2011) along with the program's first two trips to the NCAA Tournament.
"Steve was a true professional during his time at Saint Joseph's," adds Athletics Director Brian Curtin. "We are sorry to see him go, but at the same time excited for him and his family as they start this new journey."
Coach Babineau, who helped the SJC side post a stellar 29-16-2 (.644) record versus conference foes since taking over in 2009, is one of just two head coaches in the history of SJC Athletics to lead a team to a pair of conference titles in their first three years on the job. Mike McDevitt '83, the other to accomplish the feat, steered the women's basketball team to Western Maine Athletic Conference crowns in 1988 and 1990.
Formerly a standout player at the University of Maine-Presque Isle, Babineau is set to be inducted into the Owls' Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015.
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Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 430-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.