James Tennant McVea (born 20 January 1988, in Ballybeen) is a Northern Irish former footballer, and manager. He has served as head coach for Old Dominion University men's soccer team since 2024.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | James Tennant McVea | ||
| Date of birth | 20 January 1988 | ||
| Place of birth | Ballybeen, Northern Ireland | ||
| Position(s) | Centre Back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Lionsbridge FC | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006–2009 | Loyola Greyhounds | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006 | Ards F.C. | 23 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | Fredericksburg Gunners | 20 | (2) |
| 2010 | FC Lahti | 26 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | Norfolk SharX (indoor) | 20 | (2) |
| 2014–2017 | Virginia Beach City FC | ||
| 2018–2023 | Lionsbridge FC | 52 | (2) |
| International career | |||
| 2006 | Northern Ireland U19 | 1 | |
| 2006 | Northern Ireland U18 | 3 | |
| 2005–2006 | Northern Ireland U18 Schools | 3 | |
| 2005 | Northern Ireland U17 | 1 | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2008–2009 | Fredericksburg Gunners Youth | ||
| 2011 | Northern Ireland U18 Schools (asst.) | ||
| 2012 | Beach FC Youth | ||
| 2013–2015 | Old Dominion Monarchs (asst.) | ||
| 2016 | Elon Phoenix (asst.) | ||
| 2017–2024 | Old Dominion Monarchs (assoc. head coach) | ||
| 2024– | Old Dominion Monarchs | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11 May 2020 | |||
Career
editEarly career in Northern Ireland
editMcVea played youth football for Ards FC in 2004. While at Ards, he made multiple international appearances for Northern Ireland at U17, U18, and U19 levels.[1] McVea moved to the United States to attend and play college soccer at Loyola University Maryland, after being scouted by the then-coach for the Greyhounds, Mark Mettrick.[2]
College
editMcVea played for four years at Loyola. In his freshman season, he was named to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) All-Rookie, and MAAC Second Team squad. He was named the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, and earned spots on the league First Team, and the NSCAA/adidas North Atlantic Regional first team in his sophomore year.
In his Junior year he was again named MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, MAAC First Team, and the NSCAA/adidas North Atlantic Region first team but was also awarded NSCAA/adidas 1st Team All-American honors, and was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy watch list.
As a senior, McVea was again on the MAC Hermann Trophy watch list and was named MAAC Defensive Player of the Year for a third straight year, making him the first player to receive the accolade in 3 consecutive seasons.[citation needed] He was also a MAAC First Team selection, NSCAA/adidas North Atlantic Region first team selection, and was nominated for the prestigious Lowe's Senior CLASS Award.[3][4] He finished his college career having played 83 games for the Greyhounds, with 6 goals and 2 assists to his name. He was named to the MAAC 40th Anniversary Men's Soccer Team on September 1, 2020.[5]
Professional
editMcVea turned professional in 2010 when he signed to play in Finland for FC Lahti in the Veikkausliiga.[6] He made his professional debut on April 17, 2010, in the team's 2010 season opener against FF Jaro.[7]
McVae returned to the US to play for the now-defunct Norfolk SharX of the Major Indoor Soccer League in the 2011/2012 season.[8]
Coaching
editIn 2011, McVea served as assistant coach of the Northern Ireland Schools Football Association in Belfast before returning to the US.
McVea then went on to serve as an assistant coach for the Old Dominion Monarchs men's soccer team from 2013-2015, including during the team's 2014 Conference USA championship run. McVea left to serve as assistant coach to the Elon University men's soccer team for the 2016 season, but returned to ODU in 2017 as associate coach.[9] McVea was named head coach of the ODU team in 2023, following the retirement of long-time coach Alan Dawson.[10]
Personal life
editMcVea graduated from Loyola in 2009 with a degree in public relations. He lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia with his wife and two kids.[11]
References
edit- ^ "Ards Football Club - Club Honours". 14 February 2012. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ "Former Irish League star Tennant McVea building a coaching career in America". NewsLetter. 12 December 2020. Archived from the original on 30 June 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ "Tennant McVea Named MAAC Defensive Player of the Year; Phil Bannister Rookie of the Year - Official Athletics Site of Loyola University Maryland". Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ "Tennant McVea | Men's Soccer 2009 | Senior CLASS Award". Archived from the original on 7 November 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ "MAAC Announces 40th Anniversary Men's Soccer Team," Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), Tuesday, September 1, 2020. Archived 8 September 2020 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved September 8, 2020
- ^ "McVea Signs Pro Soccer Contract In Finland - Official Athletics Site of Loyola University Maryland". www.loyolagreyhounds.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011.
- ^ "FC Lahti - Uutisarkisto". Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ "NORFOLK SHARX ROSTER 2011-2012 - Norfolk Sharx". 24 March 2012. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ "Tennant McVea". Old Dominion Athletics. Archived from the original on 30 June 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ "Alan Dawson To Retire At End Of 2023 Season, Tennant McVea Named Next Head Coach". Old Dominion Athletics. Archived from the original on 30 June 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ "Tennant McVea". Old Dominion Athletics. Archived from the original on 30 June 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
External links
edit- Loyola bio Archived 13 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- Fc Lahti bio
- Ards FC Club Honours