JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Saint Peter's University Director of Athletics Joseph A. Quinlan has announced the hiring of Rob Bielan as the 10th women's soccer coach in program history.
"I am pleased to welcome Rob Bielan as our women's soccer head coach," said Quinlan. "Rob brings a great deal of energy and experience to our team and I am excited to begin working with him. Rob's coaching base and expertise comes from within New Jersey and we believe his background will position us well especially in recruiting women's soccer student-athletes."
Bielan comes to Saint Peter's after a successful seven-year stint as women's soccer head coach at New Jersey City University, a Division III program in Jersey City. He posted a 66-71-2 record with the Gothic Knights, including a 47-35-2 mark over his last four seasons. The longest tenured and winningest head coach in New Jersey City University history, Bielan transformed a program that never won more than nine games in its first 17 seasons or five games in the previous 15 years before his arrival into three-straight 10+ win seasons after going 13-9 in 2009, 14-7 in 2010 and 14-8 in 2011. He was named the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Coach of the Year in 2011.
"It is an honor and a dream to achieve a position like this at Saint Peter's University and I really appreciate the chance that Director of Athletics Joe Quinlan has give me," said Bielan. "I look for our program to very competitive in the future and I am excited to showcase this great university in the conference. I not only want to make the Saint Peter's community proud, but also the area where I have spent my entire life in Hudson County and in the city of Bayonne."
He guided New Jersey City University to its only two appearances in the NJAC Tournament in 2010 and 2011 and three-consecutive ECAC Division III Metro Tournaments (2009, 2010, 2011) for its only three postseason appearances in school history, including participating in the semifinals in 2009 and 2011
He has coached one D3soccer.com All-American third-team selection, one All-ECAC second-team honoree and 25 All-NJAC selections including two first team and three second-team selections in arguably the most difficult conference in NCAA Division III women's soccer. He also coached two players that finished their careers among the all-time leading scorers in NCAA Division III history, and one player (Julia Caseres), who is the all-time leading scorer, men or women, in the history of New Jersey collegiate soccer at any level, with 242 points and 100 goals.
Along with the accolades on the field, Bielan's players have also excelled in the classroom. Twice he has had a player be selected as a CoSIDA Academic All-America and four players have been named to the CoSIDA All-District II All-Academic Team. He also had a player selected to the National Soccer Coaches Athletic Association (NSCAA) College News Soccer All-East Region honorable mention. In 2010 and 2012, the Gothic Knights received the NSCAA College Team Academic Award, an award that goes to teams that have a cumulative team grade-point average of at least 3.0.
A 1997 graduate of New Jersey City University when it was called Jersey City State College, Bielan got his start in coaching at his alma mater as an undergraduate assistant from 1993-95.
A former three-year men's soccer player at then Jersey City State College from1992-94, Bielan returned to his alma mater in August 2005 as an assistant coach for the women's soccer team before taking over the head coaching reins in 2006.
He also brings coaching experience from the Eagles Indoor Soccer League, the Toms River Youth Soccer Association and the Bayonne Blazers Football Club.
Prior to returning to his alma mater as an assistant coach for the 2005 season, Bielan was the head coach of the junior varsity team at Holy Family Academy and an assistant coach for the varsity program.
A local product from Bayonne, N.J., Bielan graduated from Jersey City State College with a bachelor of arts degree in special education and a minor in psychology/counseling. He has served as a home instruction and substitute teacher since 1993.
A 1987 graduate of Bayonne High School, Bielan was a four-year varsity letterwinner for Bees' coach Connie Gallagher. He was selected All-Hudson County in 1986.
In addition to his passion for teaching and the game of soccer, Bielan has been employed as a professional firefighter in Bayonne since 1995. He was named the "Fireman of the Year" on June 22, 2008 from the Hudson County Latino Coalition for his life-saving actions and was also honored with the Distinguished Service Award from the City of Bayonne Fire Department. In total, Bielan has received eight major awards as a professional emergency responder.
