Hamilton College

Colette Gilligan was hired as Hamilton College's head women's soccer coach prior to the 2002 season. In 2024 she guided the Continentals to a NESCAC postseason appearance for the eighth time in the last nine seasons. Gilligan coached three all-conference team selections and 10 fall all-academic team honorees. Hamilton picked up a United Soccer Coaches College Team Academic Award for the sixth time overall and the third time in the last four years under Gilligan.

The Colette Gilligan File

Hamilton Head Coach (2002-present)

• 193 wins and a .620 win percentage in 22 seasons
• Winningest coach in team history
• Five trips to the NCAA Division III championship (2004, 2007, 2010, 2017, 2021)
• A total of 18 postseason appearances, including 10 NESCAC championship berths
• Selected the East Region Coach of the Year twice (2004 and 2007) by the United Soccer Coaches
• Honored with her assistants as the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year three times (2003, 2004, 2007)
• Coached three all-Americans
• Mentored 21 players to a total of 27 all-region honors
• Fourteen athletes have made the all-NESCAC team
• In 2023 was ranked as high as 17^th in the Division III coaches poll in early October
• In 2021 finished 14-3-2 including 7-1-2 in the NESCAC, advanced to the second round of the NCAA championship, was ranked 20^th in the final poll, and hosted a NESCAC quarterfinal for the first time
• In 2017 went 10-6-2, received an at-large bid to the NCAA championship and advanced to the NESCAC semifinals for the first time
• In 2010 advanced to the second round of the NCAA championship and ended up with an overall record of 10-4-3
• In 2009 Gilligan led Hamilton to its third appearance in the Liberty League final
• In 2007 the Continentals advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals, set team records for wins (16) and goals (55) in a season, and finished the year ranked first in Division III with a team save percentage of .917
• Also in 2007, Hamilton completed its first unbeaten regular season (13-0-1), earned a share of the league's regular season title, and landed at No. 7 in the final poll -- the highest ranking in team history
• In Gilligan’s third season the Continentals posted a 15-2-1 record, captured their first league regular season and postseason championships, earned their first NCAA appearance and tournament victory, and made their first appearance in the national rankings in 2004
• Erica Dressler '09 was selected to the 2008 Academic All-America Team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and the United Soccer Coaches/adidas Collegiate Scholar All-America Team

Other Coaching Experience

• Assistant coach at the University of Minnesota for the 2000 and 2001 seasons
• Head coach at Middle Tennessee State University where Gilligan won 30 matches from 1996 to 1999
• Collegiate coaching career began as an assistant at East Carolina University in 1994
• Involved in coaching the Olympic Development Program in Minnesota, Tennessee and North Carolina

Student-Athlete at Methodist

• Three-time all-American at Methodist College, including a first team selection in 1992
• Helped lead Methodist to the NCAA Division III semifinals in 1989 and 1990
• All-conference pick all four years and a team captain in 1992 and 1993

Other Information

• Member of Ireland's national junior team in 1985 and 1986 before joining Ireland's national senior squad
• Received her bachelor's degree in physical education and went on to earn her master's in sports administration from East Carolina
• Hails from Dublin, Ireland