Rineer Has Interim Tag Removed, Named Head Soccer Coach at Haverford

HAVERFORD, Pa. – Haverford College Director of Athletics Wendy Smith '87 is pleased to announce the promotion of Shane Rineer from interim to head coach of the men's soccer program. Smith removed the interim tag from Rineer's position following a successful season in which the Fords played their way into the Centennial Conference championship game for the first time in program history.

"While working with Shane this past fall I was able to witness first hand his incredible work ethic and instant dedication and commitment to our soccer program and the development of our student-athletes both on and off the field," said Smith. "His evident knowledge of the game and enduring belief in the potential of our student-athletes resulted in one of the more memorable seasons in Haverford soccer history. I look forward to working with Shane as he builds upon this season's success in creating a program competitive in both the Centennial Conference and beyond and emblematic of both Haverford College and Divsiion III in which achievement is measured equally both on and off the field."

Rineer's team finished the 2011 campaign on a nine-game unbeaten string which included a 2-1 semifinal triumph over host and top seed Johns Hopkins University and a 1-1 draw in the conference tournament championship game against Dickinson College. The Fords were either tied or ahead on the scoreboard over an incredible 824 minutes and 38 seconds during the closing nine-game stretch.

Haverford posted conference tournament successes while in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) capturing eight overall titles and 13 divisional championships but since joining the Centennial in 1993 had not achieved a playoff berth, let alone a trip to the championship final. The Fords' 11-6-2 season marked the first double-digit win total for the program since 2000, and their 5-4 conference record under Rineer marked the first winning record in league play since posting an identical record in 2001.

With Rineer at the helm, Haverford defeated rival Swarthmore College, 2-1, for the first time since 2003 and placed a trio of players onto the all-conference team. Junior midfield Matt Gorski picked up first-team all-Centennial honors while senior forward Alejandro Rettig y Martinez and sophomore defender Jamie Reingruber were voted to the second team.

"I would like to thank Haverford College, the athletic staff and Director of Athletics Wendy Smith," said Rineer. "This is an incredible opportunity to be part of an institution with such an excellent reputation in both academics and athletics. I look forward to building upon the proud tradition of Haverford men's soccer."

Prior to joining Haverford's staff, Rineer was an assistant coach at Amherst College during the 2010 season. He was responsible for scouting, game plan development, training and film analysis for a Lord Jeffs team that was 13-2-4 and reached the third round of the NCAA Division III championship tournament.

Rineer was a two-year assistant coach for Division I Villanova University before his time with Amherst. As the leader of Villanova's player development program, he helped the Wildcats earn their first ever Big East tournament home game in 2009. Rineer also had a hand in the program's training, scouting, film breakdown and recruiting.

Rineer's collegiate coaching career began with a two-year stint at Eastern University. In 2007, he helped lead the Eagles to the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (PAC) title and an NCAA tournament appearance.

A 2006 graduate of Eastern with a degree in early childhood education, Rineer earned All-PAC honors in 2004 and 2005. He was a member of the 2003 and 2005 PAC championship teams that went to the NCAA tournament.