George Washington University Athletics
Men's Soccer Welcomes Trio to Staff
9/7/2021 9:30:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Mortimer, Coll & Szaro added as assistant coaches
WASHINGTON - Ben Mortimer, Declan Coll and John Szaro have joined the GW men's soccer coaching staff, Head Coach Craig Jones announced Tuesday.
A two-time Atlantic 10 champion during his playing career in Buff and Blue from 2002-05, Mortimer brings nearly 15 years of coaching experience to the program, while Coll and Szaro are veteran coaches with extensive ties within the local soccer community at various levels of the sport.
"I am delighted to welcome Ben, Declan and John to the department and men's soccer staff," Jones said. "It was important for me to recruit a staff that shared our team values and a desire to be a part of our vision for the program moving forward.
"All three coaches bring a wealth of experience that will have an immediate impact on the program. I was very impressed during the search process at how extremely passionate they are about helping our student-athletes succeed and reach their potential on the field, in the classroom and in the community. This is a great staff and I cannot wait to get started working with these coaches."
Mortimer was a standout defender during one of the program's most successful periods.
The Leighton Buzzard, England, native was part of A-10 title runs in 2002 and 2004 while also being celebrated individually with All-Conference (2004, 2005), All-Region (2004) and All A-10 Championship (2004) honors. He closed his decorated career with 65 total starts while contributing seven goals and four assists along the way.
After graduating in 2006 with a degree in English, Mortimer quickly transitioned into coaching with a variety of local organizations, including a seven-year run on staff at American University.
With the Eagles, Mortimer was part of a program that won 62 games and claimed a pair of Patriot League regular season titles during his tenure.
Mortimer also served as technical director with Northern Virginia-based Excite Soccer and spent a decade as part of the leadership team of DC Stoddert Soccer. Since 2012, he has owned and operated FourSoccer running local camps and clinics, as well.
Mortimer holds a USSF National A License as well as a National Goalkeeping License and has recently been active in training coaches through the Maryland State Youth Soccer Association.
"I'm excited to be coming back to GW and want to thank Head Coach Craig Jones and Athletic Director Tanya Vogel for the opportunity," Mortimer said. "I had a tremendous experience as a student-athlete at GW, and I'm looking forward to working with the current group to uphold the program's championship standard, on and off the field."
Coll joins the Buff and Blue with NCAA Tournament experience as both a student-athlete and coach with a total of five appearances at the national tournament.
A native of Derry, Ireland, Coll was a midfielder at West Virginia before joining the staff at his alma mater as a volunteer assistant.
His coaching resume also includes stops on staff at D-III Roanoke College (2012) and University of Lynchburg (2013-14) during which he helped both programs win Old Dominion Athletic Conference titles.
After that, Coll spent five seasons as assistant coach/recruiting coordinator for the American University women's team from 2015-20. There, he coached five All-Conference performers, including 2018 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year Yari Bradfield.
Most recently, Coll has served as an age group and recruiting resource director with Arlington Soccer Association, serving as a head coach while overseeing the development of nine regional teams.
A USSF and Irish FA licensed coach, Coll holds an undergraduate degree in Philosophy from West Virginia and a master's in English Literature from Lynchburg.
"I am delighted to come on board with the George Washington men's soccer program," Coll said. "Coming off the back of a fantastic spring season, I'm confident that I'll be working with a group of players aspiring to return to the A-10 Championship conversation again this year.
"I am extremely grateful and humbled to be selected for this position, and thank Athletic Director Tanya Vogel, and senior staff members Chris Hennelly and John Square for taking the time to discuss with me what it means to be a part of the Buff and Blue. Finally, thanks to Coach Jones for offering me a chance to coach at one of the nation's premier institutions. We share lofty goals, and I can't wait to get started!"
Szaro comes aboard as a volunteer assistant working primarily with the goalkeepers. He estimates that he has trained more than 2,000 keepers over the past three-plus decades, including several national-caliber netminders, most notably two-time World Cup veteran Tony Meola.
A former Hofstra goalkeeper who played professionally with the Rochester Flash, New York Express and New York Arrows, Szaro has coached in the college ranks at his alma mater, as well as American, Columbia, Fordham, Adelphi and New York Institute of Technology over the course of his career.
Since 2016, Szaro has served as Director of Goalkeeping at McLean Youth Soccer, and he has also been active in the Virginia Olympic Development Program coaching alongside Jones.
"Working with Craig Jones in the Olympic Development Program, I know he is an excellent teacher of the game and an even better person," said Szaro, who holds a USSF National C License. "I am both honored and excited to join him as a part of the George Washington men's soccer program."
A two-time Atlantic 10 champion during his playing career in Buff and Blue from 2002-05, Mortimer brings nearly 15 years of coaching experience to the program, while Coll and Szaro are veteran coaches with extensive ties within the local soccer community at various levels of the sport.
"I am delighted to welcome Ben, Declan and John to the department and men's soccer staff," Jones said. "It was important for me to recruit a staff that shared our team values and a desire to be a part of our vision for the program moving forward.
"All three coaches bring a wealth of experience that will have an immediate impact on the program. I was very impressed during the search process at how extremely passionate they are about helping our student-athletes succeed and reach their potential on the field, in the classroom and in the community. This is a great staff and I cannot wait to get started working with these coaches."
Mortimer was a standout defender during one of the program's most successful periods.
The Leighton Buzzard, England, native was part of A-10 title runs in 2002 and 2004 while also being celebrated individually with All-Conference (2004, 2005), All-Region (2004) and All A-10 Championship (2004) honors. He closed his decorated career with 65 total starts while contributing seven goals and four assists along the way.
After graduating in 2006 with a degree in English, Mortimer quickly transitioned into coaching with a variety of local organizations, including a seven-year run on staff at American University.
With the Eagles, Mortimer was part of a program that won 62 games and claimed a pair of Patriot League regular season titles during his tenure.
Mortimer also served as technical director with Northern Virginia-based Excite Soccer and spent a decade as part of the leadership team of DC Stoddert Soccer. Since 2012, he has owned and operated FourSoccer running local camps and clinics, as well.
Mortimer holds a USSF National A License as well as a National Goalkeeping License and has recently been active in training coaches through the Maryland State Youth Soccer Association.
"I'm excited to be coming back to GW and want to thank Head Coach Craig Jones and Athletic Director Tanya Vogel for the opportunity," Mortimer said. "I had a tremendous experience as a student-athlete at GW, and I'm looking forward to working with the current group to uphold the program's championship standard, on and off the field."
Coll joins the Buff and Blue with NCAA Tournament experience as both a student-athlete and coach with a total of five appearances at the national tournament.
A native of Derry, Ireland, Coll was a midfielder at West Virginia before joining the staff at his alma mater as a volunteer assistant.
His coaching resume also includes stops on staff at D-III Roanoke College (2012) and University of Lynchburg (2013-14) during which he helped both programs win Old Dominion Athletic Conference titles.
After that, Coll spent five seasons as assistant coach/recruiting coordinator for the American University women's team from 2015-20. There, he coached five All-Conference performers, including 2018 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year Yari Bradfield.
Most recently, Coll has served as an age group and recruiting resource director with Arlington Soccer Association, serving as a head coach while overseeing the development of nine regional teams.
A USSF and Irish FA licensed coach, Coll holds an undergraduate degree in Philosophy from West Virginia and a master's in English Literature from Lynchburg.
"I am delighted to come on board with the George Washington men's soccer program," Coll said. "Coming off the back of a fantastic spring season, I'm confident that I'll be working with a group of players aspiring to return to the A-10 Championship conversation again this year.
"I am extremely grateful and humbled to be selected for this position, and thank Athletic Director Tanya Vogel, and senior staff members Chris Hennelly and John Square for taking the time to discuss with me what it means to be a part of the Buff and Blue. Finally, thanks to Coach Jones for offering me a chance to coach at one of the nation's premier institutions. We share lofty goals, and I can't wait to get started!"
Szaro comes aboard as a volunteer assistant working primarily with the goalkeepers. He estimates that he has trained more than 2,000 keepers over the past three-plus decades, including several national-caliber netminders, most notably two-time World Cup veteran Tony Meola.
A former Hofstra goalkeeper who played professionally with the Rochester Flash, New York Express and New York Arrows, Szaro has coached in the college ranks at his alma mater, as well as American, Columbia, Fordham, Adelphi and New York Institute of Technology over the course of his career.
Since 2016, Szaro has served as Director of Goalkeeping at McLean Youth Soccer, and he has also been active in the Virginia Olympic Development Program coaching alongside Jones.
"Working with Craig Jones in the Olympic Development Program, I know he is an excellent teacher of the game and an even better person," said Szaro, who holds a USSF National C License. "I am both honored and excited to join him as a part of the George Washington men's soccer program."
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