PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Long time soccer coach, former professional goalkeeper and Plymouth State University Hall of Famer Peter Simonini '80 has been hired to take the reins of the PSU women's soccer program, Director of Athletics Kim Bownes announced on Tuesday.
 
Simonini, who anchored the Panthers to a 42-6-3 mark and two NCAA Tournament appearances in his three years as a full-time starter in the late 1970s, is a highly regarded coach in the New England area with over 30 years' experience at all three NCAA levels, as well as the professional ranks.
 
"We're very excited to have Peter joining the department as head women's soccer coach," said Bownes. "He is well known in the soccer world and his soccer IQ is very high. It is great to have another Plymouth State alumni join our team."
 
Simonini spent 21 seasons atop the Bentley University men's program from 1987-2007 where he posted an overall record of 194-179-20 (.519) and earned several accolades with the Falcons. He was tabbed the Massachusetts College Coach of the Year (1992), was a five-time Northeast-10 Coach of the Year (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2004), three-time New England Division II Coach of the Year (1992, 1993, 2004), and MSCAA Coach of the Year in 1993.
 
"I would like to thank Kim Bownes, Lauren Lavigne and the search committee for the opportunity to come back to Plymouth State where my whole career started," said Simonini. "I'm excited to work at the University where I had so much enjoyment going to school and playing. Hopefully, with my experience and knowledge, we can increase respect for the program while we elevate it to the next level. I am looking forward to the challenge."
 
During his time at Bentley, Simonini also spent time working with the New England Revolution. In 1996, the inaugural season of Major League Soccer (MLS), he joined the club as an Assistant Coach and Goalkeeper Trainer, a position he would hold for 15 seasons.
 
After leaving Bentley, Simonini had a brief one-year stop as men's assistant coach and goalkeeper trainer at the University of Massachusetts Lowell before a three-year stint in the same role at Bryant University from 2009-2011, where he helped the program transition to Division I. He spent the 2012 season at Endicott College as men's assistant coach, before leading the women's program at Daniel Webster College from 2013-17, when the institution closed.
 
Simonini is well regarded as of the most prolific goalkeepers in Plymouth State history. Playing from 1976-1979, his 43 career shutouts were the most in Division III at the time and still rank fifth in DIII history and 13th among all NCAA divisions. His career goals against average of 0.353 is sixth in NCAA history across all divisions and the third-lowest all-time in Division III. In 1978 alone, Simonini posted a remarkable 14 shutouts over 19 games. As a senior, Simonini earned All-America and All-New England honors and was selected to participate in the Senior Bowl, featuring the top players from all three NCAA divisions. He was also selected All-New England Intercollegiate Soccer League (NEISL) in 1978 and 1979, and participated in the NEISL All-Star game both years, while claiming All-New England State College Athletic Conference recognition as a junior.
  
After leaving Plymouth State, Simonini was drafted by the New England Tea Men of the North American Soccer League (NASL) with the third overall selection in the 1980 draft. He played with the club for two seasons before the organization relocated to Jacksonville, Fla., where he played another four years. In 1983, Simonini was named the Most Valuable Player and Leading Goalkeeper while leading the Jacksonville Tea Men to the American Soccer League (ASL) title. Simonini closed out his professional playing career with a two-year stint with the Dallas Sidekicks of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), before starting his coaching career at Bentley.
 
In 2016, he was tabbed by New England Soccer Journal as one of the 50 Greatest Players from New England. He was inducted into the Plymouth State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990 and the New England Soccer Hall of Fame in 1999.
 
The Panthers went 5-8-3 last fall, which included a 1-4-3 mark in LEC play. Plymouth State earned a 1-1 draw with WestConn, the number two seed in the LEC Tournament, and was nipped, 1-0, after surrendering a goal in the 87th minute against regular season and LEC Tournament champion Southern Maine. PSU finished just shy of a playoff spot. Simonini replaces Ryan Joy, the longest tenured coach in program history, who announced in November he would step down to pursue new opportunities within the athletics department.