Greg Dalby Joins Beavers as Head Men’s Soccer Coach
January 26, 2023 | Men's Soccer
CORVALLIS – Oregon State Athletics is excited to announce that Greg Dalby has been hired as the fifth head coach of the Beaver men's soccer program, Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Barnes announced Thursday.
Dalby has spent the last five seasons as a member of the Penn State staff, most recently as Associate Head Coach. During his tenure, Dalby helped the Nittany Lions earn a top-16 seed in the NCAA Tournament three times, and guided PSU to the Big 10 regular season and tournament titles in 2021.
"I am thankful to Scott Barnes and the search committee for providing me with the opportunity to lead the Oregon State men's soccer program," Dalby said. "I would also like to thank Penn State for an incredible five years and specifically Jeff Cook for being a great leader and mentor. I truly believe that Oregon State is an elite soccer program with a great culture. My family and I cannot wait to join Oregon State University and become a part of the Corvallis community.
"This opportunity represents everything I love and am passionate about in collegiate athletics: competing at the absolute highest level, education, and a collective investment in developing student-athletes on and off the field. I look forward to continuing the programs recent success and working with a talented group of players who will aspire and compete to take Oregon State men's soccer to new heights."
Dalby's tenure at Penn State saw the squad achieve impressive success. In 2019 the program reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five years, as the team finished the campaign with a record of 12-3-3 on its way to the No. 15 overall seed. The next season brought even greater triumph, as the Nittany Lions claimed the No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tourney. Penn State ultimately made it to the final 16 of the Tournament that season, which was played in the spring of 2021.
The fall of 2021 proved to be one of the best seasons in Penn State history, as the squad claimed both the regular season and tournament Big-10 Championships to earn another top-16 seed in the Tournament.
Overall, Dalby coached 14 All-Big-10 selections, as well as 12 All-Region honorees and a pair of All-Americans during his time with the Nittany Lions. He was also deeply involve in Penn State's recruiting process, helping the program lock down the No. 13 2023 signing class in the nation.
"Over his career Greg has been mentored by some of the best coaches in college soccer," Barnes said. "He has built a record of success at the top level of collegiate soccer and has proven he is ready to take the next step of becoming a Pac-12 head coach. A former elite player himself, Greg's focus on the holistic development of the student athletes is special. He is simply a great fit for us and I can't wait for him to begin leading our program. The future is truly bright for Oregon State men's soccer."
Dalby joined Penn State after serving as the lead assistant coach at Davidson College from 2015-17. At Davidson, he was responsible for recruiting and talent development among a wide range of other duties. During his time with the Wildcats, Dalby helped the program ink a pair of top-150 prospects, and sent two player to the professional ranks.
Prior to his time at Davidson, Dalby served as the assistant coach of his alma mater, Notre Dame, where he helped the squad to a 2013 NCAA Championship as well as a 2012 Big East Tournament Championship and back-to-back ACC regular-season championships in 2013 and 2014.
Dalby spent seven years as a professional soccer player, starting his career in the Belgian Premiere League at Royal Club Sporting Charleroi before moving on to the Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer Club where he played for two seasons. Dalby closed his professional career at the Charlotte Eagles where he spent two seasons as co-captain. Throughout his time in professional soccer, Dalby served on the U.S. Soccer Athlete Council where he contributed to the drafting and implementation of new legislature to benefit the athletes.
As an NCAA student-athlete, Dalby played four years at Notre Dame where he was a two-year team captain, leading the Fighting Irish to back-to-back Big East regular-season championships in 2003 and 2004. Dalby was a NSCAA first-team All-American as well as a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist in 2005 and 2006. He was also named Big East Midfielder of the Year and garnered first-team All-Big East honors twice.
Dalby earned Big East Academic All-Star team honors for three seasons and was captain of the United States U-20 men's national team in the FIFA Youth World Cup in 2005. Dalby served as the men's soccer Student-Athlete Advisory Council representative and was awarded Notre Dame's prestigious Byron V. Kanaley Award, recognizing senior athletes who excelled as both students and leaders.
Dalby will be joined in Corvallis by his wife, Stacey, along with their three children, Addilyn, Miles and Brayden.
The Oregon State men's soccer program has proven to be one of the top teams in the nation over recent seasons, making four the last five NCAA Tournaments and winning the Pac-12 championship in 2021. The Beavers made the quarterfinals of the 2021 NCAA Tournament, and the program has had 14 players selected in the MLS SuperDraft.
Upon making his announcement, Barnes said Dalby's appointment is contingent on the completion of all university hiring processes.
OUR MISSION
Oregon State Athletics strives to Build Excellent Authentic Visionary Student-Athletes (Go BEAVS).
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:
"Oregon State has hit a home run with Greg Dalby. He's everything an institution, a program and a student athlete would be looking for. He's a gifted and talented coach, teammate and leader, and person of character and integrity. I'm ecstatic that Greg is going to a program of the caliber of Oregon State and I know that the Beavers and Corvallis will benefit greatly from his experience and leadership. I can't wait to watch what they will do together!"
- Sandy Barbour, recently retired Penn State Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics
"Greg Dalby is one of the country's most talented and highly qualified emerging soccer coaches. I'm delighted that Greg will have this opportunity to lead the men's soccer program at Oregon State, an athletic department and University that we have great respect for. I am so grateful to Greg for his many contributions to our program here at Penn State over the last five years. He has been truly instrumental to our success and has left an incredibly positive impact on our student-athletes and staff. Greg possesses a unique combination of knowledge, passion for the sport, work ethic, and commitment to the well-being of the players—characteristics that make him a very successful and impactful leader. On behalf of everyone at Penn State men's soccer, we wish Greg and his family the very best as he embarks on his head coaching career. I am excited for him, and for the future of the Oregon State program!"
-Jeff Cook, Penn State Head Coach
"Greg was an outstanding player and captain for me at Notre Dame. Although he had graduated a year early from high school he immediately became a key player as a very young freshman. He was a great player but also had the special ability to connect with people and this made him an obvious choice to become team captain as a junior. Years later when I was looking for an assistant and Greg was the first person I thought about. He was still playing professionally but I managed to persuade him to come to Notre Dame as my assistant. His game knowledge and his interpersonal skills made him an obvious choice and there is no question that he was a major factor in Notre Dame winning the National Championship in 2013."
-Bobby Clark, former Head Coach at Notre Dame and Stanford
"Greg is a great hire by Oregon State. He was a standout player at Notre Dame, and has since spent a lot of time as a coach at great institutions across the country shaping the culture of those programs. He has a great soccer brain, he is a great teacher of the game, and is genuinely just one of the really good guys out there in the soccer world. Oregon State found themselves a real gem."
-Brian Wiese, Georgetown Head Coach
"Congratulations to Oregon State and Greg Dalby! Greg is one of the best soccer coaches/teachers I have known, he has a great eye for talent, and most importantly a wonderful person. Oregon State is very lucky to have him and I can't wait to see his teams compete."
-Chad Riley, Notre Dame Head Coach
Dalby has spent the last five seasons as a member of the Penn State staff, most recently as Associate Head Coach. During his tenure, Dalby helped the Nittany Lions earn a top-16 seed in the NCAA Tournament three times, and guided PSU to the Big 10 regular season and tournament titles in 2021.
"I am thankful to Scott Barnes and the search committee for providing me with the opportunity to lead the Oregon State men's soccer program," Dalby said. "I would also like to thank Penn State for an incredible five years and specifically Jeff Cook for being a great leader and mentor. I truly believe that Oregon State is an elite soccer program with a great culture. My family and I cannot wait to join Oregon State University and become a part of the Corvallis community.
"This opportunity represents everything I love and am passionate about in collegiate athletics: competing at the absolute highest level, education, and a collective investment in developing student-athletes on and off the field. I look forward to continuing the programs recent success and working with a talented group of players who will aspire and compete to take Oregon State men's soccer to new heights."
Dalby's tenure at Penn State saw the squad achieve impressive success. In 2019 the program reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five years, as the team finished the campaign with a record of 12-3-3 on its way to the No. 15 overall seed. The next season brought even greater triumph, as the Nittany Lions claimed the No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tourney. Penn State ultimately made it to the final 16 of the Tournament that season, which was played in the spring of 2021.
The fall of 2021 proved to be one of the best seasons in Penn State history, as the squad claimed both the regular season and tournament Big-10 Championships to earn another top-16 seed in the Tournament.
Overall, Dalby coached 14 All-Big-10 selections, as well as 12 All-Region honorees and a pair of All-Americans during his time with the Nittany Lions. He was also deeply involve in Penn State's recruiting process, helping the program lock down the No. 13 2023 signing class in the nation.
"Over his career Greg has been mentored by some of the best coaches in college soccer," Barnes said. "He has built a record of success at the top level of collegiate soccer and has proven he is ready to take the next step of becoming a Pac-12 head coach. A former elite player himself, Greg's focus on the holistic development of the student athletes is special. He is simply a great fit for us and I can't wait for him to begin leading our program. The future is truly bright for Oregon State men's soccer."
Dalby joined Penn State after serving as the lead assistant coach at Davidson College from 2015-17. At Davidson, he was responsible for recruiting and talent development among a wide range of other duties. During his time with the Wildcats, Dalby helped the program ink a pair of top-150 prospects, and sent two player to the professional ranks.
Prior to his time at Davidson, Dalby served as the assistant coach of his alma mater, Notre Dame, where he helped the squad to a 2013 NCAA Championship as well as a 2012 Big East Tournament Championship and back-to-back ACC regular-season championships in 2013 and 2014.
Dalby spent seven years as a professional soccer player, starting his career in the Belgian Premiere League at Royal Club Sporting Charleroi before moving on to the Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer Club where he played for two seasons. Dalby closed his professional career at the Charlotte Eagles where he spent two seasons as co-captain. Throughout his time in professional soccer, Dalby served on the U.S. Soccer Athlete Council where he contributed to the drafting and implementation of new legislature to benefit the athletes.
As an NCAA student-athlete, Dalby played four years at Notre Dame where he was a two-year team captain, leading the Fighting Irish to back-to-back Big East regular-season championships in 2003 and 2004. Dalby was a NSCAA first-team All-American as well as a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist in 2005 and 2006. He was also named Big East Midfielder of the Year and garnered first-team All-Big East honors twice.
Dalby earned Big East Academic All-Star team honors for three seasons and was captain of the United States U-20 men's national team in the FIFA Youth World Cup in 2005. Dalby served as the men's soccer Student-Athlete Advisory Council representative and was awarded Notre Dame's prestigious Byron V. Kanaley Award, recognizing senior athletes who excelled as both students and leaders.
Dalby will be joined in Corvallis by his wife, Stacey, along with their three children, Addilyn, Miles and Brayden.
The Oregon State men's soccer program has proven to be one of the top teams in the nation over recent seasons, making four the last five NCAA Tournaments and winning the Pac-12 championship in 2021. The Beavers made the quarterfinals of the 2021 NCAA Tournament, and the program has had 14 players selected in the MLS SuperDraft.
Upon making his announcement, Barnes said Dalby's appointment is contingent on the completion of all university hiring processes.
OUR MISSION
Oregon State Athletics strives to Build Excellent Authentic Visionary Student-Athletes (Go BEAVS).
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:
"Oregon State has hit a home run with Greg Dalby. He's everything an institution, a program and a student athlete would be looking for. He's a gifted and talented coach, teammate and leader, and person of character and integrity. I'm ecstatic that Greg is going to a program of the caliber of Oregon State and I know that the Beavers and Corvallis will benefit greatly from his experience and leadership. I can't wait to watch what they will do together!"
- Sandy Barbour, recently retired Penn State Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics
"Greg Dalby is one of the country's most talented and highly qualified emerging soccer coaches. I'm delighted that Greg will have this opportunity to lead the men's soccer program at Oregon State, an athletic department and University that we have great respect for. I am so grateful to Greg for his many contributions to our program here at Penn State over the last five years. He has been truly instrumental to our success and has left an incredibly positive impact on our student-athletes and staff. Greg possesses a unique combination of knowledge, passion for the sport, work ethic, and commitment to the well-being of the players—characteristics that make him a very successful and impactful leader. On behalf of everyone at Penn State men's soccer, we wish Greg and his family the very best as he embarks on his head coaching career. I am excited for him, and for the future of the Oregon State program!"
-Jeff Cook, Penn State Head Coach
"Greg was an outstanding player and captain for me at Notre Dame. Although he had graduated a year early from high school he immediately became a key player as a very young freshman. He was a great player but also had the special ability to connect with people and this made him an obvious choice to become team captain as a junior. Years later when I was looking for an assistant and Greg was the first person I thought about. He was still playing professionally but I managed to persuade him to come to Notre Dame as my assistant. His game knowledge and his interpersonal skills made him an obvious choice and there is no question that he was a major factor in Notre Dame winning the National Championship in 2013."
-Bobby Clark, former Head Coach at Notre Dame and Stanford
"Greg is a great hire by Oregon State. He was a standout player at Notre Dame, and has since spent a lot of time as a coach at great institutions across the country shaping the culture of those programs. He has a great soccer brain, he is a great teacher of the game, and is genuinely just one of the really good guys out there in the soccer world. Oregon State found themselves a real gem."
-Brian Wiese, Georgetown Head Coach
"Congratulations to Oregon State and Greg Dalby! Greg is one of the best soccer coaches/teachers I have known, he has a great eye for talent, and most importantly a wonderful person. Oregon State is very lucky to have him and I can't wait to see his teams compete."
-Chad Riley, Notre Dame Head Coach
