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Coaching Staff

Associate Head Coach Corey HoltonCorey Holton  |  Associate Head Coach

Corey Holton enters her fourth season with the Stags, and her third as Associate Head Coach. In three seasons with the Stags, Holton has helped the program to their first MAAC Championship trophy in a decade, a NCAA Tournament appearance, and two MAAC Regular Season titles. The Stags also hold a 26-4-2 record in the conference during her time while also posting the fourth-best winning percentage in the nation in 2024.

Holton brought several years of coaching experience into the position Fairfield position, which included nearly 12 seasons as a head coach while also serving as an assistant coach for three programs.

The Stags have had double-digit wins in all three years with Holton, as well as their first MAAC Championship in over a decade. The Stags went 10-1-1 in the MAAC during the historic 2024 season, matching the most conference victories in Division I.

Fairfield has also had 23 All-MAAC Selections including the MAAC Golden Boot Winner, the Defensive Player of the Year and the MAAC Rookie of the Year. Theriault has become one of the most dynamic offensive players in program history, earning the 2024 MAAC Golden Boot award, while also becoming the first Stag ever to be named the ECAC Rookie of the Year in 2022.

Holton served as the head coach for the Concordia (Texas) University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and Vassar. At Vassar, Holton led the program to a 56-43-11 record which included the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2018. In total, she helped coach and recruit 26 All-Liberty League selections, two Rookie of the Year honorees, and helped the team to a spot in the United Soccer Coaches Top-25 poll.

Before her eight seasons at Vassar, Holton was also the all-time winningest coach at Concordia, where she led the Tornados to a 29-21-6 overall record and would also be named the 2011 American Southwest Conference (ASC) Coach of the Year. She mentored 15 All-Conference picks and the 2011 ASC Offensive Rookie of the Year.

As an assistant coach, Holton has enjoyed stops at Notre Dame, Trinity College, and Greensboro College. In one year at Notre Dame, Holton helped the Fighting Irish to a 13-8-1 overall record and a spot in the NCAA Tournament Third Round. She also recruited and signed 11 prospects with seven having National Team experience.

Holton also has administrative experience in the athletic field, serving as the Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Welfare and the Coordinator of Student-Athlete Development at Vassar.

Holton graduated from Elmira College with a degree in psychology and earned her Master’s in Sports Science at High Point University.

 

Assistant Coach Chris FlahertyChris Flaherty  |  Assistant Coach

Chris Flaherty enters his second season as the program’s goalkeeping coach. In his first season with the Stags, Flaherty helped the Stags to their first MAAC title in over a decade.

Flaherty brought a wealth of knowledge into the position serving six years as the goalkeeping coach for the men’s and women’s soccer teams at the University of Bridgeport.

Flaherty helped the Purple Knights women’s team to two-straight Central Athletic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Championships during the 2022 and 2023 campaigns. Working with two freshmen goalkeepers this past season, the Purple Knights allowed just one goal during three CACC Tournament games. They combined for 73 saves in 19 games with a save percentage over .750.

Bridgeport also won the 2022 CACC Regular Season with an unbeaten 10-0-2 conference mark and advanced to the East Regional Semifinals. He also mentored goalkeeper Clara Karlsson during that historic season, who posted nine clean sheets and a .790 save percentage before transferring to Florida Gulf Coast.

Flaherty also was vital in the development of men’s goalkeeper Clement Anet, who was named the 2022 CACC Goalkeeper of the Year. Anet led the league with ten victories to combined with 82 saves and a .796 save percentage.

He was also part of the staff that won the 2018 Division II National Championship who won 20 games during their historic campaign. For their success, the Bridgeport staff was named the National Coaching Staff of the Year.

Flaherty also has coaching experience with the Connecticut Football Club, Staples High School, and the FC National Elite.

 

Assistant Coach Kayla HamricKayla Hamric  |  Assistant Coach

Kayla Hamric begins her second season as the Stags' graduate assistant coach. In her first season, Hamric helped the Stags to their first MAAC Championship in over a decade while also tying the single-season record with 18 wins.

She brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the squad after playing professionally for the Houston Dash of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and most recently for Shelbourne FC in the Ireland Premiere Division. She spent her collegiate playing days with George Mason, appearing in 66 career matches for the Patriots.

Hamric most recently played professionally for Shelbourne FC out of the Ireland Premiere Division where she appeared in 11 matches. She netted a pair of goals in her league debut against Cork City.

Hamric was signed by the Houston Dash after her collegiate playing days at George Mason where she appeared in 66 matches with 40 starts for the Patriots. The midfielder netted 10 goals while dishing out six assists, tying for the team lead in goals in each of her final two seasons.