Hempstead, NY - Hofstra University Head Women's Soccer Coach Simon Riddiough announced today that Gerry Lucey has rejoined his coaching staff as an assistant coach. Lucey had spent the past three seasons as the head coach at Florida Southern University.

"I am thrilled to welcome Gerry back to Hofstra," said Coach Riddiough. "He has proven himself to be an outstanding coach everywhere he has been. We are lucky to have him back with us and I know that our team will benefit."

Lucey, who was also named the head coach of the Long Island Rough Riders USL W League team in January, returns to the Pride for his third stint on Coach Riddiough's staff. He previously served for four seasons (2019-2022) as associate head coach before leaving for the head coaching position at Florida Southern. He had served as a volunteer assistant from January 2017 to January 2018 before taking the head coaching position at Dixie State University in Utah.

Over his three seasons at the helm of the Florida Southern program, Lucey had a 23-17-14 record and guided the Mocs to two Sunshine State Conference semifinal appearances in that span. During his final season at Florida Southern, Lucey led the team to a program record for shutouts with 11, topping the previous record of nine that his team set in 2023. The Mocs also bettered the programs goals against record by allowing just eight, which was eclipsed the previous program record of 15. 

Lucey coached nine All-SSC honorees, including the program's first SSC Goalkeeper of the Year in Carly Brodsky, who was the 2025 recipient. Following the 2024 season, Ashley Shimberg was named D2 CCA All-South Region under Lucey's tutelage. During his tenure, Florida Southern posted four upset wins against Top 25 sides. In 2023, the Mocs defeated #3 Embry Riddle, 1-0, and #24 Nova Southeastern, 2-1. In 2024, Florida Southern topped #25 Embry Riddle, 3-1. In 2025, the Mocs defeated #18 Columbus State, 1-0, and also had a 2-0 win over an Embry Riddle team that was receiving votes in the national poll.

After returning to Hofstra in 2019, Hofstra had an extremely successful season as the Pride posted a 16-4-2 record (7-0-2 CAA), while capturing its third-straight Colonial Athletic Association crown before advancing to the NCAA Second Round. Lucey mentored one of the most dominant attacking units in the country, as Hofstra finished top-25 in the nation in total goals (11th), total points (11th), total assists (12th), and scoring offense (15th). Under Lucey's guidance, seven Pride players received All-CAA Recognition while three garnered a total of four major CAA awards including Lucy Porter (Midfielder of the Year), Sabrina Brian (Attacking Player of the Year), and Anja Suttner (Co-Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year). In addition, Porter (First Team), Bryan (First Team), Suttner (First Team) and Miri Taylor (Second Team) all earned All-Region distinction by the United Soccer Coaches, before Porter (First Team) and Bryan (Second Team) were eventually tabbed United Soccer Coaches All-Americans. 

In his second season back with the Pride, Hofstra claimed its second-straight regular season title and once again nearly swept up all major awards. Porter (CAA Midfielder of the Year), Bryan (Attacking Player of the Year), and Suttner (Defensive Player of the Year) all earned their respective major accolade for the second-straight season, while Taylor, Lucy Shepherd, and Jordan Littleboy also garnered All-CAA accolades. Hofstra was arguably the top offensive team in the nation once again, as the Pride led the nation in several statistical categories including scoring offense (3.56), points per game (11.22) and assists per game (4.11). Following the season, Porter was named the first First Team United Soccer Coaches All-American selection in Hofstra program history. 

In 2021 and 2022, Hofstra once again claimed CAA Championships and captured three major postseason CAA Awards (all in 2021) as Taylor, Porter, and Georgia Brown earned Attacking Player of the Year, Midfielder of the Year, and Rookie of the Year, respectively.  

In his one season (2018) at Dixie State, a Division II school that transitioned to Division I in 2020, Lucey led his team to a 13-6 record and set a school mark with 11 shutouts. The Trailblazers finished fourth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and placed six players on the All-RMAC team including the conference freshman of the year. Dixie State was ranked sixth in the final NCAA South Central Region Poll. 

Lucey, the all-time leader in assists as a player at LIU Post, has head coaching experience with three other Division II programs (LIU Post, West Chester, and Tampa), posting a 166-54-19 record in his 11 seasons as a head coach. He boasts an NCAA Division II National Championship, eight NCAA Tournament appearances, three NCAA regional Championships, 4 regular-season conference championships and 5 conference tournament championships. In his career, Lucey has coached 10 United Soccer Coaches All-Americans, 53 All-Region Selections and 86 all-conference selections. His teams have finished with a Top 25 ranking nine times, including one No. 1 ranking.

After spending 2004 to 2006 as an assistant coach at Tampa, Lucey took the helm from 2007 to 2015, leading the Spartans to six NCAA Division II Tournament appearances, including a national championship in his first season. That 2007 team went 20-2-3 on the way to the national title, setting program records for most wins and fewest losses while also posting a team record 14 shutouts. Under Lucey's tutelage, the Spartans were Sunshine State Conference champions in 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2012, and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight in 2010.

Between stints at Tampa, Lucey served as the head coach at West Chester from 2006 to 2007, with the Golden Rams earning the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championships and advancing to the NCAA Division II Final Four. The team went 23-1, which is the program record for most wins and fewest losses. The Golden Rams also set the program record for shutouts (14) that season. 

From 1999 to 2001 he served as the head women's soccer coach at his alma mater, LIU Post, after spending 1994-1999 as an assistant coach for Post's men's and women's programs. He led the Pioneers to NCAA Division II Tournament appearances in 1998 and 1999 and to New York Collegiate Athletic Conference championships in three straight seasons from 1998 to 2000. Lucey played for Post from 1991-93, becoming the team's all-time leading scorer, a record later broken in 2013. Lucey, however, still holds the record for single season assists with 20. He was named an NSCAA All-American in 1993 after earning All-Region nods from 1990-92. Lucey spent the 1990 season at NYIT, earning NYCAC Rookie of the Year, before transferring to Post.

Outside of collegiate play, Lucey played semi-professionally for the New York Greek American Atlas (1992-97) and professionally for the New Jersey Imperials of the United States International Soccer League (1995-97), earning USISL All-Star recognition in 1996. He spent 1997 with the New York/New Jersey MetroStars of the MLS before spending 1998 to 2001 with the Long Island Rough Riders, becoming an A-League All-Star in 2000.

A native of Dublin, Ireland, Lucey received a bachelor's degree in business management in 1994 and a master's in international marketing in 2001, both from Post.

Lucey and his wife, Luba, have two children – a son (Miroslav) and a daughter (Ciara).