B.J. Callaghan Position: Assistant Coach Experience: Second Season Alma Mater: Ursinus (2003)

B.J. Callaghan returns for his second season as the top assistant coach to Ann Clifton in 2007. Callaghan is involved with all aspects of the program and works with the goalkeepers and defense on the field.

In his first season with the Wildcats, Callaghan was instrumental in helping the defense have its best season in program history. Villanova allowed just 11 goals all season long, the fewest in a single-season in the team's 24-year history as a varsity sport. Along the way, the Wildcats posted 15 shutouts in 22 games. Villanova opened the season with a 15-game unbeaten streak (15-0-2) and was scored on just twice in that span. In the midst of that stretch, the Wildcats posted seven straight shutouts and went a program-record 769:52 without allowing a goal.

Callaghan spent much of his time last season working with goalkeeper Jillian Loyden, who became the first player in school history to be a first team NSCAA All-America selection. Loyden was named the BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year for the second straight season and set a single-season school record with her 0.45 goals-against average.

Prior to his arrival at Villanova, Callaghan was an assistant coach for two seasons at Saint Joseph's University. He handled recruiting and travel for the Hawks while working with the team's defense. In his two years with the team, Saint Joseph's totaled 17 victories and posted a goals-against average of less than 1.50 each year.

The first stop in Callaghan's coaching career came at his alma mater, as he served as an assistant coach to the Ursinus men's soccer team after graduating from the school as a four-year letterwinner. He served as team captain his senior season, when he played in 18 games and logged 952 minutes in goal. He collected 60 saves for the season while allowing just 18 goals, finishing the year with a 1.70 GAA for the Bears.

In addition to his experience at the collegiate level, Callaghan has been a staff coach with the Eastern Pennsylvania State ODP team since January 2003 and a Region 1 staff goalkeeping coach since February 2004. Callaghan has worked with the U-15 and U-16 teams for the EPYSA organization. His responsibilities include identifying and selecting the top players in the state, designing and implementing training sessions, and developing each player for selection in regional camps and the national pool. Callaghan has worked with the age-16 and age-17 Region 1 squads.

At the club level, Callaghan has coached the FC Delco Tarheels since January 2004. His team was a Region 1 league finalist in 2005 and advanced to the semifinals of the State Cup in 2004. That year, FC Delco was also a WAGS semifinalist and Super Y-League national finalist, in addition to capturing the championship of the Millennium bracket at the Orange Classic.

Callaghan is the grandson of long-time Villanova men's basketball coach Jack Kraft. In leading the men's basketball program for 12 seasons from 1961-73, Kraft amassed 238 victories and a .715 winning percentage. His teams won at least 20 games seven times and reached the national championship game in 1971.

A 2003 graduate of Ursinus, Callaghan earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics and Business Administration. He is currently working on a Master's of Education at Saint Joseph's University. He was certified with a USSF B License in July 2005 and received NSCAA Goalkeeping Level I and II certification in March 2005.

Callaghan and his wife Leigh reside in Conshohocken, Pa.