Stony Brook, N.Y. - Sue Ryan, head coach of the Stony Brook women’s soccer team, has announced the additions of two coaching staff members for the 2015 season. Alex Mendolia joins the staff as an assistant coach, while Danny Grimes will serve as the goalkeeper coach.

I am thrilled to welcome Danny and Alex to our women's soccer family,” said head coach Sue Ryan. “Both have a tremendous passion for the game and bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our program.”

Mendolia has spent the last three seasons as an assistant for the LIU Post men’s and women’s soccer programs. In his three seasons, the LIU Post men’s soccer team won three East Coast Conference regular season championships, two ECC championships, an East Regional Championship and made three NCAA Tournament appearances. They achieved a no. 1 ranking in two of his three seasons, going 52-9-4 over the three year span. The women’s team won three regular season championships under Mendolia’s guidance, making the NCAA Tournament in 2014.

Before his time at LIU Post, Mendolia spent a season as the assistant men’s soccer coach at Farmingdale State College. He holds NSCAA Advanced National and Goalkeeping diplomas and is currently pursuing a master's degree in Soccer Coaching Education at Ohio University.

“I am excited for the opportunity to work with the Stony Brook women’s soccer program” said Mendolia. “I want to thank everyone in Stony Brook Athletics, especially head coach Sue Ryan, for making this a smooth transition. I am looking forward to a great season ahead.”

Grimes will pull from his experience as the Director of Goalkeeping for Xtreme Soccer to work with the Stony Brook goalkeepers and develop a replacement for three-year starter Ashley Castanio. He has spent the last 15 years training & developing youth goalkeepers on Long Island and in Florida. He owns NSCAA Goalkeeping Levels 1 & 2 diplomas and a United States Soccer Federation Class E License. 

“I have been looking forward to this opportunity for a while and am excited to get to work,” Grimes said. “I am most excited to learn from coach Ryan, who has been considered a legend in the women's game for many years. To be able to work alongside her and her staff is going to be an unbelievable experience."

The Seawolves open the season on Fri., Aug. 21 vs. St. John’s at LaValle Stadium.