St. John's University Athletics
Women’s Soccer Announces Staff Additions
7/30/2024 1:56:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Samie Scaffidi and Greg Kenney join Ian Stone’s staff
QUEENS, N.Y.– The St. John's women's soccer program added two new staff members ahead of the 2024 campaign Head Coach Ian Stone announced on Tuesday.
St. John's alumna Samie Scaffidi will join the program as an assistant coach, while Greg Kenney brings over 30 years of experience as the Red Storm's new goalkeeper coach.
Scaffidi brings professional playing experience in Europe and has spent the last few years as a top youth coach. She starred for Coach Stone and the Red Storm from 2014-18 tallying seven goals and 11 assists during her tenure.
"Samie was a standout attacking player for us in her time at St. John's," Stone said. "She was also a compassionate leader and captain. Upon graduation, she went on to play professionally in both Switzerland and Portugal. More recently, Samie has taken on youth coaching roles in Chicago and Los Angeles. We welcome her back to our program wholeheartedly and are excited to work with her again."
The Silver Spring, Md., native appeared in 63 career games over four years, making 41 starts. She made 14 appearances during the 2015 campaign, as the Johnnies captured the BIG EAST Regular Season Championship and made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. As a sophomore she broke the starting line-up in 19 out of 20 games and racked up 10 points. During her final season in 2018, she served as a team captain and paced the Johnnies with a career-high seven assists and added two goals totaling a personal best 11 points.
After graduating from St. John's in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in environmental science, the forward rose to the professional ranks. Scaffidi signed with FF Lugano in Switzerland and competed in the Swiss Super League and the UEFA Champions League in 2019. In 10 matches, she recorded five goals and seven assists. Her next stop was in Porto, Portugal, where started 20 games for Boavista F.C. While with the club, she was a five-time Premiera Liga Player of the Week registering nine goals and 10 assists during her tenure.
Following her professional career, Scaffidi returned to the United States and entered the coaching ranks. Over the last couple years, she did coached at top youth programs LA Breakers FC and Chicago City Soccer Club. Additionally, she worked as an assistant coach for the Olympic Development Program.
Kenney arrives in Queens with over 30 years of coaching experience and will mentor the Red Storm goalkeepers.
"Greg brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the goalkeeping coach position. He was a phenomenal professional and high-level college goalkeeper himself," Stone said. "He since has enjoyed a fantastic coaching career. We look forward to having Greg on staff."
Most recently, Kenney spent nine years as an assistant and goalkeeping coach for the NYU men's soccer program working under Head Coach Kim Wyant. Since he arrived in 2015, the Violets have made four NCAA Tournament appearances, six winning seasons and 31 players earned all-conference honors during his tenure.
Additionally, he serves on the national goalkeeping staff for the United Goalkeeping Alliance, hosts an on-air soccer show "Over the Ball" on ESPN Radio, coaches youth select teams on Long Island.
In the early stages of his coaching career, Kenney did stints at Penn State, Harvard, Adelphi and Hiram College, where he was the head coach for four seasons from 1993-97.
As a player, he was a four-year standout at Penn State from 1981-84 and remains the program's all-time leader in career saves (410). After graduating in 1985 with his bachelor's degree in health and physical education he played in the American Professional Soccer League. He was named a league all-star and spent time with the Boston Bolts and the New Jersey Eagles.
Kenney holds a USSF "A" Coaching License and earned his master's degree in health and physical education from Akron in 1993.
His wife Suzanne Kenney, formerly Collins played basketball at St. John's from 1992-95. The couple has three children, all who will start their freshman years as college athletes in the fall. Son Gregory, will play basketball at St. Michael's, daughter Caitilin will play basketball at NYU and daughter, Elizabeth will play volleyball at Sacred Heart. The family resides in Williston Park, N.Y.
St. John's alumna Samie Scaffidi will join the program as an assistant coach, while Greg Kenney brings over 30 years of experience as the Red Storm's new goalkeeper coach.
Scaffidi brings professional playing experience in Europe and has spent the last few years as a top youth coach. She starred for Coach Stone and the Red Storm from 2014-18 tallying seven goals and 11 assists during her tenure.
"Samie was a standout attacking player for us in her time at St. John's," Stone said. "She was also a compassionate leader and captain. Upon graduation, she went on to play professionally in both Switzerland and Portugal. More recently, Samie has taken on youth coaching roles in Chicago and Los Angeles. We welcome her back to our program wholeheartedly and are excited to work with her again."
The Silver Spring, Md., native appeared in 63 career games over four years, making 41 starts. She made 14 appearances during the 2015 campaign, as the Johnnies captured the BIG EAST Regular Season Championship and made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. As a sophomore she broke the starting line-up in 19 out of 20 games and racked up 10 points. During her final season in 2018, she served as a team captain and paced the Johnnies with a career-high seven assists and added two goals totaling a personal best 11 points.
After graduating from St. John's in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in environmental science, the forward rose to the professional ranks. Scaffidi signed with FF Lugano in Switzerland and competed in the Swiss Super League and the UEFA Champions League in 2019. In 10 matches, she recorded five goals and seven assists. Her next stop was in Porto, Portugal, where started 20 games for Boavista F.C. While with the club, she was a five-time Premiera Liga Player of the Week registering nine goals and 10 assists during her tenure.
Following her professional career, Scaffidi returned to the United States and entered the coaching ranks. Over the last couple years, she did coached at top youth programs LA Breakers FC and Chicago City Soccer Club. Additionally, she worked as an assistant coach for the Olympic Development Program.
Kenney arrives in Queens with over 30 years of coaching experience and will mentor the Red Storm goalkeepers.
"Greg brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the goalkeeping coach position. He was a phenomenal professional and high-level college goalkeeper himself," Stone said. "He since has enjoyed a fantastic coaching career. We look forward to having Greg on staff."
Most recently, Kenney spent nine years as an assistant and goalkeeping coach for the NYU men's soccer program working under Head Coach Kim Wyant. Since he arrived in 2015, the Violets have made four NCAA Tournament appearances, six winning seasons and 31 players earned all-conference honors during his tenure.
Additionally, he serves on the national goalkeeping staff for the United Goalkeeping Alliance, hosts an on-air soccer show "Over the Ball" on ESPN Radio, coaches youth select teams on Long Island.
In the early stages of his coaching career, Kenney did stints at Penn State, Harvard, Adelphi and Hiram College, where he was the head coach for four seasons from 1993-97.
As a player, he was a four-year standout at Penn State from 1981-84 and remains the program's all-time leader in career saves (410). After graduating in 1985 with his bachelor's degree in health and physical education he played in the American Professional Soccer League. He was named a league all-star and spent time with the Boston Bolts and the New Jersey Eagles.
Kenney holds a USSF "A" Coaching License and earned his master's degree in health and physical education from Akron in 1993.
His wife Suzanne Kenney, formerly Collins played basketball at St. John's from 1992-95. The couple has three children, all who will start their freshman years as college athletes in the fall. Son Gregory, will play basketball at St. Michael's, daughter Caitilin will play basketball at NYU and daughter, Elizabeth will play volleyball at Sacred Heart. The family resides in Williston Park, N.Y.
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