MEN'S SOCCER DAILY UPDATE

October 10, 2008

Thanks for Everything

While the Binghamton men's soccer season continues for at least another month, Saturday's game up at Boston marks the final day on the job for Sean O'Keefe, the team's athletic trainer for the past four seasons. He has accepted a similar position with the University of Maryland, where he will be the trainer for the nationally-ranked Terps' men's soccer program.

While going to Maryland is a good career move for O'Keefe, he has very fond memories and thoughts about the Binghamton program.

"I definitely think that through the years, it has been a really good process for me," he said. "I have a lot of respect for Paul Marco and his staff and what they have done here. From the sports medicine aspect, it has been a pleasure working with these guys because of how professional they are (as well as) the high standards that they hold the team to."

The same holds true for what the men's soccer program thinks about O'Keefe.

"Sean been an intregal part in helping our guys get to another level physically, emotionally and mentally," Marco said. "He's really been more than just an athletic trainer to our guys. We are really going to miss him."

"Sean is just a world-class trainer," senior midfielder Justin Leskow said. "He has helped me a lot over my four years here. He got me on the field a lot quicker than I would have without him. We are going to miss him a lot but we wish him the best."

While Maryland competes in a major conference (the ACC), O'Keefe noticed many similarities between the Terps' men's soccer program and the one here at Binghamton.

"(Maryland head coach) Sasho (Cirovski) and Paul both bring a lot of intensity to their teams," he said. "They expect and demand great things from everyone around them, from the support staff to the players. As far as the transition goes, it is going to be the same mentality there as it is here."

Without question, O'Keefe's busiest year with the Binghamton men's soccer team was 2006. At one point during the season, several players were on crutches with injuries. With O'Keefe's assistance, however, all of them came back healthy at the end of the season and Binghamton won the America East title.

"That year was a bit of a struggle at first," he said. "But we got through it. The 'Walking Wounded' was what everyone would refer to them as but they came back healthy. I think that is a credit to the mentality that Coach Marco holds everyone to. These guys never give up."

One the players who was injured early in the 2006 season was current senior midfielder Cody Germain. By the end of that season, not only was he back in the lineup, but played a pivotal role in the America East Tournament.

"He is the best trainer I have ever had," Germain said. "I came back from an injury my sophomore year and he got me back to health perfectly by the end of the year."

Well-known for its team unity, the Bearcats have been more than just a team to O'Keefe during his four years at Binghamton.

"The team cohesiveness that they have is unbelievable," he said. "The team rapport that they have with everyone is great. It keeps things fun. It keeps things light and I do consider these guys part of my family."

Posted October 10, 2008. 9 a.m.
Feedback should be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu.