Aaron McGuiness enters his fifth season as the head coach of the women's soccer team and his eighth season as a member of the Tomcats' soccer coaching staff.
In his first and second seasons as head coach, the Thiel women’s soccer team won seven games, matching their highest win total since the 2003 season. The Tomcats had a pair of women (Morgan Berg, Nicole Jeschelnig) garner All-PAC recognition at the end of both seasons.
McGuiness brings an extensive playing career to Thiel, having played both collegiately and at the professional level.
A native of Terranora, Australia, McGuiness was a member of the Palm Beach Soccer Club in the Brisbane Premier League from 2001-2005. He started as a youth team player, was promoted to the reserve team in 2002, where he played for one season, and played the final three years on the first team. He was a starter on the team that won the Brisbane Minor Premiership and placed as the runner-up in the Queensland Cup.
McGuiness began his collegiate career at Shenandoah University in 2005. He was a four-year starter for the Hornets and a two-year captain. He was twice named All-USA South Conference honorable mention and was selected to the Sportsmanship Team following his senior season.
Prior to his arrival at Thiel, McGuiness had played for the Winchester Impact in the semi-pro PASL Premier League. He was a member of the team's inaugural season, helping the Impact advance to the semifinals of the national tournament. In the team's second season, McGuiness helped the team win the Mid-Atlantic Conference championship.
McGuiness is a 2009 graduate of Shenandoah University with a Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology focusing in sports management and a Bachelor of Arts degree in university studies focusing in sports media. In 2013, McGuiness earned his Master's of Science in Exercise Science and Health Promotion with a focus in performance enhancement and injury prevention.
