Dec. 18, 1996 – Ray Reid named head coach of UConn men’s team, replacing Joe Morrone

The UConn Huskies won the NCAA Men’s Championship under Joe Morrone in 1981 and Ray Reid in 2000.

Reid, who has a 433W-124L-73D all-time record in 29 seasons, also won three NCAA Division 2 titles (1990, ’92, ’95) coaching Southern Connecticut State University.

Morrone started coaching UConn in 1969, raising the Huskies’ profile on the national scene. Morrone (b. Oct. 20, 1935 in Worcester, Mass., d. Sept. 17, 2015 in Mansfield, Conn.) played hockey, lacrosse and soccer at UMass-Amherst. Morrone also coached soccer at Middlebury from 1958-68, compiling a 422W-199L-64D overall record. Morrone’s sons, Bill and Joe, played for him at UConn, and his daughter, Melissa, also played for the Huskies and is married to Toronto FC defender Mitchell Taintor.

The Huskies led NCAA schools in average attendance with 3,502 per game at Joseph J. Morrone Stadium last season.

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY