Mike Noonan ’79 Leads Clemson To National Championship Game

Mike Noonan ’79 knows what it takes to win championships.

In 1978, he helped lead the Wreckers to the state “LL” title. He was a key part of coach Jeff Lea’s squad that beat Greenwich 3-2, on Gordon Hull’s goal with just 11 seconds remaining in the final overtime.

In 2021 — after great success coaching Wheaton, the University of New Hampshire, and Brown — Noonan’s Clemson Tigers won the NCAA Division I title.

On Monday (6 p.m.), they’re shooting for another national championship. On Friday, Clemson beat West Virginia University 1-0.  They face Notre Dame, 1-0 victors over Oregon State.

Noonan had some friends in the stands yesterday. Former Staples soccer players Rich Hiltz, Eric Strausser and Dan Donovan made the trip to Louisville. Donovan had a particularly strong interest: Noonan was a Staples teammate and longtime friend of his brother, Doug Donovan. And Dan Donovan’s son Paddy is a goalkeeper on the Tiger team.

Good luck, Noons and Paddy! And we’re sure there will be other Wreckers in the stands Monday too.

From left: Eric Strausser, Rich Hiltz and Dan Donovan, before the Clemson-West Virginia match.