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BETHLEHEM, Pennsylvania – The Ingrassia family’s head football coach Dean Koski finalized his coaching staff before the start of the 2021 season later this week and announced the new hires on Monday morning.
Long-time volunteer Brendan McIntyre has been promoted to assistant coach with immediate effect, while former Lehigh defender Jonathan Blaine ’21 has been named the program’s new Director of Soccer Operations.
McIntyre begins his fifth season overall with the Lehigh men’s soccer program in 2021, serving as volunteer assistant coaches for the last two and as directors of soccer operations for the two prior to that. His main focus is on working with the goalkeepers during training and during the season.
“We are delighted to have Brendan in our role as assistant / goalkeeper coach and to add him to our recruiting team,” said Koski. “Brendan’s familiarity with the program as a volunteer trainer over the past five years will make this transition seamless and give our program the continuity that has been our staff’s strength for the past decade.”
His leadership and leadership helped Lehigh run to a third Patriot League championship in 2019. With McIntyre’s help, the Mountain Hawks won the regular season title and were ranked # 1 in the Patriot League tournament en route to a championship and berth a fifth NCAA tournament.
McIntyre, who holds a USSF “D” coaching license, has also been the youth-level head coach at Lehigh Valley United since 2014. He graduated from Muhlenberg College in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Blaine made his mark as an executive on the Lehigh Men’s Football program and returned just months after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in economics. As Director of Soccer Operations, Blaine will oversee video analysis and scouting, expand ID clinics and camps, coordinate travel and meals, among many other roles.
“Jon has agreed to take our position as Director of Soccer Operations for the coming season and we are incredibly happy that he is available, willing and eager to be part of our staff and program,” said Koski. “Jon has always been a leader in the program as a student athlete and has made a name for himself in the department as a consummate student athlete and perfect ambassador for Lehigh Athletics and the men’s soccer program.”
He had his breakout season during the shortened spring 2021 campaign, which started in three of his five appearances a year. He scored his first career goal at Loyola Maryland on March 27 and was one of Lehigh’s two Academic All-Patriot League selections.
McIntyre and Blaine, along with Koski and deputy head coach Ryan Hess, complete a four-man coaching staff.
The Mountain Hawks start the 2021 season in Manhattan on Friday and meet against the Jaspers at 7 p.m. Lehigh won the last clash between the two teams 1-0 at the 2019 season opener at the Ulrich Sports Complex.
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