SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Notre Dame’s McFarland Family Head Men’s Soccer Coach Chad Riley welcomed eight incoming players on Wednesday for this year’s National Signing Day.
“We are truly excited to welcome this group to Notre Dame,” said Riley. “We believe we have recruited a talented group of young men who are not only excellent soccer players, but also outstanding students and people. They are competitors who love the game, embrace challenges, and understand what it means to be part of something bigger than themselves. We believe they will make a significant contribution to our program, both on and off the field, and we look forward to helping them develop during their time at Notre Dame.”
This signing class consists of William Bailey, Jackson Bonos, Cooper Conley, Zach Lloyd, Connor Murphy, Oliver Nelson, Trevor Steele and Luke Weber. The eight signees come from all over the United States, as seven different states are represented (California, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Florida, Missouri, Washington, Pennsylvania).
William Bailey
Position: Defender
Clubs: Woodside Crush, Santa Cruz Breakers, San Jose Earthquakes
High School: Saint Francis High School
Hometown: Woodside, CA
Why Notre Dame?
“I chose to attend Notre Dame honestly because of a gut feeling. The way I felt around coaches and players at such a historic school felt really special and a place I would want to be a part of.”
Jackson Bonos
Position: Defender
Clubs: Columbus Crew and Seminole United
High School: Florida Virtual School
Hometown: Lake Mary FL
Why Notre Dame?
“I chose to attend Notre Dame because it truly felt like home. Ever since I was a kid, my whole family were Penn State fans, but I always had a draw to Notre Dame even though everyone rooted against them. It was something about the culture, tradition, and beautiful atmosphere. When I took my visit, all those wonders I had came true and even more. It felt like a place I could improve, grow, and prosper not only as a player, but more importantly as a person.”
Cooper Conley
Position: Forward
Clubs: Eastside FC, Louisville City FC
High School: Woodinville High School
Hometown: Woodinville, WA
Why Notre Dame?
“Notre Dame offers the best balance of academics and athletics, making it the perfect place for me to reach my goals. On top of the great coaching staff, I really enjoyed the campus, facilities, and the university's Catholic influence during my visit.”
Zach Lloyd
Position: Defender
Clubs: Columbus Crew (22-27), Club Ohio (20-22)
High School: Upper Arlington
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Why Notre Dame?
“I chose to attend Notre Dame because of the culture I experienced during my visit. I was surrounded by not only great soccer players, but also people I could genuinely see myself enjoying spending time with and who were chasing big dreams.”
Connor Murphy
Position: Midfielder
Club: Philadelphia Union
High School: YSC Academy
Hometown: Wayne, PA
Why Notre Dame?
“I chose to attend Notre Dame because it offers the perfect balance of athletics and academics. Notre Dame has a great reputation that will set me up for success in the future. The campus is beautiful and I wanted to follow in the footsteps of my family.”
Oliver Nelson
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: New York Redbull
High School: Central Bucks East/Keystone Academy
Hometown: Doylestown, PA
Why Notre Dame?
“It is a school that forces you to become the best version of yourself.”
Trevor Steele
Position: Midfielder/Defender
Club: Intercontinental Football Academy (IFA) of New England
High School: Loomis Chaffee School
Hometown: Wilbraham, MA
Why Notre Dame?
“I am excited to join the Notre Dame family because it pairs rich history, tradition, and strong sense of community with the chance to compete at the highest level both on the field and in the classroom.”
Luke Weber
Position: Defender
Clubs: Madison 56rs, FC Wisconsin, Charlotte FC
High School: Middleton Wisconsin
Hometown: Middleton, WI
Why Notre Dame?
“I chose Notre Dame because of the prestigious academics and athletics, the great coaching staff and how they have supported me through my recruiting process.”