WASHINGTON, D.C. — Catholic University Director of Athletics/Associate Vice President Kevin Robinson announced the hire of Connor Keenan as the new head coach of the Catholic University men's soccer team on Thursday morning. 

"When Coach Travis Beauchamp resigned, it became very clear that Connor Keenan should be the coach to lead this program," says Robinson. "Connor has the demeanor, the professionalism and the coaching acumen, but most importantly, he holds a deep respect for the CUA Men's Soccer program. He understands the tradition of success and the high-level culture of the program. He clearly demonstrated that he is ready for this opportunity to lead the Cardinals Men's Soccer program. We could not be more excited to welcome Coach Keenan back to the Catholic Athletics Family!"

Keenan returns to Catholic University, a place he is very familiar with, after a successful career at all three levels of Division III men's soccer; as a player, an assistant coach and a head coach. Most recently, Keenan led the King's College men's soccer program for one season, producing four all-MAC selections and six CSC Academic All-District honorees.

Prior to his time at his year at King's, he spent nine seasons on staff at various Division III powers. Most recently, Keenan spent four years as an assistant coach at Denison where he helped the team to a 22-10-5 overall record. During his tenure, the Big Red won the NCAC for the first time since 2009 and earned their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 12 years as Keenan was part of the coaching staff that was named Region VII Coaching Staff of the Year in 2021.

Before Denison, Keenan spent four years on staff at Catholic under Beauchamp. He played a vital role in the team's epic turn-around from a team that won just one game in 2016 to a nationally-ranked, top-10 team in 2019.

During Keenan's time at Catholic, the Cardinals showed marked improvement each season. After the tough 2016 campaign, the program reached the Landmark Conference Semifinals in 2017 before appearing in the final in 2018. Finally in 2019, Catholic hoisted the trophy and punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament. The Cardinals were ranked as high as No. 10 in the national poll that season, and were awarded hosting rights for the NCAA Tournament First and Second Rounds, still to this day the only NCAA Tournament contests to be played on Carlini Field.

Keenan's return to Washington, D.C., proves even more special as he is an alumnus of the prestigious Busch School of Business. Keenan earned his Masters of Science in Management with a Leadership and Management concentration in 2018.

"I am extremely grateful and humbled to be selected as the next Head Men's Soccer Coach for Catholic University," says Keenan. "I want to thank Kevin Robinson, Jaime Walls, and the entire search committee for placing their faith in me to lead the program. I also want to acknowledge and thank Travis for his dedication and hard work he's put in over the last 17 seasons turning the men's soccer program into one of the premier programs in the country. I'm excited about the direction of our program and I am looking forward to getting back on campus to continue creating a student-athlete experience that allows our players to find success on the field, in the classroom and within the community."

Keenan returns to the Landmark Conference with a high level of familiarity with another top men's soccer programs in the conference as he was a standout player for Lycoming from 2011 to 2014. A four-year starter and two-year captain for the Warriors, Keenan led his team to a MAC Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance during his junior campaign in 2013. The goalkeeper was named MAC Tournament MVP and earned all-conference honorable mention honors that season before earning a first-team selection during his senior year. He also garnered a first-team all-region selection in 2014 and was named the team's MVP.

He also began his coaching career at Lycoming, staying in Williamsport for one season after his playing career concluded. Keenan played a part in the program's impressive 18-2-2 season that saw the team win the MAC Championship and again qualify for the NCAA Tournament. After being named first and second round hosts, the Warriors defended home field and advanced all the way to the Sweet Sixteen, finishing the season with the No. 10 national ranking.

Keenan will look to lead Catholic to its fourth-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and fourth Landmark Conference title in the last five seasons in the fall.