Coach Ken Gavin started coaching at age 17 in Dublin, Ireland with Verona FC. By age 18 Coach Gavin had an FAI license after being accepted to an elite young coach’s course run by the Football Association of Ireland/FAS. One year later he was a Head Coach at Verona FC. During time at FAI Coach Gavin worked daily with professional and semi- professional players, including but not limited to sessions with Ireland’s international team (as observer before 1990 World Cup), Irelands U-16 and U-21 International teams. These events were conducted under the guidance of Joe McGrath (National director of Coaching in Ireland and former Head Coach of New Zealand), Maurice Price (Assistant Coach) to Jack Charlton’s Irish International team and Larry Mahony (FAI Staff Coach).

During his time as Genesee Head Coach, he has built the team into a national powerhouse. Coach Gavin led the team to the college’s first ever soccer national championship in 2017, book-ended by two runners up finishes in 2011 and 2022. He has also led the team to 12 consecutive Conference titles and 8 Regional Championships. During this time, he was also selected as the United Soccer Coaches National Coach of the Year for 2017. The 2015 team set the all-time NJCAA record for goals in a season with 141goals in 21 games.

The players of Genesee have also enjoyed tremendous individual success during Coach Gavin’s time as Coach. The team has produced 35 All-American’s, 77 All-Region and 88 All-Conference award winners. Players have transferred to more than 30 different states around the country, as well as a number of countries around the world on scholarship to continue their athletic and academic careers. More than 10 have gone on to play professionally at various levels around the world.