GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP — Stockton University has named Ocean City resident Courtney Dougherty interim head coach of women’s soccer.
Dougherty, a 2006 graduate of Ocean City High School, where she excelled at soccer and basketball, was elevated to the position after 15 years on the coaching staff at the Division III school, which is her alma mater. She spent 13 seasons as an assistant coach followed by the last two years as associate head coach under Nick Juengert, who recently retired. Dougherty also boasts extensive coaching experience at the club level.
“As a former player and alum, I am so proud to represent this incredible program as the next head coach. My goal is to build on the incredible legacy that Coach Nick Juengert has created here at Stockton,” Dougherty said. “I hope to continue building a winning and passionate culture while fostering strong relationships with the players to help them succeed both on and off the field.”
Dougherty, who played for and coached with Juengert, has helped the Stockton program record 181 victories during her time on the coaching staff. The Ospreys reached double figures in wins 11 times in 14 full seasons (excluding 2020 COVID year) with Dougherty on the bench, highlighted by consecutive 17-win campaigns in 2012 and 2013.
Prior to joining the coaching staff, Dougherty started all 88 games that she played for Stockton from 2006-09. In her four seasons as the center midfielder, she sparked the Ospreys to a 65-19-9 mark and four consecutive NCAA Tournament berths while totaling 19 goals and 15 assists for 53 career points.
Dougherty was a four-time New Jersey Athletic Conference all-conference selection (2006-07 NJAC Honorable Mention, 2008 NJAC First Team, 2009 NJAC Second Team) who was voted NJAC Midfielder of the Year and NSCAA All-Mid Atlantic First Team in 2008
Dougherty was inducted into the Stockton Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Stockton in 2010 and obtained her master’s degree in clinical health psychology in 2012 and doctorate in clinical psychology in 2017, both from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
During her high school career, she played soccer for head coach Tom Miller and basketball under head coach Paul Baruffi, helping lead the team into the playoffs multiple times.
She said Miller, who passed away, was “wonderful and really showed me and the team, the players at the time, what it took to play at the next level.”
“He did a great job preparing us not only for college athletics but also for life, how hard things would be, and instilled values that we needed to be successful,” Dougherty said.
She’s pleased to take over the position from Juengert, whom she called not only a college coach but a mentor, and must jump right into the role as collegiate athletes are getting ready to report. “It’s extremely exciting,” she said. “I’m getting ready to bring the team in for preseason, working really hard with recruiting. I want to get a game plan ready and make the most of preseason and continue to build on the legacy that Coach Nick has built at Stockton.”
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff