Green Bay’s John O’Reilly to Join “Inside the Game” as Featured Guest After Breakthrough First Season
- Jonathan Turner
- Sep 17
- 3 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
O’Reilly Era Underway in Green Bay: Phoenix Look to Build on Breakthrough 2024 Season
GREEN BAY, Wis. (NSN) — The winds of change have taken flight in Green Bay, where John O’Reilly — once an All-American defender and long-time assistant — is now firmly in command of the Phoenix men's soccer program.
Appointed the 12th head coach in program history on February 2, 2024, O’Reilly wasted little time making an impact in his debut season, guiding Green Bay to a 4-3-2 conference record and an 11-7-2 overall mark. The Phoenix finished in a three-way tie for second in the Horizon League standings and posted their highest win total in over a decade.
A Solid First Season at the Helm
Under O’Reilly’s leadership, Green Bay finished the 2024 season with:
14 conference points (T-2nd)
11 overall wins (best since 2017)
.556 conference win percentage
A top-four league finish and postseason berth
Despite falling just short of another conference title, the Phoenix were competitive throughout the campaign, proving themselves as a tough out on both sides of the ball. O’Reilly’s defense-first identity was on display again, and the team’s upward trajectory remains unmistakable.
2024 Final Horizon League Standings (O'Reilly’s 1st Season)
School | C PTS | CONF | CPCT. | OVERALL | PCT. | STREAK |
Oakland | 20 | 6-1-2 | .778 | 9-7-2 | .556 | L1 |
Robert Morris | 14 | 4-3-2 | .556 | 9-7-3 | .553 | L1 |
Milwaukee | 14 | 4-3-2 | .556 | 9-5-5 | .605 | L1 |
Green Bay | 14 | 4-3-2 | .556 | 11-7-2 | .600 | L1 |
Cleveland State | 13 | 4-4-1 | .500 | 7-7-3 | .500 | L1 |
Purdue Fort Wayne | 13 | 4-4-1 | .500 | 7-7-2 | .500 | L1 |
Detroit Mercy | 10 | 2-3-4 | .444 | 3-10-4 | .294 | L1 |
Wright State | 10 | 3-5-1 | .389 | 7-9-2 | .444 | W1 |
Northern Kentucky | 10 | 2-3-4 | .444 | 3-6-7 | .406 | L1 |
IU Indy | 7 | 2-6-1 | .278 | 5-9-3 | .382 | L3 |
Backstory: From Defensive Stalwart to Tactical Leader
A native of Arlington, Mass., O’Reilly starred at Lehigh University, where he was named:
NSCAA First Team All-American
Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year
Team MVP, two-time All-Region, and All-Conference
He later earned his master’s in Sports Management from Georgetown University and built his coaching career with stops at Babson, Georgetown, and then Green Bay, where he served under former head coach Jeremy Bonomo from 2015–2023.
O’Reilly helped lead Green Bay to the 2017 Horizon League regular-season title and the 2023 Horizon League Tournament Championship. His recruiting and defensive acumen have become trademarks of Phoenix soccer.
2025 Outlook: Green Bay Off to a Strong Start
Now in his second season as head coach, O’Reilly has the Phoenix off to a hot start in Horizon League play. Green Bay opened conference action with a 1-0 win, joining Purdue Fort Wayne, IU Indy, and Robert Morris at the top of the early table.
2025 Horizon League Standings (as of Sept. 17, 2025)
School | C PTS | CONF | CPCT. | OVERALL |
Purdue Fort Wayne | 3 | 1-0-0 | 1.000 | 3-0-3 |
Robert Morris | 3 | 1-0-0 | 1.000 | 3-1-2 |
IU Indy | 3 | 1-0-0 | 1.000 | 4-2-2 |
Green Bay | 3 | 1-0-0 | 1.000 | 3-2-0 |
Milwaukee | 1 | 0-0-1 | 0.500 | 1-2-4 |
Cleveland State | 1 | 0-0-1 | 0.500 | 0-2-3 |
Detroit Mercy | 0 | 0-1-0 | 0.000 | 3-3-1 |
Northern Kentucky | 0 | 0-1-0 | 0.000 | 2-3-1 |
Oakland | 0 | 0-1-0 | 0.000 | 0-4-3 |
Wright State | 0 | 0-1-0 | 0.000 | 0-5-1 |
The Verdict: Phoenix on the Rise
With a full year under his belt, O’Reilly’s influence is becoming more visible in Green Bay’s identity—organized, relentless, and built around a culture of excellence. If early results are any indication, the Phoenix are ready to contend again in 2025.
NSN will continue coverage of Horizon League men’s soccer and the John O’Reilly-led Phoenix throughout the season.
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