As John Fitzgerald begins his tenure as Molloy’s head soccer coach, he brings with him a bond that stretches well beyond the touchline: a shared passion with his son, Sean, for developing the next wave of soccer talent.
“When he was growing up as a player, I was his biggest supporter. Later, I became his coach, and now we’re working side by side,” John told The Post about Sean, who previously suited up for both Molloy and Binghamton.
This fall, the Fitzgeralds are part of an uncommon father-son coaching setup on the Lions’ sideline. At the same time, 23-year-old Sean is still playing under his father with the American Soccer Club in the NPSL.
John said Sean’s soccer IQ has always stood out, especially his ability to anticipate the flow of a match and break down what is happening in real time. That insight, he added, now carries into their coaching conversations — including during recent drives from Molloy practices to sessions with the Fighting Tomcats, the club Sean captains.
Those rides have turned into their own kind of soccer classroom, though John admits he may enjoy the nonstop analysis more than his son does.
“I could talk about the game all day, every day. Sean knows when it’s time to shut it down,” John said. “And he’s not afraid to remind me.”
But when the work begins, Sean is fully engaged. John said his son brings real intensity to the field with the Lions and can get “a little fiery” during sessions.
“He’ll get right in there and play with them, too,” John said. “That helps because he can show the players exactly what we’re asking for and bring the ideas to life.”
Molloy is off to a 1-0 start in NCAA play with the Fitzgeralds at the helm.
They’re hoping to keep that going with ASC, which is prepping for an opening-round matchup in the U.S. Open Cup against Osner’s FC at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn on Sept. 13 at 8 p.m.
“I realize how fortunate I am to get to do this with Sean,” John said.
