Article by Dan Tortora
Tom Bonus, after over two decades leading the LeMoyne Dolphins Men's Soccer program, has decided to retire, ending his era overseeing the pitch as the Dolphins end their era in NCAA Division II competition.
LeMoyne finished this past season, their last in the Northeast-10 (NE-10) Conference, with a record of 7-6-6, advancing to the NE-10 Championship game. The Dolphins tied 4th-ranked Mercyhurst University and 2nd-ranked Franklin Pierce University and had a victory over 21st-ranked Adelphi University in this 2022 campaign.
"The impact that Tom Bonus has had on our student-athletes, and our men’s soccer program as a whole is immeasurable,” said Le Moyne Director of Athletics & Recreation Bob Beretta. “Tom has served as an incredible coach and role model to thousands of Dolphins for more than two decades."
Bonus comprised a record of 249-136-37 since taking the reins of the Dolphins Men's Soccer program in 2000, leading the squad since the start of the 21st century. He had a winning season in 18 of his 23 years "On the Heights".
"Tom helped develop our program into a perennial championship contender," Beretta offered. "He will retire as one of the winningest coaches in collegiate soccer history and certainly one of the most successful head coaches here on ‘the Heights.’"
Bonus was named the NE-10 Conference Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2018. He aided the team to their best record ever in a single season, 18-3-3 in 2009. With Bonus at the helm, LeMoyne made back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament in 2007 and 2008, and three times in four seasons overall in 2005, 2007, and 2008.
Back in the 2005 campaign, Bonus led the Dolphins to their first-ever NE-10 Conference Championship, advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1977, ending a drought of almost three decades for the team. Bonus would aid them to yet another NE-10 Conference Championship in 2009.
The Dolphins would return to the NCAA Tournament under Bonus in 2018, in a season where they would finish 10-2-1 in the NE-10, resulting in them having a share of the NE-10 regular-season championship and the #1 overall seed in the NE-10 Conference Tournament for the first time ever in Dolphins' Men's Soccer history. LeMoyne would also punch their ticket once again to the NCAA Tournament at the culmination of this campaign.
"It’s bittersweet to lose someone who has been so dedicated to our mission as Tom, but we’re grateful for the work he has done to position the LeMoyne men’s soccer program for future success as we begin our Division I excursion in just a few short weeks," Beretta added. "We congratulate Tom, and wish him, Carrie and Riley the best in the next chapter of their life journey.”
Prior to his 23 years leading LeMoyne, Bonus served as the assistant men's soccer coach at Hobart College for three seasons (1997, 1998, and 1999) as well as the Director of Coaching and Player Development for the New York State West Olympic Development Program.
He would lead the Keuka College Men's Soccer program for three seasons (1994, 1995, and 1996), finishing with an overall record of 26-24-3 record, including the school's first-ever winning season, 12-6-1 in 1996.
Bonus would attend SUNY-Plattsburgh after playing for his hometown Liverpool Warriors. He was a starting center midfielder at SUNY-Plattsburgh, helping the 1992 squad to the SUNYAC regular-season title and a final-16 finish in the NCAA Division III Tournament. On the heels of his graduation from SUNY-Plattsburgh, he became an assistant men's soccer coach at his alma mater in 1993.
Without doubt, Bonus' legacy is woven into the fabric of Central and Upstate NY and in the history "On the Heights" at LeMoyne College.
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