Garden City, N.Y. - A pillar in the Adelphi University and Long Island soccer community, former assistant coach Paul LeSueur passed away on Monday after suffering a stroke last week.
LeSueur's career as a player, coach and administrator spanned decades in the amateur, high school, college and professional levels.
He coached for over 30 years, which included a collegiate stop with the Panthers in their Division I tenure in 1982 (pictured above) under Hall of Fame head coach Bob Montgomery.
"Paul was a great, great man. A continual institution and proponent for soccer at all levels. Universally respected and adored. He was a perennial advocate and supporter of soccer here at Adelphi University," said current Adelphi men's soccer head coach
Gary Book.
"The very first thing I saw on my arrival at Adelphi was a wonderfully personal note from Paul, left on my desk, wishing me the very best in the new role. That thoughtfulness speaks volumes about the man. He will be sadly and greatly missed by so many that he mentored and positively impacted along the way."
A native of Garden City, N.Y., who was a pillar in the Long Island soccer community for more than 40 years, LeSueur graduated with a bachelor's degree in health, physical education and recreation from Springfield College in 1970.
He later played professionally for the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League (NASL), helping to lead the team to the 1972 championship.
He earned All-American honors on the pitch, was named the MVP of the NCAA Division II Regional Championships as a junior and served as co-captain in his senior year. He earned a master's degree in athletic administration and sports management from Springfield in 1974.
"When I left the Waldorf School to come coach at Adelphi, I had to find a replacement, and Paul was the No.1 choice," said Adelphi head men's lacrosse coach
Gordon Purdie, who preceded LeSueur as athletic director at the private school adjacent to Adelphi's Garden City campus.
LeSueur served in that position from 2007-13.
Added Purdie: "He was loved by not just the children, parents and staff at the school, but became a mentor to his fellow coaches and administrators. I will miss him sharing his love of soccer and his stories with all those he met in the local community."
About Adelphi Athletics
A regionally and nationally competitive NCAA Division II institution located in Garden City, N.Y., Adelphi University has been a proud member of the Northeast-10 Conference since 2009.
Winners of 17 NCAA Division II National Championships and four NE10 Presidents' Cups, Panther athletes have excelled at the conference, regional and national level, both on the field of play and in the classroom. In turn, the Adelphi athletic department is committed to fostering an environment of diversity, inclusion, equity and success where its student-athletes can thrive both on campus and off.
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