When Tim Phelan returned from Ireland after coaching the Lynn Breakers girls soccer team to the Limerick Plate in an international tournament, that one amazing excursion and victory alone would have been enough to call it a memorable and exciting summer.

But another significant milestone was waiting for Phelan upon his return, one that has caught the soccer community by storm: he learned that he was named as the new head coach of the Austin Prep -Reading girls soccer team.

Phelan, who has been a board member and coach in Lynn Youth Soccer for 15 years, the last six with the Lynn Breakers, was selected from a large field of well-qualified candidates.

“I was very excited about it when I was notified after we got back from our trip to Ireland,” said Phelan, an attorney who works at his family’s law practice in Lynn and is also chief legal counsel to a Boston organization. “I’m looking forward to it. I enjoy coaching.”

Highly respected as a student of the game, Phelan feels his coaching experience in Lynn Youth Soccer built the foundation for coaching interscholastic, varsity-level soccer.

“Through my experience with the Lynn Breakers and Lynn Youth Soccer, I’ve learned a lot and I have a lot more to learn,” said Phelan. “Austin Prep is a great school. They focus on academics and teamwork and we have the same philosophy when it comes to quality education. I still plan on staying on the board in Lynn Youth Soccer. Soccer is my passion and coaching is an opportunity to not only teach soccer but life skills.”

Phelan has a strong connection to Austin Prep, a highly regarded institution. His daughter, Meghan, was a member of the AP Class of 2014, having played two years of soccer before leaving the program and becoming a world-class Irish step dancer.

A member of the National Honor Society, Meghan will be continuing her education at Providence College.

“I’m very proud of her,” said Phelan. “Meghan had a great experience at Austin Prep and through Lynn Youth Soccer. She was a very strong player for the Breakers.”

Phelan, a former basketball player at Lynn English, will be leading a Lady Cougars’ program that lost ten seniors to graduation.

“It’s going to be a young team with just two seniors returning,” said Phelan. “We’re probably going to have some growing pains.”

Phelan has appointed former Lynn youth soccer coach Alberto Lozano, a former professional player, to his coaching staff. Lozano’s daughter, Katherine, played soccer at Lynn English and for the Lynn Breakers.

Phelan is looking forward to playing against St. Mary’s High School, an excellent program led by coach Jim Foley.

“I know a lot of the players at St. Mary’s and I know coach Foley very well. It should be a fun and exciting game.”