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News

02 Feb 2011

Who Are The Up-and-Coming Coaches in College Soccer?

Source: Collegesoccernews.com

College Soccer News annually seeks to recognize assistant coaches across the country who are excelling at their work.  Our selections for 2011 include some who have been listed in the past as well as some not  previously recognized.  In making these selections we state up-front that we know we are going to leave off some very deserving assistant coaches as is always the case when individuals are singled out for recognition.    However, as in the past we are confident that those selected are deserving and worthy of recognition.   The current selections continue our trend of the past few seasons of placing additional weight on team success on the field of play in the selection criteria.  

There are many very good assistant coaches in the collegiate ranks across the nation who have had and will continue to have a tremendous impact on college soccer.  The very best are effective teachers, communicators, and motivators.  They relate well to the players they coach while maintaining their respect. Successful head coaches will be the first to emphasize the key role that their assistants play in the degree of success that any program achieves.   The very best assistant coaches understand their role and effectively align their efforts with the direction of the head coach. 

Assistant coaches honored in the past by College Soccer News who are now head coaches include Kevin Grimes at California, Cameron Rast at Santa Clara, Bill Irwin at Portlant, Robert McCourt at Monmouth,  Bobby Muus at Denver, Munga Eketebi at FIU, Mike Jacobs at Evansville, Todd Yeagley at Indiana, Jesse Cormier at Vermont, Kelly Findley at N.C. State, Brad Agoos at Seattle, Erik Ronning at Colgate, Brian Wiese at Georgetown,  Darren Powell at Elon,  Damon Rensing at Michigan State, Jamie Clark at Creighton, Kevin Anderson at Columbia, Sean Phillips at UIC,  Eric Pogue at Oakland,  Ralph Polson at Wofford, Scott Calabrese at ETSU, Carl Junot at Harvard, Brad Ruzzo at Mercer, and Andy Fleming at Xavier.

Anthony Adams - UMBC - The 2010 season was Adams’ fourteenth on the sidelines as an assistant coach at UMBC under head coach Pete Caringi.  Adams also played soccer at UMBC under Caringi.  The Retrievers won their first America East Title in 2010 and finished the season with a solid 12-4-4 overall record. Caringi stated, “Anthony has done a fantastic job at UMBC.”  Adams holds a U.S.S.F. A license and has been very active and successful as a head coach at the competitive club level with the Soccer Club of Baltimore and the Baltimore Bays. 

Alex Aldaz - Florida Gulf Coast University - Aldaz completed his fourth season as an assistant coach for the Eagles under head coach Bob Butehorn in 2010.  Prior to joining the FGSU staff he served as an assistant coach at Xavier University, the University of Dayton, and at the University of Redlands. He also serves as a staff coach for Florida ODP.   The Eagles have steadily improved since beginning Division I play just four years ago.  They had a banner season in 2010 winning the program’s first ever regular season Atlantic Sun Conference title with a perfect 9-0-0 record in league play. 

Ryan Anatol - South Florida - Anatol was a solid performer as a player for the Bulls from 1997 through 2000.  He returned as a member of the coaching staff under the direction of head coach George Kifer in 2005 and has been a value added component of the South Florida staff.  Anatol can be described as a player’s coach who brings energy and a positive approach to the game yet he demands that players give it their all.  Kifer stated, “Ryan is an excellent part of our coaching staff.  He understands what it takes for the program to become one the nation’s elite.”   South Florida has made four NCAA Tourney appearances during the six years Anatol has been an assistant coach.

Stan Anderson - Marquette - Anderson has served as the Associate Head Coach at Marquette under head coach Louis Bennett for five seasons.  Anderson’s focus at Marquette is on coaching the goalkeepers, recruiting and community relations.  In 2010 the Golden Eagles secured their first postseason win since joining the Big East Conference and their seven wins was the most in a single campaign in the last seven years.  Bennett stated, “The reason that we work so  successfully in the past and want to continue to do so in the future is Stan does a lot of things well that I don’t do well.”

Rob Baarts - Portland - Baarts joined the Portland coaching staff in 2004 as an assistant coach under head coach Bill Irwin.  He assists with all aspects of the men’s soccer program.  Baarts played for the Pilots from 1987 through 1990 and played professional indoor soccer for ten years.  His knowledge of the game and his commitment to the Portland program have made him a valuable member of the Portland coaching staff.  Baarts hold a U.S.S. F. A license and has years of experience coaching at the youth level.  Portland finished the 2010 season with a 9-4-6 record.

Colin Clarke - Tulsa -  Clarke has served as an assistant coach at Tulsa under head coach Tom McIntosh for eight seasons.  His passion for the sport of soccer is reflected in the fact that he has over forty-five years of soccer experience as a player and coach at the collegiate and high school levels.  During Clarke’s tenure at Tulsa the Golden Hurricane have received six invites to the NCAA Tournament and won a total of ninety-nine contests. 

Johan Cedergren - Dartmouth - Cedergren has served as an assistant coach at Dartmouth under head coach Jeff Cook for four seasons.  He was named Associate Head Coach prior to the 2010 campaign.  The Big Green has earned a berth in the NCAA Tourney for each of the four seasons that Cedergren has been involved with the program.  Regarding Cedergren, Cook stated, “During his years with our program, his knowledge, professionalism and commitment to our student-athletes on and off the field has been exemplary.   Cook added, “There is no question that Coach Cedergren is among the very best emerging coaches in Division I college soccer.”

Chuck Connelly - William and Mary - Connelly has been a member of the Tribe’s coaching staff for eleven seasons.  He became a full-time assistant coach in 2004 under head Coach Chris Norris.  Connelly has had a definite impact on the Tribe’s quality of play working primarily with goalkeepers.  He is well versed in the duties and the pressure that accompany work between the pipes having honed his skills as the starting netminder at Old Dominion in 1999 and 2000.  Connelly has also been active in youth soccer in the community as a coach for the Virginia Legacy Soccer Club.   The Tribe had a banner season in 2010 finishing with an impressive 15-4-3 record.

B.J. Craig - Notre Dame - Craig has served as an assistant coach for the Irish on head coach Bobby Clark’s staff for three seasons.  During his tenure to date in South Bend the Irish have a 21-7-3 record in Big East play and have earned three consecutive NCAA Tourney berths.  Prior to coming to Notre Dame, Craig served as an assistant coach at Louisville under head coach Ken Lolla.  Before that he was the head coach at St. Francis for four years during which time he was named the NEC Coach of the Year in 2004.  Craig’s experience and expertise is a big plus for the Irish.

John Deeley - Connecticut - Deeley completed his fourteenth season at Connecticut and his ninth season as an associate head coach under head coach Ray Reed in 2010.  Deeley has played a key role in Connecticut’s success over the years and is considered by many to be among the best tactical minds in the game.  Deeley and Reed go way back to when they were both playing collegiate soccer at Southern Connecticut State University.  Reed has stated previously that he considers Deeley like a “co-head coach.”   Deeley has also been active in youth soccer in the past serving as a member of the Region I ODP staff.  Connecticut has earned thirteen consecutive NCAA Tourney invites.

Jared Embick - Akron - Embick joined Caleb Porter as an assistant on the Akron staff in 2007.  Since that time the Zips have recorded an overall record of 77-8-9, advanced to the national championship match in 2009 and 2010, and won the national championship in 2010.  Porter stated, “Jared has been instrumental to our success over the past four years.  Embick’s responsibilities include recruiting, scouting, game-day preparation and video analysis.  He also assists with daily training sessions.

Marco Koolman - Boston College - Koolman has been an assistant coach at Boston College under head coach Ed Kelly for two seasons.  Koolman came to Boston College with an impressive record as a head coach at the Division II level.  He was at Gannon University for six years and Franklin Pierce University for nine seasons.  Kookman was twice named the NSCAA Division II National Coach of the Year.  Koolman’s coaching experience and knowledge of the game clearly makes him one of the most competent assistant coaches in the country and a plus for a Boston College program that has had made four consecutive NCAA Tourney appearances. 

Pieter Lehrer - California - Lehrer joined the California staff as an assistant coach under head coach Kevin Grimes in 2005.  Prior to that he was an assistant coach at Evansville and Stanford and with the Los Angeles Galaxy of the MLS.  Lehrer is involved in all aspects of the program including recruiting, training, player development, and game management.  The Golden Bears have appeared in the NCAA Tournament in five of the six seasons that Lehrer has been with the program.  Regarding Lehrer, Grimes stated, “He has worked very hard over the past six years to be the best in the business.”

Troy Lesesne - College of Charleston - Lesesne has been a member of head coach Ralph Lundy’s staff at the College of Charleston for six seasons.  The 2010 season was his third as the Assistant Head Coach.  Prior to joining the Cougar coaching staff, Lesesne had an outstanding career on the pitch as a player for the College of Charleston and was named an NSCAA All-American in 2004. Lesesne is involved in all areas of the program.  Lundy does not hesitate to praise the contribution and dedication Lesesne has made to the program as a player and assistant coach.  Lundy stated, “He is College of Charleston thru and thru.” 

Brian Maisonneuve - Indiana - Maisonneuve joined the IU coaching staff under head coach Todd Yeagley in 2010.  He is no stranger to IU.  He played for the Hoosiers from 1991 through 1994 and was an All-American as a junior and a senior and the 1994 Hermann Trophy winner.  Yeagley stated, “Brian is one of the finest players to have ever played at IU and we are fortunate to bring his distinguished playing and coaching experience back to Indiana University.”  Maisonneuve  served as an assistant coach at Louisville for two seasons and spent four seasons as an assistant coach with the U.S. U-17 National Team in Florida.  He was a member of the 1998 World Cup team.   

Bert Molinary - South Carolina - Molinary has worked on the sidelines as an assistant coach under head coach Mark Berson at the University of South Carolina for seven seasons.  Molinary, who was the head coach at Hampton-Sydney College for eight years before coming to Columbia, is involved in all areas of the program including recruiting.  Berson stated, “Bert has experience in all areas as a former head coach.”  Berson added, “He is a tremendous recruiter and a tireless worker, who has been a proven winner at the collegiate level.”  South Carolina won the 2010 Conference USA Title and earned the right to participate in the NCAA Tourney for the nineteenth time.

Dan Popik - N.C. State - Popik served as an assistant coach at N.C. State under former head coach George Tarantini for six years and was the associate head coach for two seasons.  He was involved in all aspects of the program including practices, recruiting, and scheduling of games.  His collegiate and professional playing experience combined with his love for the game make him a very effective addition on the sidelines.  Popik is a players coach who understands what it takes to play at the highest level.  Tarantini often praised Popik commenting positively about his “vision and commitment” as a coach.  

Mario Sanchez - Louisville - Sanchez served as an assistant coach at Louisville in 2010 under head coach Ken Lolla.  Prior to that he was the head coach at UNLV for four seasons during which time he did an excellent job of developing the program guiding the Rebels to an 8-7-4 overall record in his final season as the head coach.  Sanchez also served as an assistant coach at Akron from 2003 to 2005 when Lolla was the head coach of the Zips.  He is a graduate of Fresno State where he was a four year starter and two year captain as a collegiate player from 1993 through 1997.  It seems highly likely that Sanchez will emerge as a head coach somewhere at some point in the future.    

Michael Seabolt - Missouri State - Seabolt has been a member of Coach Jon Leamy’s staff at Missouri State for four seasons.  In 2009 he was promoted to Associate Head Coach.  Seabolt is involved in all facets of the program and overseas recruiting.  Prior to coming to MSU Seabolt was the head coach at West Virginia for three seasons and directed the Mountaineers to a then school record thirteen wins in his final season.  He also served as an assistant coach at the University of Tampa and Elon.  Leamy has credited Seabolt with  playing a significant role in the development of the Missouri State program.

Carlos Somoano - North Carolina - Somoano just completed his ninth season as the top assistant coach at UNC under head coach Elmar Bolowich.  He assists in all aspects of the program, including practice, recruiting, and game management.  Somoano is among the reasons why the Tar Heels have earned a berth in the NCAA Tourney eight out of the past nine seasons and advanced to the Final Four for the last three years in a row.  He served as the top assistant coach at VCU for six seasons before coming to Chapel Hill.  Somano has also has been very actively involved as a coach with CASL since 2002.

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