College Soccer News annually recognizes assistant coaches across the country who excel at their trade. This year we selected twenty for recognition. The selections include some who have been honored in the past as well as some not previously recognized. There are many excellent assistant coaches in the collegiate ranks who have a tremendous impact on college soccer programs throughout the United States. In making the selections we know that 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 the twenty selected are deserving and worthy of recognition. The background of the coaches selected varies and each brings different things to the game but all inspire the players they coach to become something greater than they could have become by themselves.
Many of the assistant coaches that College Soccer News has recognized in past years are now head coaches. Assistant coaches honored in the past who are now head coaches include Mike Freitag at Indiana, Kevin Grimes at California, Cameron Rast at Santa Clara, Bill Irwin at Portland, Jeff Rohrman at Wisconsin, Darren Powell at Elon, Robert McCourt at Monmouth, Jesse Cormier at Vermont, Mike Jacobs at Evansville, Brent Erwin at UCF, Kelly Findley at Butler, Leo Chappel at Columbia, Erik Ronning at Colgate, Brian Wiese at Georgetown, and Brad Agoos at Seattle University.
Anthony Adams – UMBC – The Baltimore native is a big part of the UMBC soccer program and youth soccer in general in the talent rich Baltimore area. He has served as assistant coach at his alma mater under the guidance of head coach Pete Caringi for ten seasons. Adams also earned four letters as a player for Caringi at UMBC from 1992 through 1995. Caringi stated, “Anthony is very dedicated and loyal, and, as an assistant coach, those qualities are very important in any program.” Adams holds a USSF “A” coaching license. He has fielded several very successful teams at the club level as a coach of the Soccer Club of Baltimore and the Baltimore Bays including teams that have won a total of eight state cups and two regional titles.
Kevin Anderson – Boston College – Anderson has a solid background as a player at both the collegiate and professional levels and multiple years of coaching experience to draw upon. The 2006 season was Anderson’s first as an assistant at Boston College under head coach Ed Kelly. Prior to that he spend two years as an assistant coach at Columbia University and two years at his alma mater Southern Connecticut. At Southern Connecticut as a player, Anderson was an NSCAA All-American as a senior in 1992. He also is a five-year veteran of Major League Soccer playing with the Colorado Rapids and Tampa Bay Mutiny. Anderson is active in youth soccer and currently serves as a coach in the Region I Olympic Development Program.
Stan Anderson – Marquette – The 2006 season was Anderson’s first as an associate head coach at Marquette after ten years at Wisconsin-Milwaukee. At Marquette, he coaches the goalkeepers while his off-field responsibilities include recruiting, travel and community relations. Anderson made the move to Marquette from UWM along with head coach Louis Bennett. Regarding Anderson, Bennett stated, “His knowledge of college sports and especially college soccer is superb. He specializes in on-campus recruiting, knowing the right places to go and the right people to see. And he’s probably one of the top goalkeeper coaches in the country.” Under Anderson’s tenure, UWM led the Horizon League in goals against average for five straight seasons. He is also an ODP staff head coach.
Mike Benn – Lehigh – Benn has served as a full-time assistant coach at Lehigh under head coach Dean Koski for the past two seasons after serving as the head coach at East Carolina University for two years. In 2006 the Mountain Hawks were 15-2-3 overall and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tourney. In addition Lehigh had a perfect 7-0-0 mark in Patriot League play. Benn was a four-year letterwinner as a collegiate player at Lehigh and served as team captain for the 1995 squad. Koski stated, “Having my former captain and assistant coach come back to Lehigh is big news for our program. As a former head coach in Conference USA, Mike brings a wealth of recruiting and coaching experience back to Lehigh and the Patriot League.”
Scott Calabrese – Clemson – Calabrese has a track record of being a part of successful teams. The 2006 season was his fourth as an assistant coach at Clemson under the leadership of head coach Trevor Adair. Clemson has a tradition of success with a total of 26 appearances in the NCAA Tournament. In 2005 the Tigers were 15-6-3 and played their way into the Final Four. This year the Tigers were 13-5-2 and advanced to the Round of Sixteen of the NCAA Tourney. Calabrese served as an assistant coach at North Carolina during the 2000 and 2001 seasons. The Tar Heels were 42-7-0 during that two year span and won the National Championship during the 2001 season. Calabrese also served as an assistant coach with the Carolina Courage of the WUSA and at Stetson.
Jamie Clark – Notre Dame – The 2006 season was Clark’s first at Notre Dame. He made an immediate impact helping the Irish secure a 15-6-2 overall record and their first trip to the elite eight of the NCAA Tourney. Before coming to South Bend, Clark spent four seasons as an assistant at New Mexico, where he was part of the staff that guided the Lobos to the national title game in 2005. During Clark’s four year tenure at New Mexico, the Lobos were 61-16-8. Notre Dame mentor Bobby Clark stated, “Jamie comes from a program that has grown a lot over the past four years. He was very lucky to work with Jeremy Fishbein at New Mexico.” Clark graduated from Stanford in 1999 where he was a two-time All-American. Clark stated, “It’s incredible to be a part of the storied tradition at Notre Dame.”
Munga Eketebi – Florida International University – The long time Golden Panther assistant coach has been described as a “figure of strength and determination on the FIU men’s soccer sideline.” Eketebi knows what it takes to perform at the highest level. He has been a key part of the program at FIU and soccer in general in South Florida beginning with an outstanding four year tenure as a player at FIU from 1983 through 1986. Eketebi is a three-time All-America selection who found the back of the net 50 times while he was on the pitch for the Golden Panthers. Veteran FIU head coach Karl Kremser stated, “Munga has been a great addition to our program. He was the first full time soccer assistant in the history of the program and we couldn’t have gotten a better one.”
Mike Jeffries – Duke – Jeffries joined the staff at Duke in 2006 as an associate head coach under veteran Blue Devil head coach John Rennie after serving as the head coach of the University of the Incarnate Word in 2005. Prior to that Jeffries spent a year as a volunteer coach at Southern Methodist University and coached in the MLS with the Chicago Fire and the Dallas Burn from 1998 through 2003. Jeffries is no stranger to Duke soccer. He played collegiate soccer at Duke where he had a stellar career and was awarded the Hermann Trophy in 1983 after leading the Blue Devils to a 18-2-2 overall record and a number one ranking throughout the season. Jeffries played professionally for the Minnesota Strikers and the Dallas Sidekicks. He has a USSF “A” license.
Andy Fleming – Boston University – As the program’s recruiting coordinator, Fleming has done an outstanding job of attracting top-level talent to BU, from the domestic as well as international ranks. During his tenure Fleming has attracted seven high school All-Americans to BU. He has served as an assistant coach under head coach Neil Roberts for the past ten seasons and was named the programs first ever associate head coach in 2004. Fleming has served as a national scout for Adidas and their Elite Soccer Program. As a player, Fleming was a two-year captain at Marist College where he was also a two-time Academic Honor Roll selection. He holds an “A” License from the U.S. Soccer Federation and an NSCAA Advance Diploma.
Paul McDonough – Connecticut – The 2006 season was McDonough’s fourth as an assistant coach at Connecticut under head coach Ray Reid. Reid describes McDonough as “a tireless worker, whose insight and energy make him invaluable.” McDonough serves as the recruiting coordinator for the Huskies and assists in all aspects of the day-to-day operation of the program. He has played a key role in attracting top recruits to Connecticut including a 2006 class that was considered among the best in the country. Before coming to Connecticut, McDonough was an assistant for two years at South Carolina under head coach Mark Berson and an assistant for three seasons at Wake Forest under head coach Jay Vidovich. McDonough was named the 2005 NSCAA College Assistant Coach of the Year.
Jason Mims – Creighton – The Memphis, Tennessee native has served as an assistant coach at Creighton under head coach Bob Warming for six seasons. Mims is very familiar with Warming’s system of play as he also played under Warming from 1997 through 1999 while Warming was the head coach at Saint Louis University. Warming stated, “Jason is full of energy and enthusiasm for the game. Those attributes are contagious and his ability to get the most out of our guys every day is something special in a young coach.” Warming added, “He always wants to be on the field and will expect the same from everyone on the team.” Mims duties at Creighton include assisting with scouting, recruiting, training the field players, and other day-to-day operations.”
Bobby Muuss – Wake Forest – Muss has served as the top assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Demon Deacons under head coach Jay Vidovich for the past six years. Vidovich stated, “Bobby brings a lot to the table. He comes from a tremendous lineage and the energy, enthusiasm and the commitment he brings will push our players to the next level.” Muuss works extensively with the Wake Forest netminders and also assists in all aspects of the day-to-day operations of the program. During Muuss’ tenure in Winston Salem the Deacons have earned six straight NCAA Tourney berths and advanced to the College Cup in 2006 for the first time in the history of the program. Prior to coming to Wake Forest Muuss was an assistant at Connecticut for four years. Muuss serves as the North Carolina ODP Director of Goalkeeping and is actively involved in youth soccer.
Jeff Negalha – North Carolina – The 2006 season was Negalha’s second as an assistant coach in Chapel Hill where he assists in all aspects of the program and also serves as the Tar Heels goalkeeper coach. North Carolina’s 2006 recruiting class was ranked as the third best in the country by College Soccer News. Before coming to North Carolina, Negalha served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at South Florida for two seasons during which time he played a key role in attracting two very talented and top ranked recruiting classes to South Florida. Before that Negalha coached at his alma mater, the University of South Carolina-Spartanburg, from 1999-2002 where he helped take the Rifles to an NCAA Division II Elite Eight appearance in 2002. He also is very active in youth soccer.
Marc Reeves – St. John’s – A former Red Storm midfielder, Reeves became an assistant coach at St. John’s in 1999 under head coach Dr. Dave Masur. In 2006 Reeves was named the program’s associate head coach. Masur stated, “Reeves has been involved in every aspect of our program for the last eight seasons. We’re very fortunate to have someone of his knowledge and coaching abilities.” Reeves works primarily with the program’s goalkeepers and also plays a key role in scouting and recruiting. He holds a USSF “A” National License and an NSCAA Advanced National Diploma. Reeves has been a part of a program that has earned fifteen consecutive NCAA Tournament berths and has advanced to the Round of Sixteen ten times in the past eleven years.
Damon Rensing – Michigan State – As a former four-year letterwinner and three year starter as a collegiate player at Michigan State and an All-Big Ten First Team selection as a senior., Rensing bleeds green and white. He is well acquainted with and committed to the Michigan State program. The 2006 season was Rensing’s eighth as an assistant at Michigan State under veteran head coach Joe Baum. Rensing was promoted to associate head coach following the 2004 campaign and has been involved in all aspects of the program. Rensing has been involved in youth soccer serving as a coach in the Michigan Olympic Development Program.
Fred Schlichting – UMKC – Schlichting has been on the sidelines as an assistant coach at UMKC under head coach Rick Benben for nine seasons. During that time UMKC has won two Mid-Continent Conference Championships and made two appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Schlichting’s primary responsibilities include recruiting and the day-to-day administrative duties in the soccer office. The Kangaroos advanced to the Mid-Continent Conference Tourney final in 2006 for the first time since 2003. Schlichting is very committed to the development of youth soccer in the Kansas City area and has coached several teams that have won state titles. He played collegiate soccer at Notre Dame from 1991 through 1994.
Carlos Somano – North Carolina – Somoano has served as the top assistant coach at UNC under head coach Elmar Bolowich for the past five seasons. He is actively involved in all aspects of the program, including practice and conditioning, recruiting, fund-raising, game day operations and management, alumni relations and community projects. The Tar Heels have earned eight consecutive NCAA Tourney berths. Somoano has helped recruit top rated freshman classes to Chapel Hill. Before joining the North Carolina program, Somoano was the top assistant coach at Virginia Commonwealth University under head coach Tim O’Sullivan for six seasons during which time the Rams secured an invite to the NCAA Tourney in 1997, 1998, and 1999. He is also actively involved with youth soccer.
Mike Sorber – Saint Louis University – The Saint Louis native became Dan Donigan’s first assistant coach in 2001 and has helped the Billikens earn NCAA Tourney berths in four out of the past six seasons including the 2006 campaign in which Saint Louis were 13-5-2 overall with an 8-0-1 mark in Atlantic 10 regular season play. Sorber brings a ton of competitive experience at the highest level to the table and fully understands the level of commitment, teamwork, and talent required to be the very best. Sorber had a stellar career at Saint Louis University where he was a four-year standout for the Billikens and was named a 1992 Hermann Trophy finalist his senior season. He made sixty-seven appearances as a member of the US National Team and had 116 career MLS appearances.
Eric Yamamoto – Santa Clara – Yamamoto has served as an assistant coach at Santa Clara for the past sixteen seasons including the last five under head coach Cameron Rast. He is the top assistant for the men’s soccer program at Santa Clara. A perennial powerhouse, the Broncos have earned a total of seventeen NCAA Tournament invites including four consecutive berths. In 2006 Santa Clara was 13-5-3 overall and won the West Coast Conference title. As a player, Yamamoto was an All-American goalkeeper at Santa Clara. During his tenure at Santa Clara he has worked with both the men’s and women’s programs as their goalkeeper coach and has helped develop numerous defensive standouts. Yamamoto also serves as a member of the U.S. National Team coaching staff.
Todd Yeagley – Indiana – Yeagley joined the staff at IU in 2003 after spending seven years with the Columbus Crew of the MLS. The former Indiana All-American served as a volunteer assistant coach at Indiana in 2003 before becoming a full-time assistant in 2004. Yeagley has served as a full-time assistant coach under the direction of head coach Mike Freitag for the past three seasons. During the past four years the Hoosiers are a combined 64-14-15 overall and have captured two national titles. Yeagley’s responsibilities include training the field players, recruiting, coordinating home game operations, assisting with academics, media relations and compliance. Indiana was 15-4-3 in 2006 and made their twentieth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament.