COLLEGE SOCCER NEWS ANNUALLY SEEKS TO RECOGNIZE ASSISTANT COACHES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO ARE EXCELLING AT THEIR WORK. THE 2021 HONOREES INCLUdE SEVERAL Coaches WHO HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED IN THE PAST And SEVERAL NEW FACES. Three of the 2021 selections Were Subsequnelty Named HEad Coaches In January 2022.
IN MAKING THESE SELECTIONS, WE ACKNOLEDGE UP-FRONT THAT SOME VERY DESERVING ASSISTANT COACHES WILL NOT BE INCLUDED AS IS ALWAYS THE CASE WHEN INDIVIDUALS ARE SINGLED OUR FOR RECOGNITION. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT OUR SELECTIONS TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION TEAM SUCCESS ON THE FIELD OF PLAY DURING THE 2021 SEASON WITH ADDITIONAL WEIGHT GIVEN TO CONSISTENT SUCCESS OVER SEVERAL SEASONS.
THERE ARE MANY EXCELLENT ASSISTANT COACHES IN THE COLLEGIATE RANKS WHO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON COLLEGE SOCCER AND PLAYER DEVELOPMENT. THE VERY BEST ARE EFFECTIVE TEACHERS, COMMUNICATORS, MOTIVATORS, RECRUITERS, AND AMBASSADORS FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE PROGRAMS. Many, But not necessarily all, Assistant Coaches ASPIRE TO BECOME A HEAD COACH AT SOME POINT. All SEEK TO MAKE A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIOIN IN THEIR CURRENT ROLE.
Assistant coaches recognized in past years by College Soccer News who are now head coaches include Kevin Grimes at California, Cameron Rast at Santa Clara, Bill Irwin formerly at Portland, Robert McCourt at Monmouth, Bobby Muuss at Wake Forest, Mike Jacobs formerly at Evansville, Todd Yeagley at Indiana, Jesse Cormier at FGCU, Kelly Findley at Liberty, Erik Ronning at Colgate, Brian Wiese at Georgetown, Darren Powell formerly at Elon, Damon Rensing at Michigan State, Jamie Clark at Washington, Kevin Anderson at Columbia, Sean Phillips at UIC, Eric Pogue at Oakland, Ralph Polston formerly at Wofford, Scott Calabrese at UCF, Brad Ruzzo at Mercer, Andy Fleming at Xavier, Carlos Somoano at North Carolina, Ryan Anatol at Stony Brook, Johan Cedergren at Kentucky, Jared Embick at Akron, Chris Volk formerly at UC Irvine, Kylie Stannard at Yale, Jason O’Keefe at Robert Morris, Mario Sanchez formerly at SIUE, Nick Carlin-Voight at Portland, John Murphy at Georgia Southern, Brian Maisonneuve at Ohio State, Brian Rowland at Temple, Yossi Raz at UC Irvine, Brian Gill at Penn, Zack Samol at American, Johnny Torres at Creighton, Stephen Gorton at Purdue-Fort Wayne, Leonard Griffin at Grand Canyon, Scott Buete at Salisbury University, Ryan Hopkins at San Diego State, Tommy McMenemy at Delaware, Steve Bode at Loyola Chicago, B.J. Craig at UNLV, Chase Wileman at Brown, and Rich Weinrebe at Northeastern.
 Phil Jones Associate Head Coach Clemson | Phil Jones joined head coach Mike Noonan’s staff as an assistant coach in 2010 and has served as the Associate Head Coach since 2012. During that time Clemson has reemerged as one of the top programs in the country and in the highly competitive Atlantic Coast Conference. In 2021 the Tigers won the National Championship with a 16-5-2 overall record. Jones serves as Clemson’s recruiting coordinator. He has done an excellent job of attracting talented players who are a good fit for the program’s team oriented culture. Jones plays an active role in the development of daily training sessions, the creation of tailored plans designed to help individual players succeed as student-athletes, and plays a key role in scouting and analyzing opponents. Before coming to Clemson, Jones served as an assistant coach at Brown for the 2009 season. Prior to that he served as a graduate assistant for Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. Jones played collegiate soccer at Embry Riddle from 1999 to 2002 where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication and a Master of Science in Human Factors and Systems Engineering. |
 Mike Casper Assistant Coach Georgetown | Mike Casper joined head coach Brian Wiese’s staff at Georgetown in 2019. The Hoyas won the national championship in 2019 with a 20-1-3 overall record. In 2020 the Hoyas were 10-2-2 overall and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. In 2021 Georgetown had another stellar season advancing to the College Cup and completing the season with an 18-3-1 overall record. Prior to coming to Georgetown Casper was an assistant coach at Northwestern under Tim Lenahan. Before that he was an assistant coach at Notre Dame for three seasons under Bobby Clark. Casper also served as the head coach at Saint Francis (PA.) for eight seasons with a 71-61-21 overall record and 36-26-9 mark in NEC play. Casper played collegiate soccer for four years at UMBC where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He also has a master’s degree in education leadership from Saint Francis. Casper’s resume includes an “A” License from the United Soccer Federation and an advanced regional diploma from the United Soccer Coaches. |
 BJ Craig Associate Head Coach Oregon State | BJ Craig was named the head coach at UNLV in January 2022. He joined Terry Boss’s staff at Oregon State in 2018 as the associate head coach when Boss was named the head coach. Boss stated, “BJ is an exceptional leader and will leave a lasting legacy here at Oregon State.” In 2018 Oregon State was 11-6-3, finished in the number two spot in the Pac-12, and returned to the NCAA Tournament field for the first time since 2014. The Beavers returned to the NCAA Tournament field again in 2020 and had a stellar barrier breaking 2021 season in which they were awarded the number one seed in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time in program history. Craig spent ten seasons as a member of the coaching staff at Notre Dame including five as the associate head coach. While at Notre Dame he was named a top assistant coach by College Soccer News three times. Before coming to South Bend he was an assistant coach for a year at Louisville under Ken Lolla. Craig served as the head coach at Saint Francis from 2003 to 2006 and posted a 31-31-13 overall record. |
 Paul Doroh Associate Head Coach Oakland | Paul Doroh joined head coach Eric Pogue’s staff at Oakland as an assistant coach in 2016 and was promoted to Associate Head Coach in 2020. Pogue has praised Dorah for the role he has played in the success the Oakland program has enjoyed. The Golden Grizzlies are coming off a banner 2021 campaign during which they won the Horizon League regular season and tournament titles and earned the programs first ever berth in the NCAA Tournament. Before Doroh came to Oakland he was a member of the coaching staff at Saginaw Valley State. He was a four-year starter, team captain, and All-America selection as a defender at Oakland. As a former student athlete who continues to make a contribution as a coach, Doroh is a positive reflection on the Oakland program and college soccer in general. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Oakland and graduated from the Thomas Cooley Law School with a Juris Doctor Degree in 2008. |
 Kris Bertsch Assistant Coach Saint Louis | Kris Bertsch joined the coaching staff at Saint Louis when head coach Kevin Kalish became the seventh head coach in Billiken men’s soccer history in 2018. During that time he has helped the program steadily move upward. Saint Louis finished the 2021 season with a 16-1-4 record, secured the Atlantic 10 Conference regular season and tournament titles, advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2003, and was ranked as the number six team in the country in the College Soccer News 2021 Season Ending poll. Before coming to Saint Louis, Bertsch served under Andy Fleming at Xavier for five seasons including three as the Associate Head Coach. While at Xavier he was named a top assistant coach by College Soccer News for three consecutive seasons. Prior to that he honed his skills as an assistant coach at Syracuse and Connecticut. Kalish stated, “From the moment Kevin and I spoke about the future of the Saint Louis soccer program, it was very clear we shared the same views that winning is and always will be the byproduct of doing things the right way. |
 Rich Weinrebe Associate Head Coach New Hampshire | Rich Weinrebe was named the head coach at Northeastern on January 24, 2022. Before that he served as the Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at New Hampshire for eight seasons on Marc Hubbard’s staff. During his time at New Hampshire, Weinreber did an excellent job in the recruitment and development of talented players. Hubbard stated, “Rich definitely left this program in a much better place than when he started and we wish him nothing but the very best because that is what he deserves.” During Weinrebe’s tenure as member of the coaching staff at New Hampshire the Wildcats became a force in the America East Conference winning the America East Tournament title in 2018, 2019 and 2020. They also earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament for five consecutive seasons (2017 through 2021). In 2021 New Hampshire had a banner 17-2-2 record that established a new program record for wins in a single season. The Wildcats finished the season as the number nine team in the nation in both the United Soccer Coaches and College Soccer News Season Ending polls. Before joining the coaching staff at New Hampshire in 2014, Weinrebe served on the coaching staff at Southern New Hampshire University in 2012 and 2013. Weinrebe graduated from New Hampshire in 2008. He played collegiate soccer for the Wildcats for four-years and was a captain for two seasons. |
 Patrick McSorley Associate Head Coach Virginia Tech | Patrick McSorley has been a member of the coaching staff at Virginia Tech since 2008. For the past two years he has served as the associate head coach on head coach Mike Brizendine’s staff. McSorley has played a key role in the development and continuation of a winning culture and can-do environment in Blacksburg that is reflected in the success the program has enjoyed. Virginia Tech has earned six consecutive invites to the NCAA Tournament and produced talented players like midfielder Daniel Pereira who was the number one selection in the 2021 MLS Draft. Before joining the staff at Virginia Tech, McSorley served as an assistant coach and associate head coach at James Madison for six years and as the top assistant coach at Virginia Military Institute for four years. McSorley had a stellar four-year career as a college player at James Madison where he was named an All-American as a senior in 1995. He has a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s degree in sports recreation and leadership from JMU. |
 Jeff Rowland Assistant Coach Notre Dame | Jeff Rowland joined head coach Chad Riley’s staff at Notre Dame in 2021 as an assistant coach after serving on the staff at the University of Washington for ten years including three seasons as the associate head coach under the guidance of head coach Jamie Clark. Prior to that Rowland was an assistant coach at Creighton in 2010 and a volunteer assistant coach at Harvard. Rowland had a banner career as a college player at New Mexico. He led the Lobos in scoring for three seasons and was a First Team All-America selection in 2004 and 2005. Notre Dame had an outstanding season in 2021 during which the Irish won the ACC Tournament for the first time in program history and advanced to the College Cup for the second time. Rowland played a key role in the development of a revitalized and multi-dimensional Notre Dame offense that produced a total of 52 goals. He graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in marketing from New Mexico. |
 Greg Dalby Associate Head Coach Notre Dame | Greg Dalby began his tenure on the Penn State coaching staff as an assistant coach in 2018 when Jeff Cook was named the Nittany Lion head coach. Dalby was promoted to Associate Head Coach in 2020. Dalby is involved in all aspects of the program including recruiting, the development of training sessions, player development, and camp planning. Prior to joining the coaching staff at Penn State, Dalby was the lead assistant coach at Davidson College from 2015-2017. Before that he served as an assistant coach at Notre Dame under Bobby Clark. Dalby played college soccer for four-years at Notre Dame and was a two-year team captain. He was an NSCAA first -team All-American in 2005 and 2006. Dalby subsequently played professional soccer for seven years including two seasons for the Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer Club. The Nittany Lions won the Big Ten Tournament title in 2021 for the first time since 2005 and punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the third season in a row for the first time since 1993-95. |
 Kevin Robson Associate Head Coach Indiana | Kevin Robson joined coach Todd Yeagley’s staff in 2013 as a volunteer assistant coach. In 2014 he became a full time assistant coach. Robson became IU’s recruiting coordinator in 2017 and was named associate head coach prior to the 2021 season. In addition to recruiting, his duties include compliance and academic liaison, scouting opponents and team training. Robson has also been active in youth soccer in the Bloomington area serving as the head coach of Alliance FC from 2014-2019 and as the club’s technical director. Robson understands the Indiana culture and is an ambassador for the program having played college soccer for the Hoosiers for four-years including the 2003 and 2004 national championship teams. He graduated from IU in 2007 with a degree in communications and broadcasting. During the eight years that Robson has been a member of the IU coaching staff the Hoosiers are 117-27-29 overall and have earned a seed in the NCAA Tournament each season. |
 Dane Brenner Associate Head Coach Wake Forest | Dane Brenner has been a key part of a Demon Deacon coaching staff under head coach Bobby Muuss that has experienced a level of success on the field of play and in terms of the number of players who have had the opportunity to play at the next level that few programs have had. The Demon Deacons are 115-26-12 over the past seven seasons. Brenner is in his 12th season as a member of the coaching staff at Wake Forest. In 2018 he was promoted to associate head coach. He works primarily with the team’s defensive unit and goalkeepers and also serves as the program’s recruiting coordinator. Before coming to Wake Forest, Brenner was an assistant coach at Connecticut for four years under Ray Reid. Brenner graduated from South Florida in 2006 where he was a four-year starter in goal for the Bulls and team captain for three years. |
 Grant Porter Assistant Coach North Carolina | Grant Porter has served as an assistant coach at the University of North Carolina on the staff of head coach Carlos Somoano for eleven years. He assists in all aspects of the program from the development of practice sessions to recruiting. As a UNC graduate, player, and now coach he can speak with conviction and insight about the merits of playing collegiate soccer in Chapel Hill. Porter began his coaching career by serving as the head assistant coach at Georgia State for two seasons. While at Georgia State he earned a master’s degree in sport administration. He subsequently served as an assistant coach at UC Santa Barbara in 2005. He then returned to the state of North Carolina to serve as the Director of Soccer for the Charlotte United Futbol Club from 2006 through 2010 while also serving as the head soccer coach at Charlotte Country Day School in 2009 and 2010. Porter was a four-year starter as a college player at North Carolina from 2000 through 2003 and was a part of the 2001 team that won the national championship. He graduated from UNC in 2004. |
 Rich Costanzo Assistant Coach Pittsburgh | Rich Costanzo joined Jay Vidovich’s staff at Pittsburgh as an assistant coach in 2017. He has been a part of Pitt’s emergence into a national power and force in the Atlantic Coast Conference under Vidovich. Pitt advanced to the Elite Eight in the 2021 NCAA Tournament with a 13-5-2 overall record. In 2020 the Panthers advanced to the College Cup for the first time in program history with a 16-4-0 overall record. Before coming to Pitt, Costanzo was an assistant coach at Army for three years under the guidance of then Army head coach Russell Payne. Costanzo’s has a United States Soccer Federation “A” Coaching License and a National Soccer Coaches Association Premier Diploma. He is also a U.S. Soccer Network Scout evaluating players for the US National Team system and has been active in the development of youth players in the Pittsburgh area. In 2014 he founded the Pittsburgh Soccer Academy. Costanzo began his collegiate career at Penn State where he was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2004. He subsequently transferred to the University of Maryland where he was a team captain in 2008 and helped the Terps win the National Championship. Costanzo graduated from Maryland with a Bachelor of Science degree in General Business. |
 Chase Wileman Associate Head Coach Kentucky | Chase Wileman was named the head coach at Brown on January 18, 2022. Prior to that he served under head coach Johan Cedergren at Kentucky as an assistant coach from 2014 through 2017 and as the associate head coach from 2018 through 2021. During Wileman’s eight tenure at in Lexington, the Wildcats earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament seven times and had a 100-36-22 overall record. Cedergren stated, “He (Wileman) is among the best coaches I have ever worked with, and he has been a huge part of our success here at Kentucky.” Before coming to Kentucky, Wileman served as an assistant coach and head recruiter at Dartmouth from 2011 through 2013. He played college soccer at SMU for four-years during which time the Mustangs earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament three times. Wileman served as a team captain at SMU in 2006 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in markets and culture. |
 Richard Reece Assistant Coach Washington | Richard Reece is representative of a number of long-term assistant coaches who add value and consistency to a college soccer program and also contribute to the development of youth soccer players. Reece serves as an assistant coach and goalkeeping coach on head coach Jamie Clark’s staff at the University of Washington. He was associated with the Washington program from 2004-2009 before leaving to become a full-time director and coach with the Washington Crossfire Club. He returned to Washington in 2011 as an assistant coach working primarily with the Husky goalkeepers and defensive unit when Clark became the head coach. Reece is also a Director at Seattle United and has worked in the past with both the men’s and women’s youth national teams. He has a UEFA “A” license and USFF “A” coaching license. Credit Reece for his part in contributing to the elevation of the program at Washington. In 2021 the Huskies were 18-2-2 and advanced to the College Cup for the first time in the history of the program. |
 David Janezic Associate Head Coach St. John’s | David Janezic has over 20 years of experience as a coach and collegiate player. Janezic has been a member of head coach Dr. David Masur’s staff at St. John’s for the past five years. In 2021 he was promoted to associate head coach. Janezic’s duties include serving as the program’s recruiting coordinator, strength and conditioning, and game day operations. Masur stated, “During his time with the program, he (Janezic) has not only made very noticeable strides in our recruiting efforts, but he has made key contributions to our training and game-planning efforts that have translated to on-field success.” The Johnnies were 11-6-3 in 2021, earned the program’s 22nd berth in the NCAA Tournament, and advanced to the second round. Before coming to St. John’s, Janezic was an assistant coach at Fairleigh Dickinson under head coach Seth Roland. Prior to that he was an assistant coach at NJIT for three seasons and in 2012 served as the head coach at Brookdale Community College where he was named the Garden State Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. Janezic’s resume also includes serving as an assistant coach at Monmouth, serving as Director of Coaching for the Hazler Soccer Association, and serving as an assistant coach at Division II Caldwell College. He has a USSF “A” license. Janezic played college soccer for Monmouth from 1992-1996 where he was a team captain for two-years. |
