Thought this was interesting from the BU side as well. They had two Associate Head Coaches with 13+ years at the job, both by-passed. (does not say much for the title) Will be interesting to see his staff going forward. I have enjoyed watching the Patty League over the last couple of years. They have a few MLS draft picks last couple of years.
A bit more on Nylen: “We had to make a decision in terms of how you want to raise your kids, where you want to be,” Nylen said. “If you have the opportunity and it aligns, you take it. It has with BU, and this is truly a great opportunity.” BU's program had slipped, with three straight losing seasons and last recording double-digit wins in 2015. Last fall’s 4-12-1 record was the program’s worst record-wise since 1984, the last year Hank Steinbrecher was head coach before Roberts took over. If all goes to plan, Nylen can restore BU’s proud history. “What we now have to do is get that energy, that passion, that injection back,” Nylen said. “It’s getting BU soccer back to competing for championships again, and winning as much as you can. It’s easier said than done because there’s a lot of work to reach that point, but that’s known.” Nylen, 38, is relatively young in terms of coaching experience. He’s only been at the collegiate level since 2009, when he began as an Amherst assistant under Justin Serpone, then worked from 2010-12 at Boston College under Ed Kelly. His comparatively-late entry is explained by a six-year USL playing career, after he was an All-American and Northeast 10 Defensive Player of the Year at Saint Anselm, a Division 2 program in Manchester, N.H. That background gives Nylen a deep understanding of the landscape he enters, but there are tall challenges in the Patriot League. This year’s title for Lehigh snapped a three-year run for Colgate, and the Terriers have never won the conference since coming over from America East in 2013. The only Patriot League program in a major city, BU arguably has an upper hand in the recruiting game. But translating that into players capable of making NCAA tournament runs won’t happen overnight." NE Soccer Journal * Interesting the author didn't ask if Nylen had an interest in BC as well where spent some time as an AC.
Filled College of Charleston - Keith Wiggans (CofC associate head coach) Incarnate Word - Kiki Lara (Eastern Illinois head coach) Harvard - Josh Shapiro (Tufts head coach) George Mason - Elmar Bolowich (Jacksonville Armada academy director) UMKC - Ryan Pore (Tulsa assistant) Central Connecticut State - Dave Kelly (interim - CCSU assistant) Boston University - Kevin Nylen (FIU head coach) San Diego State - Ryan Hopkins (Virginia assistant) Vacant UNC Asheville Boston College Drexel West Virginia Eastern Illinois Purdue Fort Wayne
Filled College of Charleston - Keith Wiggans (CofC associate head coach) Incarnate Word - Kiki Lara (Eastern Illinois head coach) Harvard - Josh Shapiro (Tufts head coach) George Mason - Elmar Bolowich (Jacksonville Armada academy director) UMKC - Ryan Pore (Tulsa assistant) Central Connecticut State - Dave Kelly (interim - CCSU assistant) Boston University - Kevin Nylen (FIU head coach) San Diego State - Ryan Hopkins (Virginia assistant) West Virginia - Daniel Stratford (Charleston head coach) Vacant UNC Asheville Boston College Drexel Eastern Illinois Purdue Fort Wayne Florida International
One of those opening schools is not like the others... there was some chatter in here about an issue, which didn’t appear to be confirmed. They just had football turnover and I don’t see an assistant AD dedicated to the non-revenue sports. Perhaps they were consumed with the football staffing question? Seems notable an ACC school would have an opening for 60 days after a retirement when many other schools have filled positions faster after losing someone less expectedly.
Well probably hiring the assistant but don't have to pay him so from a $$$ point it makes sense. This is soccer!
SDSU getting the word out on Tues: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.co...-ryan-hopkins-virginia-assistant-lev-kirshner Say Hopkins was hired over a few HC's to improve in Pac.
“Ryan has great experience building programs into consistent championship contenders,” Athletic Director John David Wicker. Huh....Building???? Virginia has been winning championships for 30 yrs....Denver was one and done??????
Fairly sure his CV is more than qualified, Fish. Working with such a vast number of programs, all having found success, etc .The likes of Bobby Muus, George Gelnovatch, and more have worked with him and recognize his ability on the coaching front - I trust their opinions. Not sure what you're trying to get at.
If it was only meant to point out the word “building” it may be a fair off-hand comment regarding the statement itself, not criticism of the coach. (Hopefully) We get to see a lot of coaching hires because of this thread and this guy does have a fine pedigree. Hopefully he and SDSU are successful. Seems GK is a good role for future coaches...Ive seen several that have come through that position.
Was having a go at the ADs comment. Nothing against the coach. Give the coach credit for working at an established program for a few years and then having the sand to leave and be his own man. All the best to him.
Already posted, I know. New West Virginia men’s soccer coach is Dan Stratford. 61-4-5 record HC of 2 time D2 national champions Charleston WV. Coach for last 3 years? Excellent choice! MAC just improved.
The last D-I men's soccer head coach hired in the state of West Virginia was also a Charleston head coach. Marshall hired Chris Grassie and he turned that program around. winning Conference USA last fall and making the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Stratford replaced Grassie at Charleston and obviously won a lot of games there. He's also a WVU grad so for a lot of reasons, this is an obvious and seemingly good fit. Stratford also played briefly in MLS with DC United, which makes another former MLS player now coaching a D-I side.
With Stratford's hiring, I have 22 former MLS players currently as D-I head coaches. Please let me know if I'm forgetting or overlooking anyone. Kevin Anderson - Columbia Terry Boss - Oregon State Jamie Clark - Washington Chaka Daley - Michigan Chris Gbandi - Northeastern George Gelnovatch - Virginia Leonard Griffin - San Francisco John Michael Hayden - Louisville Aidan Heaney - UNC Wilmington Ian Hennessy - Delaware Kris Kelderman - Milwaukee John Kerr - Duke Brian Maisonneuve - Ohio State Richard Mulrooney - Memphis Bo Oshoniyi - Dartmouth Russell Payne - Army Ryan Pore - UMKC Dan Stratford - West Virginia Johnny Torres - Creighton Sinisa Ubiparipovic - Cleveland State Joey Worthen - Florida Atlantic Todd Yeagley - Indiana
On paper, it's a tough job. It's not a very appealing campus location - it's a crowded campus slowly expanding outward like an academic urban renewal project. They are competing as an add-on just so PAC12 will have enough teams to qualify as an auto-bid conference, and they fumbled the chance to be a fullup member of Big West a couple of years ago (they were the premier team in the old PCAA before that conference dropped football and rebranded itself as BW). UCSD is transitioning to DI now, so the local competition just doubled. For a top-level recruit, of whom the San Diego area produces a handful every year, SDSU will now be the third local choice.
And it's official (finally): Bob Thompson is taking over at BC, and I couldn't be more pleased. Bob's been a friend for many years https://bceagles.com/news/2020/1/23/thompson-named-mens-soccer-head-coach.aspx
I live in north San Diego and that’s just untrue. USD is crazy expensive and a lot of San Diego folks just aren’t fans of the high school setting and so so academics. It’s not like you’re getting an elite degree for all that money. And UCSD will be very underfunded and the coaches have been told not to expect much sway in admissions for their athletes. And the campus life and vibe of that school is awesome in my eyes. And I’m in my 40’s. We’ve been on campus a bunch for different stuff and it’s frankly a tomb. Great academics but.... If SDSU soccer gets rolling they won’t only be the top choice in San Diego, but in OC as well. Pac 12 competition, great location, rising academics...from someone who looked down on SDSU as a so cal native, living in the area has been an eye opener to how SDSU is a big draw. It consistently is in the top 3 most applied to schools in the country. Look at their other sports: it has a ton of potential for men’s soccer.
Good hire. Was a good player for BC and his paid his dues in the local youth and college coaching scene. Definitely should get first dibs on the local talent that doesn't want to leave New England. Tangentially related, Thompson spent part of the 2004 season with the Revs but never played a first-team game for them (even in the Open Cup). I'll let others decided if that's good enough for the "former MLS player turned D-I head coach" list.