Hot Seat 2025-2026

Im not knocking the hire of George Kiefer. Its a good hire

My point was the trend for ADs has been young up and comer for the most part. Yes there has been exceptions, but for the most part in these cycles, the hot new commodity has been the way to go from and admin perspective.

 

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.... but the coaches who have won the majority of National Championships over the last 10-15 years have been the more experienced coaches... Noonan, Gunn, Clark, Gelnovatch, Cirovski, McIntyre all over 50 and no one under 40. For sure a mid-major (which I don't consider USF to be) has had success hiring the D2 Coach with international recruiting connections but this year's College Cup participants have an average of 18 Years Division I Coaching Experience.

 

Safest coach in college soccer this morning: Chaka Daley.

 

https://gopsusports.com/sports/mens-soccer

Officially official

 

Well, that's a pretty good hire.

 

So I hope PSU fans recognize just how rare it is to hire a head men's soccer coach who has already won a D-I national title. Like, twice, ever.

Several coaches who have won titles have left for the pros (or US Soccer) - Steve Sampson, Sigi, Bruce, Caleb Porter, Jay Vidovich briefly. But leaving a school where you won a national title for another school? You gotta go back a ways.

In 2002, Tom Fitzgerald won a national title at UCLA. After the 2003 season, he took over at D-II Tampa, where he'd previously coached in the 80s and 90s (and won a D-II national title) before going to coach in MLS. That's the last time it happened. (Sadly, Fitzgerald died in a motorcycle accident soon after returning to Tampa).

Before that, as best I can see it was in 1967, when Bob Guelker left Saint Louis, which he'd built into the preeminent power in college soccer, to go across the river and coach at SIU-Edwardsville (which he also turned into a national power).

Part of this is coaches rarely look to leave a good thing and part of it is that most of the schools that win in men's soccer are already at power conferences and/or can pay very well already. The Vermonts of the soccer world don't win trophies very often. And a coach going from one power - IU, Clemson, UCLA, etc... - to another doesn't happen much because it's basically a lateral move. This is the rare instance where a national title winning coach is actually moving up in conference level.

Incidentally, Guelker and Fitzgerald are two of 4 coaches to have won D-II and D-I national titles along with Ray Reid and Jeremy Gunn.

Guelker is the only coach to have won D-I titles at two different schools. PSU can only hope to have similar success with Rob Dow.

 

I see that one of the GCU starting defenders has already transferred to USF with the Kiefer move. A 21 year old "freshman". Making me feel lucky that my high school graduate made it onto a team roster at all. Wonder if Diop and his 18 freshman goals (and others) will be joining them as well.

 

Part of Vermont's statement:

"We're fortunate to have someone of Brad Cole's ability to step in as our interim head coach effective immediately," stated Schulman. "A native Vermonter and UVM Soccer alum, Brad has accumulated experience at top programs throughout the country and has played an instrumental role in every aspect of our program since taking over as Associate Head Coach three years ago. Brad will be considered for the permanent head coaching position, and we look forward to making an announcement about the status of the search in the coming days."

I'd imagine that they will announce Brad Cole as the new head coach as soon as they satisfy all state laws requiring posting open positions.

 

I believe that you mean Junior Diouf. I wouldn't be shocked if he goes MLS GA though he's not at the showcase. We'll see.

 

Yes, I meant Junior Diouf. Thanks for the correction.

 

I wonder if the UVM athletic director/department would have Kyle Dezotell on their minds as a replacement for Dow. They could potentially hire Dezotell to take over as HC and keep Brad Cole as Associate HC. I had heard that Dezotell was on their short list the last time UVM was searching; not sure if he officially interviewed or if it was informal or what.

 

Elmar leaving to go to Creighton from UNC.

 

Thanks for the catch. Completely slipped my mind.

 

https://www.higheredjobs.com/search/details.cfm?JobCode=179319458&Title=Assistant Women's Soccer Coach

I wonder if this job posting indicates there will be an imminent announcement on the men's side at WIU.

 

After serious consideration, I think that I would prefer Sandon Mibut than Snowon MiBals especially given the current cold streak.

 

This was predictable...

https://goleathernecks.com/news/202...es-kooten-johnson-head-mens-soccer-coach.aspx

 

Nepotism much?

 

At the family cookout. Those can get kinda messy.

 

I’m hearing Kris Bertsch to Grand Canyon.

 

Vermont move quickly demonstrating the commitment to keeping the program at a high level: https://uvmathletics.com/news/2025/12/17/mens-soccer-adrian-dubois-named-head-mens-soccer-coach.aspx

 

It's pretty well accepted that his father was a great servant to Western Illinois. Kooten has enough experience to warrant a shot at the position. There have been far worse cases of "nepotism" in college athletics.

In my opinion, this was an easy hire for Western.