College Soccer News annually recognizes twenty assistant coaches across the country who are excelling at their work.  Our selections for 2004 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. 

 

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 last year who are now head coaches include Mike Freitag at Indiana University,  Robert McCourt at Monmouth and Jesse Cormier at Vermont.   Selections from prior years who have moved from assistant to head coaches include California’s Kevin Grimes, Santa Clara’s Cameron Rast, Wisconsin’s Jeff Rohrman, and Portland’s Bill Irwin.