Head Soccer Coach

March 3, 2003

 

 

03/03/03

 


CONTACT:
Chris Hughes
Sports Info Dir.
(323) 343-5308

 


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Chris Chamides Named
Head Men's and Women's
Soccer Coach at Cal State L.A.

Comes to CSULA from Major League Soccer's San Jose Earthquakes

LOS ANGELES -- Cal State L.A. director of athletics Carol M. Dunn today announced the hiring of Chris Chamides (pronounced sham - uh - deez) as head coach for the Golden Eagle men's and women's soccer programs.

Chamides brings nearly a decade of soccer coaching experience to Cal State L.A., from high school to NAIA to NCAA Division I to the pros. Isabelle Harvey, who has served as interim head men's and women's soccer coach for the past year, will remain with the Golden Eagles as an assistant coach, the same position she held during the 2001 season.

"I've been warmly welcomed by the Cal State L.A. family and thank them for the opportunity to be head coach," Chamides said. "There's a lot of work to be done, but I'm looking forward to meeting the players and getting started. Our immediate goals will be to recruit quality student-athletes and win soccer games. We want to build a men's and women's program that will work hard, play disciplined soccer and show a strong team spirit."

Chamides comes to Cal State L.A. from Major League Soccer's San Jose Earthquakes, where he served as senior director of soccer from 2000-02. Chamides was directly involved in all facets of the Earthquakes' organization, including roster development. Chamides helped build the San Jose squad which won the 2001 MLS Cup in a worst-to-first turnaround, a roster which included current USA National Team members Landon Donovan and Jeff Agoos.

From 1997-99, Chamides was head men's and women's soccer coach at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla. The Flagler women's team improved from 2-15 prior to his arrival to 12-7 in 1998. The men's squad was ranked as high as 17th in the country while four Flagler players were named All-American during Chamides tenure. During that same span, Chamides was a coach in the Florida Olympic Development Program (ODP) and was hired as head coach in 1999 for the USL's expansion Jacksonville Jade.

Chamides' first head coaching job came in 1993, when he worked with both the JV and varsity boys soccer teams at his alma mater Xaverian High School in Brooklyn, N.Y. In 1994, he also revived the S.C. Gjoa U-16 boys club team in Brooklyn, leading the squad to the State Cup.

In 1993, Chamides was tabbed by then-Virginia head coach (now current USA National Team coach) Bruce Arena as a staff coach at UVA's summer soccer camps. In 1995, Chamides earned his first role as a collegiate coach, becoming an assistant for the UMass women's team. During his two seasons in Amherst, UMass was ranked as high as No. 6 in the country, won two Atlantic-10 titles, made two "sweet 16" appearances in the NCAA tournament and compiled a 30-9-3 record.

Chamides played collegiately at Lafayette (NCAA Division I, Patriot League) from 1989-92, helping the Leopards to a Patriot League runner-up finish in 1990 and being named a team captain as a senior. Lafayette posting a winning record in each of his four seasons, compiling a combined 43-32-5 (.569) mark.

"We're very fortunate to have someone of Chris' caliber lead our men's and women's soccer programs," Dunn said. "He's proven himself a winner as both a Division I player and coach and has successfully turned around programs at both the collegiate and professional levels. We are delighted he is part of our Golden Eagle family."

Chamides owns an "A" license from the U.S. Soccer Federation and has an advanced national diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. He will begin his duties at Cal State L.A. on April 1, 2003.

 

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