Sat August 30, 2008
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George Kuntz is the men's head soccer coach at UC Irvine and has been a NCAA collegiate head coach for 17 years. He was named NSCAA/adidas Far West Region Coach of the Year following the 2006 season. In 2006, the team was ranked as high as number No. 1 in the West region and 7th in the nation. The team finished second in the Big West Conference and Kuntz was named Coach of the Year for the sixth time in his college career. The Anteaters finished second in the Big West in 2001, third in 2003 and 2005 and fourth in 2002. In 2005, UCI had three first team All-Big West players including the Big West Offensive Player of the Year, Brad Evans. The team set a school record for most shutouts in a season (10) and ranked 13th in shutout percentage (0.50) and 19th in goals against average (0.84) in the nation. The team also set a school record with an undefeated streak of 10 consecutive games and had players earn Big West Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year honors. He guided UCI to their first-ever post-season appearance in 2000, reaching the conference tournament semi-final. The Anteaters finished the 2000 season at 12-8-1, recording the most wins since 1984. He was named 2001 Big West Coach of the Year and the 2000 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Coach of the Year. Kuntz came to UCI from Pepperdine where he was the first women's soccer head coach; recording a 23-11-2 record in the first two seasons of the program's existence. Kuntz began his collegiate coaching career at California Lutheran University in 1988 and compiled a five-year record of 60-27-10 (.670). The Kingsmen won the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) titles in 1991 and 1992 and advanced to the NCAA Far West Regional title game. In 1989 founded the women's soccer program at California Lutheran University and recorded a 51-24-1 (.678) record from 1989-1992. California Lutheran's women's team was ranked No. 1 in the Far West region and No. 3 in the nation in 1992 with a 17-4 record. Kuntz led the team to SCIAC championships in 1991 and 1992. The team went to the NCAA Far West final in 1992. Kuntz has coached four National Championship teams in the Donnelly Cup since being named the California Soccer Association Head Coach for both the men and women. The California State Select Men's Team won National Championships in 2003, 2004 and 2005. His women's California State Select won the national title in 2006, the regional title in 2004 and, participated in the National Final Four in 2005. Kuntz is a 1989 graduate of Arizona State University and holds a bachelor's degree in communication arts. He graduated with a Master's degree in education with an emphasis in curriculum and instruction from California Lutheran University. He holds a United States Soccer Federation "A" license, National Youth License, and the National Soccer Coaches Association Advanced National Diploma. Kuntz is a member of the NSCAA National Ranking Committee and has been the Technical Director and Director of Coaches Education for the Hawaii Youth Soccer Association for seven years. He served as the Director of Coaching for the California Youth Soccer Association - South for eight years and was the catalyst for mandatory licensing for youth soccer coaches in the United States. He was named 1995 CYSA - South Boy's Coach of the Year. Kuntz was also director of the Olympic Development Program from 1992-96. The Federation International Football Association (FIFA) hired him as an Assistant Technical Advisor in 1994 for the World Cup. Kuntz played at Westmont College, San Diego Mesa College, and Scottsdale College during his collegiate years and was drafted by the Phoenix Fire of the American Professional Soccer League. Awards/Honors
Coaching Career:
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