Dec. 13, 2004

USF head soccer coach Erik Visser, who led the Dons to the West Coast Conference Championship and a 14-5-1 mark, has been named 2004 adidas/NSCAA Division I Far West Region Men's "Coach of the Year." Visser, who was previously named West Coast Conference "Coach of the Year" was selected in balloting by the coaches in the region.

He is eligible for the national award that will be presented on January 14th, 2005 at the NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) convention in Baltimore Maryland.

Visser took a team that was 9-10-1 the previous season and took them to the West Coast Conference regular season title with a 9-3 mark. All three of USF's losses in league were by just one goal, and two in overtime. The Dons were 10-3 in one-goal games and won ten of their last 11 WCC contests.

"It is a great honor to be selected by my fellow coaches," said Visser. "It is a team award, as well. The team bought into the philosophy and worked hard all season. The championship was their reward. It was a great season for us as we won the WCC in the first season that a double round robin was played. Aaron Chandler was named "Player of the Year" in our league and we hosted an NCAA playoff game. We are very excited about the direction that the program is going, and this season will be a springboard to more success."

Visser is a graduate of USF and was a member of the 1980 USF NCAA championship squad. In addition to his stint as an assistant to the legendary Stephen Negoesco after he graduated, he also was the first coach of the USF women's program.

Division I Men Regional Coaches of Year: Far West, Eric Visser, San Francisco ; Great Lakes, Tim Lenahan, Northwestern; Mid Atlantic, Manfred Shellscheidt, Seton Hall; Midwest, Schellas Hyndman, Southern Methodist; New England, Neil Roberts, Boston University; New York, Ian McIntyre, Hartwick