Soccer - M | 2/10/2015 10:15:00 AM

BURNABY, BC – Simon Fraser University Senior Director of Athletics Dr. Milton Richards has promoted associate head coach Clint Schneider to head coach of the Clan men's soccer program it was announced today. Schneider, 33, becomes just the fifth head coach in program history.
 
Schneider replaces Alan Koch, who resigned earlier this month to become head coach of Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2), the new USL PRO team of Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Schneider has coached with Koch for all five seasons the Clan has competed in NCAA, and when Koch was the head coach at Baker University in Kansas (2007 & 2008). In addition to coaching the full Clan varsity team, Schneider was responsible for recruiting, scouting and goalkeepers.
 
"Clint has been such an integral part of our men's soccer program's success in NCAA that I didn't feel it necessary to conduct a coaching search," said Richards. "The best coach to lead our program, and to build on the success we have experienced, is already part of our family." 
 
SFU is Canada's only university competing in NCAA, and since joining Division II in 2010, SFU has compiled a win-loss-draw record of 85-12-6 with two Final Four appearances in the national championship tournament (2012 and 2013). In Schneider's second season at SFU in 2011, the Clan was unbeaten and ranked No. 1 in the NCAA national polls but the university was ineligible for post-season play. This year the Clan made its third consecutive national post-season tournament appearance but was eliminated in the first round. The team had an 11-5-2 record.
 
 "I am honored to be given this once in a lifetime opportunity to lead such a prestigious and successful program," said Schneider, a native of San Angelo, TX. "It is a tremendous privilege to be entrusted with this program and to manage this outstanding group of student-athletes."
 
"Alan is an amazing mentor, coach and friend," continued Schneider. "I have had an opportunity to work with one of the best coaches in the business for almost a decade and he has helped me to develop the skills necessary to continue to build upon the foundation already in place."
 
Schneider will be assisted by former Major League Soccer player and Canadian International, Kevin Harmse, who joined the university as an assistant coach with the men's program in fall 2014. The 30-year-old Harmse played professionally for 12 years and spent time with five different clubs in his MLS career, including three seasons with Whitecaps FC and two seasons with Toronto FC, and he was a member of LA Galaxy during David Beckham's first season in Los Angeles.
 
"Clint has given everything he has to help the team be successful over the last few years, and is thoroughly deserving of this opportunity," said Koch. "He gets college athletics, understands the demands placed on being an SFU student-athlete, and he will do everything he can to give our players the best experience possible. He is an excellent coach and I know that he can help the team get back to the NCAA tournament again."
 
Schneider has head coaching experience with the Okanagan Challenge in the Pacific Coast Soccer League. In 2009, under Schneider's leadership, the Challenge won the regular season title, the post-season title and the John F. Kennedy Cup. The Kennedy Cup is a tournament between the best British Columbia, Oregon and Washington State men's teams.
 
Schneider holds a NSCAA Advanced National Diploma, a USSF "D" License, a NSCAA Advanced National Goalkeeper Diploma and a CSA Provincial Goalkeeper Diploma. He graduated from Angelo State with a Bachelor's degree and obtained his Master's Degree in Liberal Arts from Baker University in 2008.
 
Schneider was a goalkeeper at Midwestern State University in Texas (NCAA D2) from 2001 to 2003 and began his coaching career as an assistant coach at The Darlington School Soccer Academy in Georgia in 2005. He then teamed-up with Koch at Baker University (NAIA) in Kansas from 2007 and 2008, and served as an assistant coach at Southwestern University (NCAA D3) in 2009, before joining SFU.
 
Simon Fraser is Canada's only university competing in NCAA with 17 men's and women's varsity sports and 400 student-athletes who get access to the NCAA athletic experience and a Canadian education.