Alan Koch a native of Durban, South Africa will enter his fifth season as head coach of the SFU men's soccer program in 2012. Koch, now a proud Canadian citizen, is the quickest coach in SFU history to get to the 50-win milestone. He has an overall head coach record of 90-27-2 (68-11-2 at SFU), and a .756 winning percentage. He has earned four consecutive Conference Coach of the Year awards since arriving on the hill.
Koch led the Clan to an 18-0-1 record in 2011, behind a slew of young talent combined with veteran leadership. In their provisional year competing as a NCAA Division II institution, SFU posted a nineteen game unbeaten streak, and became the first SFU team to go undefeated in a season. The Clan repeated as GNAC Conference Champions, won the USF Provisional Classic, and finished the season ranked as the #1 team in the nation.
In 2010, SFU completed their final season in the NAIA and their second year in the NCAA transition with a 19-2 record. They were ranked as the #1 team in the NAIA for 6 weeks, and became the first team from a non-American institution (in any sport) to win a NCAA Conference Championship.
In a historic final full season competing at the NAIA level in 2009, Koch led the team on a memorable ride to the Final Four of the NAIA National Championships. SFU lost to the eventual National Champions (Lindsey Wilson), but was rewarded with the program's first ever National player of the year in Colin Streckmann. During a season of milestone feats, the team became the first SFU team since 1987 to record 20 victories in a season. They finished with a 20-4 record.
In 2008, Koch returned to lead his alma mater and the men's soccer team finished with an impressive 11-5-1 record. They lost in the conference final on penalty-kicks and fell one step short of the National Championships. Prior to becoming the head of the Clan, Koch was in charge of Baker University in Kansas. In two seasons, 2006 and 2007, with the NAIA Wildcats he compiled a 22-16 record, and the team was ranked as high as 15th in the national rankings. While at Baker, Koch facilitated the signing of Marty Johnston with the Vancouver Whitecaps, then of the USL First Division.
A College All-American, Koch also played for several professional teams. His professional career started with Reservoir Hills United in the South African First Division, he later signed with Preussen Krefeld in the German Oberliga. He concluded his professional career with Limerick FC in the League of Ireland First Division. Prior to playing professionally, he was a member of the South African Olympic Team and captained the South African Schoolboys team. Koch is still ranked tenth in all time scoring at SFU as a midfielder.
Koch is not only a skilled soccer coach, but an experienced student-athlete recruiter. While at Midwestern State University (MSU), from 2003 to 2006, he oversaw the majority of the program's recruiting responsibilities as the assistant coach. These efforts lead the team to an Elite Eight appearance in 2003, and a Final Four appearance in 2006. During his time at MSU, Koch coached several All-Americans including Daniel Woolard who currently plays with DC United of Major League Soccer.
In the summer of 2009, Koch branched out and coached the Vancouver Whitecaps women's team in the USL W-league. The team narrowly missed out on making the play-offs. In addition, Koch carries a NSCAA Premier Diploma with distinction, a Canadian "B" license, various South African licenses, and is currently completing his UEFA badges through the Irish Football Association. He was the 2009 and 2010 AII coach of the year, and the 2010 and 2011 GNAC coach of the year.
While the men's soccer program at Simon Fraser University has always been a successful one, Koch clearly has taken it to a new level in his time as the leader of the Clan. Not only has he compiled the program's best winning percentage, he has guided the Clan to a Top Ten ranking in either the NAIA or the NCAA in every season he has been at the helm. Far West region coach of the year honours, a NAIA Final Four appearance, the national player of the year, and back to back NCAA conference championships stand out as highlights of his era.
Koch graduated with his bachelor's degree from SFU in 2000 and was awarded his master's degree in human resources from Midwestern State University in 2005. He resides in North Vancouver and with his limited spare-time loves to go to the beach and spend time with his family.
ALAN KOCH COACHING RECORD
YEAR |
WINS |
LOSSES |
TIES |
PCT. |
2006 |
9 |
9 |
0 |
.500 |
2007 |
13 |
7 |
0 |
.650 |
2008 |
11 |
5 |
1 |
.676 |
2009 |
20 |
4 |
0 |
.833 |
2010 |
19 |
2 |
0 |
.904 |
2011 |
18 |
0 |
1 |
.973 |
|
|
|
|
|
Combined |
90 |
27 |
2 |
.756 |
