Soccer - M | 1/30/2015 9:19:00 AM

BURNABY, BC – Alan Koch resigned today as head coach of the Simon Fraser University Clan men's soccer program to become head coach of Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2), the new USL PRO team of Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
 
Koch, an SFU graduate, coached the Clan for seven seasons beginning in 2008, and in 2012 and 2013 he led the Clan to Final Four appearances in the NCAA Division II national championship tournament. Koch leaves Simon Fraser with an all-time win-loss-draw record of 126-21-7 and he was the fastest coach to reach the 100-win milestone in school history.
 
"Alan did an incredible job of transitioning our soccer program into the NCAA and creating a foundation for future success," said Dr. Milton Richards, senior director of athletics and recreation. "We are happy for Alan to take the next step in his coaching career and join a great organization like Vancouver Whitecaps FC."
 
"I want to thank all of the players, coaches and administrators that I have worked with over my time at SFU," said Koch. "This was not an easy decision, but I've always wanted to coach in the professional game and to do that without having to relocate is an opportunity I could not pass up.
 
"Burnaby Mountain is a magical place and the people on the hill will always have a special spot in my heart. We had unprecedented success over our seven seasons together and I know that the framework is in place for continued success. I will always be a supporter of everything SFU."
 
Koch coached the Clan for two seasons in the NAIA and the last five in the NCAA, including an unbeaten season in 2011 when the Clan was ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Division II national polls but the university was ineligible for post-season play. This year Koch led the Clan to its third consecutive national post-season tournament appearance and an 11-5-2 record. The Clan was eliminated in the first round of the national tournament this year.
 
Koch also enjoyed success in the Clan's final season in the NAIA in 2009, leading the team to the Final Four of the NAIA National Championship and the program's first-ever National Player of the Year, Colin Streckmann.
 
SFU has begun the process to determine the next coach to lead the men's soccer program in the future.
 
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.

Whitecaps FC story: http://www.whitecapsfc.com/wfc2/2015/01/vancouver-whitecaps-fc-name-alan-koch-wfc2-head-coach