Koolman to join coaching staff at Boston College after nine-year run at Ravens helm, which included program's first National Championship in 2007

RINDGE, N.H. (February 4, 2009) - Franklin Pierce University has announced the resignation of men's soccer head coach, Marco Koolman, to accept a coaching position with the men's soccer program at Boston College. The announcement was made this morning by Bruce Kirsh, Vice President and Director of Athletics at the University.

"Coach Koolman's departure from Franklin Pierce is a significant loss," said Kirsh. "But I am extremely pleased for him and his family. Over the course of the past nine years, he has been an extraordinary leader and his teams not only had significant success on the playing field, but his players achieved outstanding success in the classroom. The University will always be grateful for everything he's done, especially winning the 2007 National Championship."

Koolman, a two-time NSCAA Division II National Coach of the Year, departs after rebuilding one of the premier programs at the NCAA Division II level, capturing the first National Championship in program history in 2007 after earning National Runner-up honors in 2005. He led the Ravens to a 125-45-21 (.709) record in nine years, including an 86-21-10 (.778) mark in Northeast-10 Conference play. 

"I want to thank Bruce Kirsh and the Franklin Pierce community for nine wonderful years," said Koolman. "I appreciate the support that the men's soccer program received throughout my tenure because it allowed our student-athletes to perform in the classroom as well as on the soccer field. The gradual growth and development allowed us to capture the school's first ever NCAA Division II Men's Soccer National Championship in 2007. I am proud and feel honored that I had the opportunity to work with all the top class student-athletes at Franklin Pierce. Our men's soccer program has a bright future ahead of them with a fine group of returning players and a great recruiting class."

Franklin Pierce captured three-straight NE-10 regular season titles from 2005-2007, completing the Conference double with its first tournament crown in 2006. The Ravens earned six-straight NCAA Tournament bids and advanced to the Division II Final Four in Wichita Falls, Texas, in 2005 and Orange Beach, Ala., in 2007. Franklin Pierce captured four of the last six East Regional championships. The Ravens have reached the National Championship match in both of its Final Four appearances under Koolman's leadership, including its title-winning trip in 2007.

Koolman boasts a 199-74-27 (.708) career mark, which includes six successful seasons as head coach at Gannon University, his alma mater, in Erie, Pa. He is ranked 12th among Division II coaches all-time (7th among active coaches) with his .708 career winning percentage, while his 199 career wins rank 31st all-time in Division II (24th among active coaches).

The Ravens were regularly among national defensive leaders in NCAA Division II circles under Koolman's tenure. Franklin Pierce has finished atop national leaders in shutouts in 2004 & 2006, setting a program record with 16 clean sheets in 2004. The Ravens program record 0.44 team goals against average in '06 also led Division II, as did All-America James Thorpe with his 0.448 individual GAA.

Koolman has been recognized by his peers for his efforts at Franklin Pierce, earning National Coach of the Year honors for the second time in 2007 after also earning the honor in 1993 while at Gannon. He has also been named NSCAA/adidas New England Region Coach of the Year three times in the last five seasons (2004, 2006 & 2007) and he was voted Coach of the Year in the NE-10 in 2005 and 2007.

Since joining Franklin Pierce, Koolman has produced 17 All-Americans, including a program-record four selections in 2006, 36 All-Region and 69 All-Northeast-10 selections. Christopher Joyce became the first men's soccer player in Franklin Pierce history to earn NSCAA/adidas Division II Player of the Year honors in 2005, a feat that was repeated by James Thorpe in 2007. Joyce is one of three NE-10 Players of the Year for Koolman. Another Koolman recruit, James Thorpe is the only four-time NE-10 Goalkeeper of the Year in Conference history (2004-2007), while Bisharra Ettienne was named Defensive Player of the Year in the NE-10 a Conference-record three times and the pair are the first two three-time All-Americans in program history. 

Koolman's Ravens have also performed in the classroom, with four collecting CoSIDA Academic All-America honors, including Peter Petropanagos - a first team selection in 2006 and first three-time Academic All-American in Franklin Pierce history. 15 Franklin Pierce men's soccer players have earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors under Koolman's watch and nine have collected NE-10 All-Academic honors since the Conference started the program in 2004. 16 Ravens have been named to the NE-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll, six of which achieved Gold Scholar status.

Koolman also had success placing his players in professional soccer. All-America midfielder Felix Brillant, one of Koolman's first recruits after coming to Franklin Pierce, was selected in the sixth round of Major League Soccer's 2004 SuperDraft by the New England Revolution and appeared in 17 matches, with six starts, in his first MLS season, registering a goal and two assists. Brillant currently plays for the Montreal Impact of the A-League. All-American Christopher Joyce was selected by FC Dallas in the 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft, but opted to sign a three-year contract with his current club Odd Grenland FK of the Norwegian Tippeligaen. James Thorpe was selected by DC United in the fourth round of the 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft, where he made his professional debut against Cruz Azul in the CONCACAF Champions League group stage this fall.

"I am departing one of the premier soccer programs in Division II that participates in arguably the best conference in the country," stated Koolman. "In exchange, I feel privileged to be joining the coaching staff of a NCAA Division I national power that competes in the best conference in the country, the ACC. I can truly say that I am excited and feel blessed about the next opportunity and challenge ahead of me. On behalf of my wife and children we want to say thank you for all that Franklin Pierce has done for us, and we wish the University the best of luck."

A search for Koolman's replacement at Franklin Pierce will begin immediately.

Franklin Pierce (13-8-2, 9-3-1 NE-10), ranked 16^th in the final postseason National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II poll, made its sixth-straight NCAA Division II Tournament appearance (14^th overall) last fall. The Ravens, National Champions in 2007, advanced to the second round before being defeated at Dowling College - the eventual National Runners-up.

Marco Koolman Coaching Notes
199-74-27 (.708) overall record (15 seasons)
125-45-21 (.709) at Franklin Pierce (Nine seasons)
2007 & 1993 NSCAA/adidas Division II Coach of the Year
2004, 2006 & 2007 NSCAA/adidas New England Region Coach of the Year
2005 & 2007 Northeast-10 Coach of the Year