Cal Poly
Associate Head Coach Yossi Raz Takes Top Job at Cal Poly Pomona
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. –
After putting together one of the most storied playing and coaching
careers at Cal State Northridge over the last 12 seasons, men's soccer
associate head coach
Yossi Raz has accepted the head coaching role at Cal Poly Pomona. Raz, in his eighth season as an assistant to head coach
Terry Davila, helped the Matadors compile a 15-7 record and the program's first Big West Conference Tournament Championship in 2012.
"I want to take the opportunity to thank the administration and Coach
Davila for the chance to grow within the Matador organization," said
Raz. "I am thankful for all that they have done for me and the lessons I
have learned in the program and look forward to my future relationship
with Northridge as a proud alum."
"I'm humbled and excited for this opportunity," Raz said in a Cal
Poly Pomona athletics news release. "I'm joining a great athletic
department and I'm looking forward to the elite level of soccer in the
highly-competitive California Collegiate Athletic Association. In my
time at Cal State Northridge, I've learned that hard work always wins. I
know our team at Cal Poly Pomona will represent the university in the
finest possible way."
"Yossi has been a big part of our success in returning to our soccer
identity at the Division I level," said Davila. "I have seen him mature
as both a player, student and coach of the game. He is ready for this
opportunity and he deserves it."
As a student-athlete at CSUN, Raz helped build the Matadors into a
soccer power in the Big West Conference. He was named the conference's
Freshman of the Year in 2001 and became the first player in conference
history to be named to the All-Big West First Team after all four
seasons. Raz and the Matadors made three NCAA Tournament appearances
while he was playing, advancing to the second round after earning a bye
in 2003.
He was named Big West Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2002 and
received Academic All-Big West Honors in each year he was eligible for
the award.
In his eight seasons on the sidelines for Cal State Northridge, the
Matadors posted an 82-68-29 record (.539) with Big West Championships
and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2005 and 2012. The Matadors earned a
bye to the second round in 2005 and defeated conference rival UC Santa
Barbara 3-2 at Matador Soccer Field in the program's lone NCAA
Tournament win at the Division I level.
Raz also served as the Matadors' recruiting coordinator and was in
charge of academics for six seasons and has helped develop multiple
student-athletes that have gone on to play soccer professionally. This
season, seniors
Joe Franco and
Yuval Barak
were named to the NSCAA Academic All-West Region team and Franco was
named a Scholar All-American. Franco was also recently drafted by Chivas
USA in the MLS Supplemental Draft in January.
At the end of the 2012 season, the Matadors led the conference in
goals and had the fewest goals allowed. The team also recorded 10
shutouts, the most in the league, and had the league's top goal scorer (
Sagi Lev-Ari), assist man (
Carlos Benavides), defender (Franco) and goalkeeper (
Michael Abalos). For the team's success, Raz was recognized by College Soccer News as one of the Top 15 Assistant Coaches in the country.
Raz takes over a Cal Poly Pomona program that is looking to rebuild
after a 3-11-3 season in 2012. The Broncos had winning seasons from
2009-11 but have not won the California Collegiate Athletic Association
Championship in conference history (since 1979). The program last
competed in the NCAA Division II National Tournament in 1998 after a
narrow defeat to then-CCAA member UC Davis in the conference tournament
final.
"I look forward to the chance to bring what I have learned to the
Broncos' organization," said Raz. "I am lucky to have been able to work
closely with Coach Davila here at Northridge to learn every aspect of
how a successful program operates and I intend to work with the Cal Poly
Pomona staff and student-athletes to build a championship program."
"Coach Raz is prepared for the next step in his career," concluded
Davila. "Cal Poly Pomona is getting a great coach and they will see the
benefits of hiring him in a quick, quick fashion."
