| Akron Zips men's soccer | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Founded | 1954; 71 years ago (1954) | ||
| University | University of Akron | ||
| Athletic director | Charles Guthrie | ||
| Head coach | Jared Embick (9th season) | ||
| Conference | Big East | ||
| Location | Akron,Ohio | ||
| Stadium | FirstEnergy Stadium (Capacity: 5,800) | ||
| Nickname | Zips | ||
| Colors | Navy and white | ||
| |||
| NCAA Tournament championships | |||
| 2010 | |||
| NCAA Tournament runner-up | |||
| 1986, 2009, 2018 | |||
| NCAA Tournament College Cup | |||
| 1986, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017, 2018 | |||
| NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals | |||
| 1967, 1986, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017, 2018 Division II – 1972 | |||
| NCAA Tournament Round of 16 | |||
| 1966, 1967, 1983, 1986, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2025 Division II – 1972 | |||
| NCAA Tournament appearances | |||
| 1966, 1967, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025 Division II – 1972 | |||
| Conference Tournament championships | |||
| 1998, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 | |||
| Conference Regular Season championships | |||
| 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2022 | |||
TheAkron Zips men's soccer team is an intercollegiatevarsity sports team of theUniversity of Akron. As of the 2023NCAA Division I men's soccer season, the Zips play in theBig East Conference.[1] This move followed Akron's full-time home of theMid-American Conference (MAC) shutting down its men's soccer league after the 2022 season. Akron is regularly ranked in the Top 10NSCAA collegiate men's soccer poll. They have been ranked No. 1 previously in 2005, 2009, 2010, and 2016. The Zips have played their home games atFirstEnergy Stadium-Cub Cadet Field, formerly named Lee R. Jackson Soccer Field and Cub Cadet Field, since 1966. They won their first national championship in 2010.
In 1954, anOberlin College transfer named Stu Parry started the soccer team at Akron. That year, they finished the season with two wins and one tie. The next year, men's soccer was officially offered by the university and after starting the season with two losses, they ended with a 2–4–1 record, with the team's first win coming against rivalKent State.
Parry eventually led the team to nine Ohio College Soccer Association titles as well as six NCAA playoff appearances.[2] In 1986, the men's soccer team gained the most exposure in the NCAA tournament, finishing second toDuke by a score of 1–0. A Duke player, Ken Lolla, took over the program in 1993 and then became Akron's all-time winningest coach, with a record of 160–68–25. He also led the team to their first No. 1 ranking, which was also the first ever MAC team in any sport to be ranked No. 1.[2]
In 2006,Caleb Porter became head coach, leading the team to first-place finishes in the conference every year from 2007 to 2012, an appearance in the final of thenational championship (the College Cup) in 2009, and anational championship in 2010.
Jared Embick succeeded Porter as head coach after the 2012 season. The team has finished first in the conference every year since, and reached thenational semi-final in 2015.
After the 2022 season, the MAC, whose men's soccer league had been decimated byconference realignment earlier in the decade, dropped that sport.[3] Akron moved men's soccer to the Big East Conference, making it the only one of the four full MAC members with men's soccer teams that did not move that sport to theMissouri Valley Conference.[4]
The team uses the school colors of blue and gold.[5]
Lee Jackson Field was dedicated on October 22, 1966. Along with the soccer venue, the 23-acre (93,000 m2) complex also includes fields for the school's baseball, softball, and track and field competition areas along with a practice field for thefootball team. The fields are located towards the southeast corner of the University of Akron campus, just west ofInfoCision Stadium.
Other expansions and upgrades for the stadium have included a grandstand with seating capacity of 2,200, berm seating around the stadium with a capacity of 2,600, and lighting which meets national television specifications.[6]
Announced in March 2011 was a partnership between The University of Akron andCub Cadet, the premier brand of Cleveland-based MTD Products, which will rename the Zips' new, state-of-the-art grass soccer fieldCub Cadet Field.[7]
In June 2011, the field was renamed FirstEnergy Stadium-Cub Cadet field after Cub Cadet as well asFirst Energy plans were announced to build 300 new bleacher seats, permanent restrooms, and a concession stand along with the renaming.[8]
The AK-ROWDIES are a student organization which cheer on sports teams in various sports at the university. The ROWDIES were formed as an official student organization in 2005. During the soccer games, they can be found behind the goal area, heckling the opponent's goalie.[9]
Niko De Vera (2014–2017) – Currently withPortland TimbersConrad EarnestGeorge Nanchoff (1973–1976) – RetiredLouis Nanchoff (1974–1977) – Retired
Benny Dargle (1975–1977) – RetiredShaun Pendleton (1982–1985) – Retired
Roderick Scott (1985–88) – Retired
Cameron Knowles (2001–04) – RetiredDevon McKenney (2003–2007)
Siniša Ubiparipović (2004–2006) – RetiredEvan Bush (2005–2008) – Currently withColumbus CrewJustin Sadler (2005)Ben Zemanski (2006–2009)
Steve Zakuani (2006–2007) – RetiredChris Korb (2007–2010)Michael Nanchoff (2007–2010) – RetiredBlair Gavin (2007–2009) – RetiredTeal Bunbury (2008–2009) – Currently withNashville SCDarlington Nagbe (2008–2010) – Currently withColumbus Crew
Anthony Ampaipitakwong (2007–2010) – Currently withBangkok UnitedKofi Sarkodie (2008–2010)Zarek Valentin (2009–2010) – Currently with theHouston DynamoScott Caldwell (2009–2012) – Currently with theReal Salt LakeChad Barson (2009–2012) – Retired
Darren Mattocks (2010–2011) – Retired[10]Perry Kitchen (2010) – Currently withLA GalaxyDeAndre Yedlin (2011–2012) – Currently withFC CincinnatiAodhan Quinn (2011–2013) – Currently withPhoenix Rising[11]Wil Trapp (2011–2012) – Currently withMinnesota United FCDillon Serna (2012) – Currently with theColorado RapidsSaad Abdul-Salaam (2012–2014) – Currently withSeattle Sounders FC[12]Richie Laryea (2014–2015) – Currently withToronto FC[13]Adam Najem (2013–2016) – Currently withBhayangkara[14]Jonathan Lewis (2016) – Currently withColorado Rapids[15]
João Moutinho (2018) – 2018 MLS Superdraft First-Overall Draft Pick forLos Angeles FC
Abdi Mohamed (2018) - Currently withNew Mexico UnitedListed according to when they became head coach for Akron (year in parentheses):
