SZMARZ NAMED SUNY COBLESKILL HEAD MEN’S SOCCER COACH

SUNY Cobleskill Director of Athletics Kevin McCarthy announced today that former Clarkson University Assistant Soccer Coach Rob Szmarz has been named the Fighting Tiger new Head Men’s Soccer Coach. Szmarz replaces interim coach Winston Church who will be leaving the college to accept a teaching position in Indiana beginning next fall. Prior to his time at Clarkson Szmarz spent two years as an assistant coach at The College of New Jersey in Ewing, NJ.

“We are excited to have coach Szmarz with us and look forward to him returning us to the ranks of the top programs in the region,” said McCarthy. “He prossesses a passion for the game along with the energy and work ethic that is needed to build a successful program. We’ve been looking for the right man to lead our program and in Rob Szmarz I think we’ve found him.”

The Queens, NY native is a graduate of Chaminade High School in Mineola, NY. He began his collegiate career at the University of Albany in Albany, NY in 1997 before transferring to SUNY Potsdam where he played for the Bears for three seasons, serving as team captain, under Head Coach, and SUNY Cobleskill alumnus, Joe Vaadi. Upon graduating from Potsdam with his Bachelor of Arts in History in 2000, Szmarz started his coaching career at The College of New Jersey while earning a Master of Arts in Athletic Administration from the institution in 2002. Since 2000 he has worked as a coach in the summers with the United Soccer Academy in Boca Raton, FL as head coach of youth boy’s soccer teams competing in various international soccer competitions around the United States and Europe.

“I am excited about the challenge of bringing quality student/athletes to Cobleskill and helping to develop these athletes into players who can compete at the next level,” said Szmarz. “Our short term goal will to return to the regional play-offs and be a contender for a regional title and our long term goal will be to build a program that one day will contend for a national title.”

In addition to his coaching, Szmarz will serve as the Fighting Tigers Assistant Athletic Director in which capacity he will oversee the areas of campus recreation and intramurals, event management and facility staffing/operations. He will also instruct courses in the college’s Department of Physical Education, Recreation and Sports Studies.

The Fighting Tigers posted a 5-9-1 overall record during the 2002 season with a 3-4-1 mark in Mountain Valley Conference play.