state of the Michigan Soccer program

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on

0-5-3 start to the season. 

Just 5 (edit) goals in 8 games (0.63 per game)

 

All of this in year 5 of Chaka Daley, as he dropped to 33-37-14 at Michigan after tonight's 1-0 loss to WMU. The 3rd straight shutout loss and 5th game of the 8 played where we failed to score any goals.

Chaka has failed to make the NCAA Tournament each season outside of his first year which was done with the previous coach's players (and he still only managed a record one game above .500).

The previous coach was handed the DB special. If you read Endzone, you know what happened. If you didn't, long and maddening story short-

  • DB gets hired in 2010
  • Michigan, in its 11th season as a program, goes 17-6-3 and makes it to the NCAA College Cup (final four), and came up short in the national semifinal in a one goal game to eventual national champion Akron.
  • 98% of the scoring either goes pro or graduates after the season.
  • DB makes douchey remark at banquet-

    "Congratulations on making the Final Four. Do you know what happens when you make it to the Final Four? We expect you to do it again".

  • Michigan naturally has a down season in 2011 with all of its offense gone from the previous year. Every loss in that 5-14-1 season in 2011 came by one goal. Michigan also upset the team that beat them in the College Cup.
  • Steve Burns wrongly fired after the season ends.

So fast forward to now. No tournament since 2012, finishing lower and lower every single year in conference play similar to Hoke. It's gotten to the point where it's even being said by the BTN+ Student broadcast team that the players are going through the motions out there. It's sad for a guy like Evan Louro who is a great goalie. He's getting no help whatsoever from anyone. 

Bizzare transfers happening including losing a hometown kid in Ahinga Selemani after one year and TWO players transferring to OHIO STATE!

Michigan's offensive output of 5 goals in 8 games is the second-worst total through that many games in program history. What's the first? Two years ago under Chaka where it was 4 goals in 7 games.

Warde Manuel's first real hire here is likely coming in November/December. Because 0-5-3 in year 5 where things have been getting progressively worse is not cutting it.

Not when you have the former US WNT coach leading the women's team and approaching his 100th career victory here. 

Here's my short list for coaching candidates-

  • Paul Snape- Head coach at #10 Butler. He was an assistant here from 2003-2010. Butler is 5-0-1 currently with wins over B1G teams and their only blemish being a tie with top-15 Louisville. 

     
  • Kevin Langan- Head coach of the top-5 ranked UNC-Charlotte 49ers. Was an assistant there for their College Cup in 2011. He has a 56-21-10 record there, and the 49ers just crushed Rutgers who isn't that bad in men's soccer.

     
  • Steve Burns- He's been out of coaching since he was wrongly fired, he works in the Alumni Association. Would be a heck of a story. 

Comments

MGoGrendel

September 21st, 2016 at 10:05 PM ^

I don't have a opinion about the coach for our men's soccer program, because I don't follow it. But, I appreciate your passion WD and hope your efforts help bring positive change to the program.




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Wolverine Devotee

September 21st, 2016 at 10:14 PM ^

He's a solid recruiter and a great guy. I've seen him coach up close before and I like his energy during games. Just not very good as a head coach at a big school. 

James Murphy and Mac graduating should not result in a historically anemic offense. 

Even with seniors like Murphy, McAtee and WMB last year, we still weren't in serious tournament contention. 

skurnie

September 21st, 2016 at 10:14 PM ^

This season has been a disaster so far. If you read my season preview (meaning WD and that Rutgers guy), I openly wondered where the goals would come from.

http://mgoblog.com/diaries/michigan-men%E2%80%99s-soccer-season-preview

In short, they simply cannot score right now. They have one goal scorer and very few playmakers.

Things will get more difficult from here on out, too. They will be missing Marcello Borges who is headed to U20 Camp with the US in the beginning of October. I believe he'll miss PSU, Rutgers and Notre Dame.

James Burrill Angell

September 23rd, 2016 at 12:06 PM ^

Clearly Chaka needs to go. I wonder if his contract expires since its been five years and they can just choose to not re-sign him?

There is zero reason we shouldn't be competitive in soccer and Chaka has had ample opportunity to do so. Clearly he's not the answer and needs to be shown the door.

Sac Fly

September 21st, 2016 at 11:02 PM ^

What a surprise the self proclaimed #1 fan is calling for the head of another coach. Football, basketball, hockey, lacrosse, baseball is next. Wolverine Devotee is always the first to fanboy and the first to throw you under the bus. What a joke.

EGD

September 22nd, 2016 at 10:16 AM ^

WD made a pretty compelling, fact-based argument for why the men's soccer team is a shambles and suggests a new head coach is needed. If you disagree with his analysis or think he has left something out or gotten something wrong, we're all ears. But if you just have some kind of problem with WD, maybe keep it to yourself next time?

Wolverine Devotee

September 21st, 2016 at 11:37 PM ^

He did some youth camps not that long ago that I remember seeing ads for at Ultimate out in Pontiac. So he's not completely removed from the game.

I hope our resident Michigan goalie from the early 2000s on here chimes in. 

azian6er

September 22nd, 2016 at 6:41 AM ^

Coach burns was a great coach to play for. He was tough as nails and ran the program the right way. He always pushed us hard and you didn't want to screw up under his watch.

My only concern is that he has been out of the game for a bit which will affect his ability to bring in some of the higher level recruits which we will need to rebuild the program.

One thing is for sure - it really can't get much worse, yikes.

ikestoys

September 22nd, 2016 at 8:56 AM ^

I played for Snape. He's a great guy and a great coach, especially for the offensive minded players. Didn't realize he was having so much success at Butler. Bringing him home isn't quite the right word, because he's an Oakland alum, but bringing him back sounds great to me.

Love Burns too, but I can't imagine just jumping back in to coaching after so many years gone.

Hail-Storm

September 22nd, 2016 at 10:58 AM ^

Hope the team turns it around.  I watched a lot of the game against state last weekend. I liked the ball control from Michigan's side. It was frustrating to watch State sit on their goal. It looks like they didn't fear the 1 goal lead on Michigan and were content to sit back at the 18.  A couple nice chances on crosses, but saw very little in shot production from UofMs team.  Hopefully Michigan can get back their old coach or grab the guy from Butler.  Next year I'd like to make it to a few games.

Wolvie3758

September 22nd, 2016 at 12:03 PM ^

reason that Michigan shouldnt have a top 25 program..Its been pretty much all down hill since Chaka took over..its time for a change

gbdub

September 22nd, 2016 at 2:49 PM ^

Yeah this is one that's got to get fixed. Men's soccer ought to be one of our premier non-revenue programs, and unlike baseball there's not the geographic /weather handicap limiting our ability to leverage the huge institutional advantages we ought to have. No excuse not to be a powerhouse or at least on the road to get there.




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Mazebleeder

September 22nd, 2016 at 10:04 PM ^

Coach is a joke! What energy? Assistant coaches do more than him. No coaching, poor player placement and no personality! Came in with one of the best defenses because of experience and bringin them all back, they don't even all play! New players aren't as good or just not ready ur captains suck at being captains, no senior appreciation and all the hype is given to the lack luster off. players. One of the best defensive players isn't even being played and if does he's all over the field! Atleast in years prior we weren't losing because the other team was outscoring us, now we are being outscored because wrong personnel is on the field and it's not giving the lack luster off. even time with the ball! Not gonna get any good player with a coach satisfied with losing!