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Sad to see after the run they had last year; it's been an unfortunate season for our soccer team.
University of Michigan men's soccer coach Steve Burns announced today (Wednesday, Nov. 30) his resignation after 12 seasons as varsity head coach. Burns compiled a 122-98-22 overall record and a 27-38-8 mark in Big Ten Conference play during his tenure.
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/113011aab.html
Wow. Didn't see that coming. Best of luck to him, he did alot for the program.
That's too bad, only one year removed from such a fun season.
Tangentially, I find it odd, confusing, and/or funny that the words "resign" and "re-sign" are spelled so similarly.
Resign is from Middle English resignen, from Old French resigner, from Latin resignare (to unseal, invalidate, destroy), from re- (back, as in "revert") and signare (to seal).
This is Michigan, fergodsakes.
He definitely had the program on the upswing. He had some good recruiting classes and obviously made it to the final four last. I'm really shocked at this. Anybody know the reason? The press release was light on the details.
Most likely fired.
However, it's time for a new direction in my life and leadership for Michigan soccer.
4-15 season and a decade of mediocrity save last year did him in. It's time to really invest in some of our lagging non-revenue sports. Michigan is not consistently competing for NC's at the same level as some of their peers are like UNC, UVA, Fla,Texas, many Pac-12 teams, etc.
How well did they expect him to do this year, losing Soony Saad and Justin Meram, who contributed for almost all of Michigan's goals last season?
or, perhaps, it has not changed at all. If you want a successful program, you have to spend on it lavishly. The budget for DCs alone has radically changed the direction of the football program.
Winning in the Big Ten seems to be a common measuring stick for judging the strength of Michigan teams across the board. Probably the long-term prospect didn't look good to DB and he feels safe in making another move after revamping the football program and after the post-Bill Martin FacilitiesExpansionFest.
From the former leader of the ultras, Matt Peven apparently this had been a long time coming. He said that we should hope and expect to get Akron's coach for next year
I thought Akron was like the powerhouse of all powerhouses in college soccer? Doesn't sound like a good decision to leave Akron for an average Michigan team.
Of course it's a good decision, this is MIchigan fergodsakes!!!! Also: $$$
it has to do with facilities, that is a beautiful brand new stadium plus the thought of playing for one of the richest athletic univeristies has to be appealing... also wouldn't have to change his recruiting area. I would be pretty surprised if he isn't extended, and then accepts an offer.
Their coach has no reason to leave Akron other than money. I've been to a game there and the environment is wild. I would guess that they average about a 500+ students per game. Maybe closer to 1,000. The atmosphere is wild. Also, a lot of people in surrounding towns come to their games. It's a big deal.
In terms of recruiting, Akron basically goes to the Olympic Development Program national and hand picks the best plaeyers. I think they had something like 8 players go in the first round of the MLS draft last year. Incredible when you think there's only 11 starters. If he came to Michigan I'm sure he'd be able to get some of these recruits to come but I guess I don't see why he would other than making him an offer he can't refuse.
Regarding Burns, he's build the program from the ground up. What he's done for Michigan soccer is unbelievable. As great as the students who started the Ultras were, none of that happens without Burns. He got unlucky this year. Lost Meram, Sooney Saad, Hamoody Saad, and Blais. Also, his best recruit Cunningham, opted to go play in Europe (and is doing very well). That being said, it was well-known that Burns wasn't a very good coach. It was evident in just watching him coach that he was subpar. A lot of the players didn't really like him, either. Good luck to Coach Burns in whatever he ends up doing. Great guy who Michigan Soccer owes a lot to.
Burns has a National "A" Level coaching certificate. Agreed that he's no Sir Alex, but we're talking about US college soccer. 99% of college soccer in the US is recruiting. Agreed that losing his starting keeper and prized recruit is probably somehow on Burns, but I'd be curious to hear what you observed in the stands that gave you the impression he was subpar?
BTW, alot of players not liking their soccer coach is not surprising. It's the nature of the relationship.
The coaching certificate doesn't mean all that much. There are club soccer coaches in the state with an "A" level certification. You obviously have to be knowledgable about the game but that doesn't necessarily make you a good coach. He was always reluctant to make proper in-game adjustments. He seemed to have his way of thinking and stuck with it no matter what the situation was. I think he would've been gone a while ago if he wasn't so great at all of the other responsiblities a coach has (recruiting, pushing for funding, etc). As far as player relationships, I understand that soccer players not liking their coach happens from time to time but from what I've heard it seems pretty unanimous and that definitely doesn't play into your favor when trying to keep a job.
I don't know what Akron has to offer, but we just finished a brand new soccer complex and can probably offer a few more Benjamin's.
I hear there's a guy down south that coaches a different kind of football and competes for national titles on a regular basis, but was still interested in leaving for an average Michigan team.
I think there's zero chance Caleb Porter (Akron's HC) comes to Michigan. It would be the equivalent of Brady Hoke quitting Michigan to go coach a MAC team. Plus, in addition to his duties at Akron, Porter was just appointed as the HC of the US U-23 team a few weeks ago. Ain't happening.
I would do a happy dance if we got Akron's coach. Burns's teams underachieved with some serious talent for a lot of years until last year. Akron has been the opposite the last couple years.
Big fan of Caleb Porter and what he's done at Akron. If we could get him, that would be huge. Might be a tough year for him to start a new gig with the U-23/Olympics stuff also on his plate, I believe.
Burns has a degree in Aerospace engineering. That's pretty impressive. He also completed his masters in kinesiology in 1998, the same year he coached the club (as it was then) team to the second of back-to-back national titles. Also very impressive.
Akron's coach is definitely who Michigan should shoot for, but I agree that's probably a long shot, between what he's been able to do at Akron and all his national team stuff upcoming. Anybody else that's established at a less prestigous school that we can poach, or anyone up and coming that we should try to snag?
EDIT: According to wiki, Caleb Porter graduated from Indiana, so he at least has Big Ten ties, I thought he was an Akron alum. I'm still not sold on him coming here, but this makes it that much more likely.
Porter grew up and graduated from Gull Lake H.S. in Richland, MI (east of Kalamazoo) in 1993 (GL was a soccer powerhouse in the early - mid - '90s).
Went to IU and played through injuries... a couple years in MLS then right into coaching, as an assistant, at IU.
Don't expect his connection to growing up in Michigan to influence his decision to come "back home".
If he makes the move it will be for career reasons solely (and from the looks on this board, it appears Akron is the place to be)
He came across as very arrogant the few times I interacted with him, but his staff was usually very nice and he had some good seasons over the years, especially last year. He helped put Michigan soccer on the map and move it to varsity, so he'll always have that as a lasting legacy.
Come on Caleb Porter!
Too bad he had to go. He certainly did a lot for the program in his tenure here. Best of luck to him going forward, and I hope we land someone who can take us to the next level!
He pissed off two assistant coaches to the point of leaving before this season, had numerous players placed on academic probation or ineligibility last season, and failed to secure his incoming recruiting class due to gambling with potential pros. Obviously, not all of this is on him, but I think the last 12-15 months have been extremely shaky for him.
Not trying to start anything, but when you make a statement that he pissed off two assistant coaches to the point that they left before the season started, I'd be curious to hear the back story.
I played for Burns in the 90's at Michigan. As for Porter, I played against him in high school and he's really done a great job at Akron. However, one of the reasons he's done so well there and would not be able to do as well at Michigan is because he gets alot of the "one and done" national team players that will play in college and then move on to the MLS or Generation Adidas (if they still have that). That will not work at Michigan. Burns was only able to get one or two academic lite players in every couple of years with great emphasis on graduation. I'm surprised to hear about the academic issues you mentioned...
I can't speak to the soccer situation, but I think this is getting to be a new (unfortunate) trend at Michigan.
Everyone assumes the academic problems will be in the big revenue sports; the perception is that U-M takes its greatest risks on the football & basketball players . But the big revenue sports have a pretty good support system in place. Some of the other sports have less of that infrastructure, and the coaches have less experience in handling the increasing expectations for the team with the academic demands on their players (which haven't lessened one bit).
What also doesn't help is that some of these elite athletes were carefully groomed, meaning they lack experience balancing the demands of academics and sports. For example, it's more common now to find an athlete in an "olympic" sport who has been home-schooled so he or she could dedicate maximum time to the sport.
There's a push for U-M to be nationally competitive in every sport, and I expect that along with the growing pains we'll see more student-athletes in academic difficulty.
I live in Akron and my son attends Akron U's soccer camps every year. I have spoken with Caleb Porter on a number of occasions. He actually left his alma matter, Indiana, as head coach to come to Akron. The soccer program is to Akron U. what the football program is to U.M. I've been to both facilities and Akron's stadium and practice facilities are just as new and just as impressive. I honestly don't see Caleb ever leaving Akron U. for another college program.
That's my take as well. There's no way he leaves unless dynamited out of Akron.
He sat directly behind me at the Ohio football game and he could not have been more nice. He offered to take pictures of the group that I was with. He was rooting on the Wolverines. Very good guy.
Who knows what he did to deserve it. Worked for basically nothing while we were club, then launched the varsity program and took it to the national championship game. What more do they want? This year was a disaster, but I'm not sure what more could have been done with all the scorers going pro, flunking out, or graduating.
One name that should be thrown out there is Brian Maisonneuve. He is currently an assistant coach at Indiana University. He was born and raised in Michigan (played for De La Salle and Vardar). Played soccer at IU and then went on to play for Columbus Crew and US national team. Coached US youth national teams and was an assistant at Louisville (college soccer power).
His knowledge of Big Ten soccer, ties to Michigan, and experience might make him a great candidate.
Coach Steve Burns is the best thing that ever happened to University of Michigan Men's Soccer,but with young soccer egos and everyone whining when they are not playing enough or leaving early to go explore European Soccer, there is not much any soccer coach could have done. Coach Burns was that steady light in the lighthouse and had everyone listened to him, and realized it is not always about just WINNING....we would have won more ! His players were for the most part the stellar,young passionate men with integrity because that is how Coach picked them. Only time will show what a true loss this was for U of M. When you let go of values, and just go for the win...the fans will NOT come. This is a sad day for a college I love very much.
