Clemson Tigers men's soccer

Last updated

Clemson Tigers
Soccerball current event.svg 2023 Clemson Tigers men's soccer team
Clemson Tigers logo.svg
Founded1934;90 years ago (1934)
University Clemson University
Head coach Mike Noonan (14th season)
Conference ACC
Atlantic Division
Location Clemson, South Carolina
Stadium Historic Riggs Field
(Capacity: 6,500)
Nickname Tigers
ColorsOrange and regalia [1]
   
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Home
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Away
NCAA Tournament championships
1984, 1987, 2021, 2023
NCAA Tournament runner-up
1979, 2015
NCAA Tournament Semifinals
1973, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1984, 1987, 2005, 2015, 2021, 2023
NCAA Tournament appearances
1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Conference Tournament championships
1998*, 2001*, 2000, 2014, 2020, 2023
Conference Regular Season championships
1972*, 1973*, 1974*, 1975*, 1976*, 1977*, 1978*, 1979*, 1981*, 1982*, 1985*, 1990, 1993, 1998, 2019, 2021

The Clemson Tigers men's soccer team represent Clemson University in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I soccer. The program has won 4 NCAA national championships, 16 Atlantic Coast Conference championships, and hosted 4 Hermann Trophy winners (Bruce Murray in 1987, Wojtek Krakowiak in 1998, Robbie Robinson in 2019, and Ousmane Sylla in 2023).

Contents

History

The 1939 Clemson team 1939 Clemson Tigers soccer team (Taps 1940).png
The 1939 Clemson team

Clemson began sponsoring a soccer team in 1934, playing a hybrid schedule of colleges and prep schools. The team was discontinued after the 1939 season. In 1967, the university decided to re-add soccer as a varsity sport. Dr. I. M. Ibrahim, who was a chemistry professor at the time, was chosen to lead the program. In the program's inaugural season, the team posted a 6–5 record. From 1967 to 1971, the Tigers posted four winning seasons overall, but were consistently in the bottom tier of the ACC.

The 1972 season proved to be a breakout year for the Tigers. The Tigers went undefeated in conference play to capture the first of eight straight ACC titles and finished the year with a 13–1–1 record and earned their first trip to the NCAA tournament. The 1973 season would prove to be even more successful, as the Tigers went 16–1 and made it to the semifinals of the NCAA tournament. By the end of the decade, the Tigers had 8 conference titles, 3 trips to the round of 16 in the NCAA tournament, an Elite 8 appearance, 3 Final Four appearances, and finished the 1979 season as national runners-up.

A Clemson match in 1976 Clemson soccer game 1976.jpg
A Clemson match in 1976

Clemson's streak of ACC titles and NCAA appearances was broken during the 1980 season, but the Tigers rebounded with conference titles during the 1981, 1982, and 1985 seasons (Clemson's last before the ACC adopted its tournament format) and five straight appearances in the NCAA tournament. The 1984 season saw the Tigers finally reach the summit of national prominence, as the Tigers went 22–4 against a very tough schedule and won the 1984 National Championship. During the 1984 NCAA Tournament, Clemson had to face the top four seeds in the tournament (Alabama A&M, Virginia, UCLA, and Indiana). After failing to make the NCAA tournament in 1986, the Tigers earned their second national championship during the 1987 season. The Tigers finished the 1987 regular season 13–5–1, but had struggled during conference play. Reportedly, the Tigers were the 23rd team selected for the 24-team NCAA tournament. The Tigers, however, won three straight road games, which included an upset of #1-ranked Indiana (who hadn't lost an NCAA tournament home game prior to the match), and was chosen to host the Final Four at Riggs Field. In the semifinals, the Tigers avenged two earlier losses to North Carolina and, in the championship game, knocked off San Diego State (another surprise finalist). In addition, Bruce Murray won the 1987 Hermann Trophy (the first Clemson player to win the award).

The 1990s saw the first change of head coaches in school history, as Dr. Ibrahim retired after the 1994 season and was replaced by Brown head coach Trevor Adair. The Tigers captured their first ACC Tournament championship in 1998, won 3 ACC regular season titles (1990, 1993, and 1998), and had another player honored with the Hermann Trophy (Wojtek Krakowiak, 1998). The Tigers made 6 appearances in the NCAA tournament, with their best finishes being trips to the Elite 8 in 1997 and 1998.

During the 2001 season, the Tigers captured their second ACC Tournament championship and advanced to the Elite 8. After another Elite 8 run in 2002, the Tigers experienced a down time, failing to advance out of the first round in 2003 and missing the NCAA tournament altogether in 2004. The 2005 squad, however, would make a strong run during the NCAA tournament, advancing to the Final Four for the first time since the 1987 squad's national title.

Clemson playing vs. NC State in September 2006 Nc state v clemson soccer 16.jpg
Clemson playing vs. NC State in September 2006

The 2006 team would make the round of 16, falling to eventual runner-up UCLA. The 2008 squad, despite not making the tournament, was one of only two teams in the country to defeat both national champion Maryland and national runner-up North Carolina during the season.

Trevor Adair resigned as head coach of the Tigers on June 16, 2009, two months after being placed on a leave of absence after reportedly assaulting his two daughters during a domestic dispute. [2] Assistant coach Phil Hindson was promoted to interim head coach for the 2009 season, marking only the second change in head coaches in Tiger history. The Tigers struggled through the 2009 season, finishing with a final record of 6–12–1 despite a victory over national champion Virginia during the season.

On January 5, 2010, it was announced that former Brown head coach Mike Noonan was hired as Clemson's fourth head soccer coach. [3] Since Coach Noonan took over, the Tigers have slowly risen back to prominence, returning to the NCAA tournament in 2013 and winning their 14th ACC championship in 2014. In 2015, the Tigers advanced to the finals of the NCAA College Cup for the first time since 1987, falling in the national championship match to Stanford. In 2016, the Tigers finished runners up in the ACC Tournament and advanced to the Quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. In 2019, the Tigers would win the ACC Atlantic Division, finished runners up in the ACC tournament, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals. In addition, Robbie Robinson became the third Clemson player to win the Hermann Trophy. Robinson was drafted first overall in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft, becoming the first Clemson men's soccer player to be drafted first overall. [4] 2021 was a landmark year for the program and coach Noonan as the Tigers won the national title for the third time in program history and had a school-record six players drafted in the MLS Draft. [5] 2023 was also a banner year for the team as they won their second national title in three years. They defeated Notre Dame 2–1 in the title match after not having allowed a goal in the tournament leading up to the final. [6] They also won the ACC Tournament in 2023, with a penalty shoot-out victory over North Carolina. [7] Ousmane Sylla also became the fourth Clemson player to win the Hermann Trophy. [8]

Personnel

Roster

As of January 12, 2024 [9]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
0 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Patrick Donovan
1 GK Flag of Ghana.svg  GHA Joseph Andema
2 DF Flag of Senegal.svg  SEN Pape Mar Boye
3 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Adam Lundegard
5 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Terry Watson
6 DF Flag of France.svg  FRA Joran Gerbet
7 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Isaiah Easley
9 MF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Mohamed Seye
10 MF Flag of Senegal.svg  SEN Osmane Sylla
11 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Brandon Parrish
12 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Enrique Montana III
13 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Mathieu Brick
14 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Titus Sandy Jr.
15 FW Flag of Estonia.svg  EST Alex Meinhard
16 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Mason Jimenez
17 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Tyler Trimnal
No.Pos.NationPlayer
18 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Matthias Leib
19 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA James Kelly
20 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Shawn Smart
21 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Noah Behrmann
22 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Aiden Hampton
23 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Jackson Worbel
25 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Nathan Richmond
26 FW Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Marco Garcia
27 DF Flag of France.svg  FRA Gael Gibert
28 DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Will Cain
29 DF Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Rafael Borlido
30 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Remi Okunlola
31 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Logan Brown
33 DF Flag of France.svg  FRA Arthur Duquenne
31 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Samir Dishnica

Coaching staff

PositionStaff
Athletic director Flag of the United States.svg Graham Neff
Head coach Flag of the United States.svg Mike Noonan
Associate head coach Flag of England.svg Philip Jones
Assistant coach Flag of Colombia.svg Camilo Rodriguez
Assistant Coach Flag of Senegal.svg Malick Mbaye
Director of Operations Flag of the United States.svg Rob Thompson

Seasons

National ChampionsConference Champions*NCAA Tournament berth^
SeasonHead coach [10] Season results [11] Tournament results
OverallConferenceConference [12] [A 1] NCAA [13] [A 2]
WinsLossesTiesWinsLossesTiesFinish
1934–35 Fred Kirchner 121
1935 220
1936 001
1937 301
1938 001
1939 220
1940–1966: No team
1967 I. M. Ibrahim 6501304th
1968 9311315th
1969 5614015th
1970 8321316th
1971 8311315th
1972 *1311500Champion* Round of 16 ^
1973 *1610500Champion* Final Four ^
1974 *1230500Champion* Round of 16 ^
1975 *1320500Champion* Round of 16 ^
1976 *1821401Champion* Fourth Place ^
1977 *1610500Champion* Quarterfinal ^
1978 *1811401Champion* Third Place ^
1979 *1621500Champion* Runner-Up *
1980 12324112nd
1981 *1820510Champion* Round of 16 ^
1982 *1821510Champion* Round of 16 ^
1983 16323213rd First round ^
1984 22404202nd Champion
1985 *1932510Champion* Round of 16 ^
1986 12623303rd
1987 18511415thFirst round Champion
1988 10722405thFirst round
1989 13611415thFirst round
1990 16414111stFirst round First round ^
1991 13622315thFirst Round First round ^
1992 12641326thFinal
1993 18515011stFinal Round of 16 ^
1994 13711416thQuarterfinal
1995 Trevor Adair 16614203rdFirst round Round of 16 ^
1996 10722315thFirst round
1997 11732315thFirst round Quarterfinal ^
1998 *22205101stChampion* Quarterfinal ^
1999 9822224thFirst round
2000 14422224thFirst round Round of 16 ^
2001 *1950420T-2ndChampion* Quarterfinal ^
2002 13542316thQuarterfinal Quarterfinal ^
2003 9742406thFirst round First round ^
2004 8912506thFirst round
2005 15632427thQuarterfinal Final Four ^
2006 1352332T-5thFirst round Round of 16 ^
2007 71112607thFirst round
2008 7923416thFirst round
2009 Phil Hindson 61212609thSecond round
2010 Mike Noonan 5842427thQuarterfinal
2011 8824407thQuarterfinal
2012 6953235thSemifinal
2013 1173542T-4thSemifinal First round ^
2014*1273521T-1st Atlantic Division Champion * Round of 16 ^
2015 17346112nd Atlantic Division Semifinal Runner-Up *
2016 14454133rd Atlantic Division Runner-Up Quarterfinal ^
2017 12614403rd Atlantic Division Semifinal Second round ^
2018 7912606th Atlantic Division First round
2019 18226111st Atlantic Division Runner-Up Quarterfinal ^
2020 14337321st Atlantic Division Champion * Round of 16
2021 16525301st Atlantic Division Semifinal Champion
2022 13713414th Atlantic Division Runner-Up Second round
2023 15354222nd Atlantic Division Champion* Champion
  1. The Atlantic Coast Conference began holding a tournament in 1987.
  2. The NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship began in 1959.

Notable alumni

Current professionals

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. "Clemson Athletics Style Guide" . Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  2. Kennedy, Paul (June 17, 2009). "Trevor Adair resigns as Clemson coach". College Soccer Reporter. Soccer America. Archived from the original on March 24, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
  3. Szostak, Mike (January 5, 2010). "Brown soccer coach Mike Noonan leaves for Clemson". Providence Journal . Archived from the original on August 3, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
  4. "Robinson #1 Selection in 2020 MLS Superdraft". clemsontigers.com. Clemson University. January 9, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  5. "lemson Has School-Record Six Players Drafted". clemsontigers.com. Clemson University Athletics. January 11, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  6. "Parrish and Sylla each score to help Clemson beat Notre Dame for program's 4th men's soccer title". apnews.com. Associated Press. December 11, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  7. Turri, Alex (November 12, 2023). "Clemson wins the 2023 ACC Championship over North Carolina in penalty kicks". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  8. Keepfer, Scott (January 5, 2024). "Clemson's Ousmane Sylla wins Hermann Trophy as college soccer player of the year". Greenville News . Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  9. "2023-24 Men's Soccer Roster". clemsontigers.com. Clemson University Athletics. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  10. 2010 Media Guide , pp. 93
  11. 2010 Media Guide , pp. 94–100
  12. "2009 Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Soccer" (PDF). Atlantic Coast Conference. pp. 51, 58–60. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 12, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
  13. "Men's Division I Championship Brackets" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 6, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2011.

Bibliography