By: Jill Wunrow (@JillWunrow)
GreenBayPhoenix.com
GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - Green Bay Director of Athletics Ken
Bothof announced the hiring of Daniel Popik as the new men's soccer head coach
on Monday. Popik joins the Phoenix from Furman University, becoming the ninth head
coach in the history of Green Bay's program.
"We are
excited to have Daniel on board to lead our men's soccer program and our
student-athletes moving forward," said Bothof. "Daniel stood out from an
exceptional pool of finalists as the right fit for Green Bay men's soccer, and
his impressive background as both a player and a coach give him the experience
to succeed in this role. We are extremely pleased to welcome him and his family
to our Phoenix family."
Popik brings
seven years of coaching experience on various levels in addition to six years
of playing experience at the professional level. Rated among College Soccer
News' Top-20 Assistant coaches in 2011, Popik spent the 2011 season as the associate
head coach at Furman University. He helped lead the Paladins to a 14-4-4 record
and the program's first at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
"First and
foremost I want to thank Ken Bothof and Dan McIver for their professionalism
and hospitality throughout the whole process and their trust in me with the
future of the program," said Popik. "I'm looking forward to heading back to
Wisconsin, a state I had a lot of success in as a player. I'm looking forward
to that same success in winning Horizon League championships at Green Bay."
While at
Furman, Popik coached the Southern Conference Player of the Year, Freshman of
the Year and six all-conference selections while recruiting the No. 5
recruiting class by College Soccer News.
Prior to his
tenure at Furman University, Popik served as the associate head coach (2008-10)
at North Carolina State University, where he helped lead the Wolfpack to a
10-8-2 record in the 2010 season and No. 9 South Region ranking. In 2009, as a
No. 15 seed NC State advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and
ACC Tournament finalist.
Prior to
being named Associate Head Coach at NC State, Popik fulfilled the role of
assistant coach from 2005-08 and coached five players to All-ACC teams. In
addition, five players were selected in the MLS Draft during his time at NC
State.
As a USSF
Development Academy Scout, Popik is responsible for scouting and evaluating
games, selecting youth national teams, evaluating practice sessions and
coaching training sessions.
Popik's six
years playing at the professional level included stints with the Columbus Crew
(2006), Los Angeles Galaxy (2004-05) and Milwaukee Rampage (2000-03). For his
efforts in guiding his Milwaukee team to the USL A-League Championship in 2002,
Popik earned team MVP honors.
A United
States Soccer Federation National "A" License Coach and NSCAA National
Goalkeeping Diploma recipient, Popik began his collegiate career at the
University of North Carolina in 1997 before transferring to St. John's where he
helped lead his squad to a Big East Championship in 1998. The Red Storm also
advanced to the NCAA Tournament in both of his seasons at St. John's.
Popik earned
a Bachelor of Science Sports Management degree and Masters of Science Parks,
Recreation and Tourism from North Carolina State University. Popik's wife,
Jodie hails from Menomonee Falls, Wis. and the couple has a four-year old son,
Gavin.
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