Jan. 31, 2007
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State Director of Athletics Jeff Schemmel announced Wednesday that women's head coach Dr. Mike Giuliano has accepted a position at Wheaton College as the head coach of the men's soccer team. Giuliano will leave SDSU to begin his duties at Wheaton on March 1.
Giuliano, who was named head coach of the Aztecs on March 30, 2004, led SDSU to a 25-27-10 record over his three seasons at the helm. In his three seasons, he coached seven all-league selections, including 2004 Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year Alexis Solovij, eight MWC player of the week honorees and 16 all-MWC academic team selections.
"This was easily the hardest decision of my life," Giuliano said. "I love this school, I love this team, and I really want to stay to finish the task I came here to do. The administration has been incredibly supportive in good times and in bad, and believes in the vision I have for this program. But at the end of the day, I have to do what is best for my family. The opportunity that Wheaton College has given me, along with the opportunity my wife received in the Chicago area, is just too extraordinary to pass up.
"I will miss all of the wonderful players that I leave behind at SDSU and am saddened by the fact that I will never coach the amazing players joining SDSU in our 2007 and 2008 recruiting classes. But SDSU soccer will go on and it will thrive. I will never forget my brief but wonderful chance to lead what will soon be one of the greatest Division I women's soccer programs in the land."
"We are truly disappointed to lose Coach Giuliano," Schemmel said. "He has been a leader among our coaches, a relentless and talented recruiter, and a good person who always put the good of the program first. The progress we made in our program is obvious, and we were looking forward to great days ahead with Coach Giuliano.
"Having said that, we understand what a great opportunity this is for Mike and his family. Wheaton's reputation as a soccer power is well known. We will help him through the transition in every way that we can, and wish him the very best."
In his first season on The Mesa in 2004, Giuliano helped San Diego State to an 8-7-6 overall record and a tie for second in the Mountain West Conference with a 3-0-2 record. It was the Aztecs' best finish in conference play since the 1999 season and the eight wins are the most by a SDSU first-year head coach. The Aztecs advanced all the way to the MWC championship game, falling just one shootout goal short of a trip to its first NCAA tournament since 1999.
Giuliano improved SDSU's win total from eight in 2004 to 11 in the 2005 campaign (11-9-2). Giuliano helped the Aztecs to a successful year in the classroom as well as a school-record 11 student-athletes were named to the 2005 MWC all-academic team.
Giuliano and San Diego State battled injury problems all of 2006 en route to a 6-11-3 season. SDSU opened the year with a bang, winning the Purdue Boilermaker Tournament in convincing fashion, defeating No. 21 Purdue, 4-0, in the championship game. The Aztecs would later beat MWC tournament champion UNLV, 4-1, and tie No. 15 Brigham Young on the road, 2-2, before falling in a shootout to New Mexico in the MWC tournament.
Prior to his arrival at SDSU, Giuliano developed Westmont College into a NAIA powerhouse, producing a 194-42-15 record in 11 seasons and winning four NAIA national titles in five years. Westmont went 61-6 over his final three years and won three consecutive national titles.
A national search for a new head coach will begin immediately. Aztec associate head coach Mike Friesen will oversee the program until a replacement is announced.