April 4, 2018
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State women's soccer head coach Mike Friesen has signed a five-year contract extension that will keep the 2017 Mountain West champion on Montezuma Mesa through the 2022 campaign.
"I am really excited to know that I will be here at SDSU long term," Friesen said. "That has always been our plan, and we are so thankful to (athletic director) John David Wicker that we have the opportunity to continue to build this program.
"The past 14 years have been incredible," Friesen added. "I have had amazing players and a great staff who are good at what they do and fun to be around. Those people, and many more at SDSU, have helped lead us to great success over that time, and have laid a foundation for the future of this program. We are excited to build on this past season's success after winning the Mountain West tournament and playing in the NCAA tournament. I can't wait to see what this team can do, and how this program will grow with the players that we have committed for the future as well."
In 11 seasons, Friesen has compiled an overall record of 134-72-29 (.632), including a 68-15-12 (.779) effort in Mountain West action. He is SDSU's all-time leader in victories and winning percentage, and owns the most conference wins of any coach in MW history. Friesen is also the league's active leader in career victories and trails only BYU's Jennifer Rockwell (190) in the category.
The Aztecs have enjoyed unprecedented success under Friesen's watch. His teams have won four Mountain West regular-season championships (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) and five MW tournament titles (2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017). In addition to the hardware, SDSU has earned NCAA Championship berths five times (2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017), including 2012's run to the Sweet 16 when it turned in a 21-2-1 record, rose to No. 3 in the national rankings and finished seventh nationally at season's end.
Friesen has twice been named Mountain West Coach of the Year, once in 2009 and 2012, with the latter being when he led the Aztecs to a share of the best record in the nation (Stanford). Friesen also picked up NSCAA Pacific Region Coach of the Year honors that season.
Prior to being named head coach in time for the 2007 campaign, Friesen was an assistant coach at SDSU for three seasons, helping the Aztecs win 25 games from 2004-06.
With spring soccer in the books, Friesen heads into the last few months before practice begins in August with another strong roster that is expected to defend its Mountain West championship. Friesen brings back his team's top goal scorer (Mia Root) and starting goalkeeper (Gabby English), and eight starters overall.