The Kirshner File
Education: Rutgers University (B.A., Communication, 1991)
Playing Experience
1987-90 Rutgers University
1993 & 1997 U.S. Jewish National Team (Maccabiah Games)
1996 Reno Rattlers (USISL)
College Coaching Experience
1992-95 Assistant Coach, Cañada College
1995 Head Coach, Ohlone College
1996 Assistant Coach, Rutgers University
1997-99 Assistant Coach, San Diego State
2000-present Head Coach San Diego State
Other Coaching Experience
1995-96 Assistant/Head Coach, Northern California ODP U-23
2001 Interim Head Coach, Region IV Olympic Development Program (ODP)
2002 Assistant Coach, Region IV Olympic Development Program (ODP)
2003 Head Coach, U.S. Maccabiah Pan-American U-20
2005 Head Coach, U.S. Jewish National Team (Maccabiah Games)
Lev Kirshner recently wrapped his 20th season at the helm of the Aztec men’s soccer program.
Kirshner has racked up over 140 wins while at SDSU and has taken the Aztecs to the NCAA Tournament three times (2005, 2006 & 2016). He has led SDSU to a .500 record or better nine times while overseeing seven freshmen All-Americans, 19 all-region selections and over 90 all-conference honorees. Off the pitch, Kirshner's teams have posted the top male team GPA at SDSU in six of the last seven semesters.
In 2016, the Aztecs recorded 11 shutouts and went 9-4-6 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. That season SDSU placed seven players on the All-Pac-12 team, the most since the 2010 season. SDSU also had a historic 1-0 victory over Akron, the No. 1 ranked team in the country at the time.
The Aztecs advanced to the postseason in both 2005 and 2006 with back-to-back nine win seasons, the first NCAA appearance for the program since the 1989 season.
In 2005, SDSU went 9-4-6, its best mark since 1991 and was nationally ranked by all four polls during the season and reached as high as No. 14 by Soccer American and College Soccer News. The Aztecs ranked first nationally with an 87.9 shots-on-goal save percentage and second in the country with a 0.54 goals against average behind 12 shutouts from goalkeeper Tally Hall. Hall became the first Aztec to receive All-American honors since National Soccer Hall of Fame member Marcelo Balboa did so in 1989.
With Hall back for his senior season in 2006, and the addition of Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, Nick Cardenas, the Aztecs returned to the NCAA Tournament and finished in second place in the Pac-10 with a 5-2-3 mark.
Kirshner also led the Aztecs to back-to-back 10 wins seasons in 2010 and 2011, but SDSU was left out of the NCAA Tournament.
Before coming to SDSU, Kirshner coached the women of Cañada College (Redwood City, Calif.) from 1992-95. During that time, he took over a program that had never won a conference game and led it to a 16-1-3 record in his final year. For his efforts, he was named the Coast Conference Coach of the Year. He also served as the men's assistant coach at Cañada and helped with their run to the state quarterfinals in 1992 and 1994.
From there, Kirshner moved to a head coaching position at Ohlone College (Fremont, Calif.) in 1995. At Ohlone, he helped take a team from a second-to-last place league finish the previous season to as high as No. 15 in the state.
Kirshner also had a stint as the men's assistant coach at his alma mater, Rutgers. Kirshner helped the Scarlet Knights reach the second round at the 1996 NCAA tournament and finish the season with a No. 13 national ranking and a 14-7-4 overall record.
Kirshner arrived at SDSU prior to the 1997 and spent three years as an assistant under long-time head coach Chuck Clegg, the school's all-time winningest coach.
As a player at Rutgers, Kirshner was part of a 1987 NCAA quarterfinal team, a 1989 NCAA semifinal squad that lost to eventual co-champion Virginia and a runner-up finisher to UCLA in the 1990 championship match.
He received his undergraduate degree in communication while graduating with honors in 1991, and is listed as one of the soccer program's top 25 alums.
"Lev was an outstanding player for us and a very integral part of a team that went to two Final Fours in his career," Rutgers head coach Bob Reasso said. "In my 25 years at Rutgers, Lev was one of the finest players ever to come through our program."
Following his collegiate career, Kirshner represented the United States in 1993, winning a bronze medal for the U.S. national Maccabiah team. In 1997, he returned to Israel as captain of the U.S. team, and led the only squad to defeat eventual gold-medalist Brazil.
Kirshner was selected as one of 250 domestic and international athletes to be assessed in the inaugural Major League Soccer combine in 1995. Kirshner also had a stint in the USISL starting for the Reno Rattlers. During that year, he trained with and played in several intrasquad reserve games for the MLS San Jose Clash.
Kirshner was named coach of the U.S. Maccabiah Pan-American U-20 soccer team in December 2003, where he won a bronze medal in Santiago, Chile. In the summer of 2005, Kirshner led the national Maccabiah squad to a second-place finish. Kirshner and his assistant, Amos Magee, became only the second and third members of the U.S. soccer delegation to have won two medals in the World Maccabiah Games. Additionally, Kirshner's squad earned the tournament's "Fair Play" Award, which is given to the team that exhibited the best sportsmanship.
Kirshner has valuable experience working with all levels of soccer having had stints with the Region IV Olympic Development Program (ODP) and serving as the interim head coach of the national runner-up West team during the 2001 U.S. regional championship. He was also as an assistant coach during the team's undefeated April 2002 tour of Australia.
Additionally, Kirshner worked as both an assistant and head coach with the Northern California ODP U-23 men's team during 1995 and 1996. He led those squads to consecutive Western Regional championships, including a third-place finish at the 1995 Donnelly Cup. He also won a Western Regional title with the under-15 ODP Northern California state team as the assistant coach of the 1984 age group.
Kirshner possesses a USSF A-License and has received the NSCAA Premiere Badge with distinguished honors; the highest accolade provided by that organization.
A graduate of Mission San Jose High School, Kirshner was inducted to the first hall of fame class at his alma mater. While at Mission San Jose, he guided his team to two North Coast Section (NCS) appearances. During his senior season, he led his squad to its school's first league title en route to the NCS semifinals. A three-time all-league selection and led his team in points all four years.
Education: Rutgers University (B.A., Communication, 1991)
Playing Experience
1987-90 Rutgers University
1993 & 1997 U.S. Jewish National Team (Maccabiah Games)
1996 Reno Rattlers (USISL)
College Coaching Experience
1992-95 Assistant Coach, Cañada College
1995 Head Coach, Ohlone College
1996 Assistant Coach, Rutgers University
1997-99 Assistant Coach, San Diego State
2000-present Head Coach San Diego State
Other Coaching Experience
1995-96 Assistant/Head Coach, Northern California ODP U-23
2001 Interim Head Coach, Region IV Olympic Development Program (ODP)
2002 Assistant Coach, Region IV Olympic Development Program (ODP)
2003 Head Coach, U.S. Maccabiah Pan-American U-20
2005 Head Coach, U.S. Jewish National Team (Maccabiah Games)
Lev Kirshner recently wrapped his 20th season at the helm of the Aztec men’s soccer program.
Kirshner has racked up over 140 wins while at SDSU and has taken the Aztecs to the NCAA Tournament three times (2005, 2006 & 2016). He has led SDSU to a .500 record or better nine times while overseeing seven freshmen All-Americans, 19 all-region selections and over 90 all-conference honorees. Off the pitch, Kirshner's teams have posted the top male team GPA at SDSU in six of the last seven semesters.
In 2016, the Aztecs recorded 11 shutouts and went 9-4-6 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. That season SDSU placed seven players on the All-Pac-12 team, the most since the 2010 season. SDSU also had a historic 1-0 victory over Akron, the No. 1 ranked team in the country at the time.
The Aztecs advanced to the postseason in both 2005 and 2006 with back-to-back nine win seasons, the first NCAA appearance for the program since the 1989 season.
In 2005, SDSU went 9-4-6, its best mark since 1991 and was nationally ranked by all four polls during the season and reached as high as No. 14 by Soccer American and College Soccer News. The Aztecs ranked first nationally with an 87.9 shots-on-goal save percentage and second in the country with a 0.54 goals against average behind 12 shutouts from goalkeeper Tally Hall. Hall became the first Aztec to receive All-American honors since National Soccer Hall of Fame member Marcelo Balboa did so in 1989.
With Hall back for his senior season in 2006, and the addition of Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, Nick Cardenas, the Aztecs returned to the NCAA Tournament and finished in second place in the Pac-10 with a 5-2-3 mark.
Kirshner also led the Aztecs to back-to-back 10 wins seasons in 2010 and 2011, but SDSU was left out of the NCAA Tournament.
Before coming to SDSU, Kirshner coached the women of Cañada College (Redwood City, Calif.) from 1992-95. During that time, he took over a program that had never won a conference game and led it to a 16-1-3 record in his final year. For his efforts, he was named the Coast Conference Coach of the Year. He also served as the men's assistant coach at Cañada and helped with their run to the state quarterfinals in 1992 and 1994.
From there, Kirshner moved to a head coaching position at Ohlone College (Fremont, Calif.) in 1995. At Ohlone, he helped take a team from a second-to-last place league finish the previous season to as high as No. 15 in the state.
Kirshner also had a stint as the men's assistant coach at his alma mater, Rutgers. Kirshner helped the Scarlet Knights reach the second round at the 1996 NCAA tournament and finish the season with a No. 13 national ranking and a 14-7-4 overall record.
Kirshner arrived at SDSU prior to the 1997 and spent three years as an assistant under long-time head coach Chuck Clegg, the school's all-time winningest coach.
As a player at Rutgers, Kirshner was part of a 1987 NCAA quarterfinal team, a 1989 NCAA semifinal squad that lost to eventual co-champion Virginia and a runner-up finisher to UCLA in the 1990 championship match.
He received his undergraduate degree in communication while graduating with honors in 1991, and is listed as one of the soccer program's top 25 alums.
"Lev was an outstanding player for us and a very integral part of a team that went to two Final Fours in his career," Rutgers head coach Bob Reasso said. "In my 25 years at Rutgers, Lev was one of the finest players ever to come through our program."
Following his collegiate career, Kirshner represented the United States in 1993, winning a bronze medal for the U.S. national Maccabiah team. In 1997, he returned to Israel as captain of the U.S. team, and led the only squad to defeat eventual gold-medalist Brazil.
Kirshner was selected as one of 250 domestic and international athletes to be assessed in the inaugural Major League Soccer combine in 1995. Kirshner also had a stint in the USISL starting for the Reno Rattlers. During that year, he trained with and played in several intrasquad reserve games for the MLS San Jose Clash.
Kirshner was named coach of the U.S. Maccabiah Pan-American U-20 soccer team in December 2003, where he won a bronze medal in Santiago, Chile. In the summer of 2005, Kirshner led the national Maccabiah squad to a second-place finish. Kirshner and his assistant, Amos Magee, became only the second and third members of the U.S. soccer delegation to have won two medals in the World Maccabiah Games. Additionally, Kirshner's squad earned the tournament's "Fair Play" Award, which is given to the team that exhibited the best sportsmanship.
Kirshner has valuable experience working with all levels of soccer having had stints with the Region IV Olympic Development Program (ODP) and serving as the interim head coach of the national runner-up West team during the 2001 U.S. regional championship. He was also as an assistant coach during the team's undefeated April 2002 tour of Australia.
Additionally, Kirshner worked as both an assistant and head coach with the Northern California ODP U-23 men's team during 1995 and 1996. He led those squads to consecutive Western Regional championships, including a third-place finish at the 1995 Donnelly Cup. He also won a Western Regional title with the under-15 ODP Northern California state team as the assistant coach of the 1984 age group.
Kirshner possesses a USSF A-License and has received the NSCAA Premiere Badge with distinguished honors; the highest accolade provided by that organization.
A graduate of Mission San Jose High School, Kirshner was inducted to the first hall of fame class at his alma mater. While at Mission San Jose, he guided his team to two North Coast Section (NCS) appearances. During his senior season, he led his squad to its school's first league title en route to the NCS semifinals. A three-time all-league selection and led his team in points all four years.