Photo by: Owen Main | Cal Poly Athletics
Sampson to Retire at Completion of 2021 Season
10/26/2021 8:30:00 AM | Men's Soccer
SAN LUIS OBISPO – Seventh-year Cal Poly men's soccer head coach Steve Sampson announced Tuesday morning that he will retire following the completion of the 2021 season.
"It's with mixed emotions and a heavy heart that I announce my retirement as Cal Poly head coach," said Sampson, the former manager of the United States Men's National Team, the Costa Rica Men's National Team and Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy. "This announcement comes as a result of extensive conversations with my physicians and family, who recommended that I reduce my activity for the improvement of my health.
"I've been blessed to have coached for more than 45 years at every level – both domestically and internationally – and have enjoyed working with the best and brightest athletes in the United States and Costa Rica," Sampson said. "It's appropriate that I end my coaching career with some of the finest men I've come to know here at Cal Poly. I've truly enjoyed my time here and want to thank (university president) Jeff Armstrong and (director of athletics) Don Oberhelman for giving me this opportunity to be part of such a fantastic university and athletics department. My appreciation for Cal Poly has grown exponentially since my arrival. The quality of education at Cal Poly and the athletics department's commitment to excellence is only exceeded by the quality of human beings on this campus."
A national search for Cal Poly's next head coach will begin immediately.
"I think about the tremendous young men that have come through our program and have had the opportunity to play for a world-class coach in Steve Sampson while earning a world-class education at Cal Poly," Oberhelman said. "On behalf of those individuals and our athletics department, I thank Steve for his commitment and friendship to us all.
"Our program is in tremendous shape and poised for even greater heights due to the leadership of Steve Sampson and the culture he has built."
One of the most accomplished American coaches of all-time, Sampson directed the United States to the 1998 FIFA World Cup, became the first American-born coach to manage a national team outside of the United States with Costa Rica (2002-04), managed LA Galaxy to both the 2005 MLS Cup and MLS Open Cup and led Santa Clara to the 1989 NCAA Division I Championship.
Appointed Cal Poly's head coach on Dec. 4, 2014, Sampson's teams have combined to produce 41 victories, 17 All-Big West Conference selections, three Major League Soccer SuperDraft selections, nine players signing professional contracts and a 31-14-6 home record inside Alex G. Spanos Stadium.
Sampson's initial 2015 Cal Poly squad reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in seven years, matched a program record with 11 victories and climbed as high as No. 20 in the United Soccer Coaches Division I poll.
More recently, in 2019, Cal Poly hosted a Big West Tournament match for the first time in four seasons and set a program record by allowing just 61 shots on goal in 17 matches.
This year, Cal Poly's Aug. 30 win at Saint Mary's marked Sampson's 100th victory at the collegiate level while the Mustangs secured a sixth successive winning home season at Spanos Stadium.
Cal Poly enters its Saturday, Oct. 30 regular season finale at CSU Bakersfield tied with the Roadrunners for third place in the Big West standings. A Cal Poly victory guarantees the Mustangs no worse than third place in the final standings and the right to host a Big West Tournament opening-round game on Wednesday, Nov. 3.
"My wife, Sheri, and I intend to retire here in Avila Beach and remain some of the staunchest supporters Cal Poly has ever known," Sampson said. "I want to thank all of those who have supported me over the years, especially my family and friends to whom I'm forever in their debt.
"We still have some work to do with the current team to go as far as possible in the postseason. I look forward to working with these extraordinary young men at Cal Poly for a strong finish to our season."
"It's with mixed emotions and a heavy heart that I announce my retirement as Cal Poly head coach," said Sampson, the former manager of the United States Men's National Team, the Costa Rica Men's National Team and Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy. "This announcement comes as a result of extensive conversations with my physicians and family, who recommended that I reduce my activity for the improvement of my health.
"I've been blessed to have coached for more than 45 years at every level – both domestically and internationally – and have enjoyed working with the best and brightest athletes in the United States and Costa Rica," Sampson said. "It's appropriate that I end my coaching career with some of the finest men I've come to know here at Cal Poly. I've truly enjoyed my time here and want to thank (university president) Jeff Armstrong and (director of athletics) Don Oberhelman for giving me this opportunity to be part of such a fantastic university and athletics department. My appreciation for Cal Poly has grown exponentially since my arrival. The quality of education at Cal Poly and the athletics department's commitment to excellence is only exceeded by the quality of human beings on this campus."
A national search for Cal Poly's next head coach will begin immediately.
"I think about the tremendous young men that have come through our program and have had the opportunity to play for a world-class coach in Steve Sampson while earning a world-class education at Cal Poly," Oberhelman said. "On behalf of those individuals and our athletics department, I thank Steve for his commitment and friendship to us all.
"Our program is in tremendous shape and poised for even greater heights due to the leadership of Steve Sampson and the culture he has built."
One of the most accomplished American coaches of all-time, Sampson directed the United States to the 1998 FIFA World Cup, became the first American-born coach to manage a national team outside of the United States with Costa Rica (2002-04), managed LA Galaxy to both the 2005 MLS Cup and MLS Open Cup and led Santa Clara to the 1989 NCAA Division I Championship.
Appointed Cal Poly's head coach on Dec. 4, 2014, Sampson's teams have combined to produce 41 victories, 17 All-Big West Conference selections, three Major League Soccer SuperDraft selections, nine players signing professional contracts and a 31-14-6 home record inside Alex G. Spanos Stadium.
Sampson's initial 2015 Cal Poly squad reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in seven years, matched a program record with 11 victories and climbed as high as No. 20 in the United Soccer Coaches Division I poll.
More recently, in 2019, Cal Poly hosted a Big West Tournament match for the first time in four seasons and set a program record by allowing just 61 shots on goal in 17 matches.
This year, Cal Poly's Aug. 30 win at Saint Mary's marked Sampson's 100th victory at the collegiate level while the Mustangs secured a sixth successive winning home season at Spanos Stadium.
Cal Poly enters its Saturday, Oct. 30 regular season finale at CSU Bakersfield tied with the Roadrunners for third place in the Big West standings. A Cal Poly victory guarantees the Mustangs no worse than third place in the final standings and the right to host a Big West Tournament opening-round game on Wednesday, Nov. 3.
"My wife, Sheri, and I intend to retire here in Avila Beach and remain some of the staunchest supporters Cal Poly has ever known," Sampson said. "I want to thank all of those who have supported me over the years, especially my family and friends to whom I'm forever in their debt.
"We still have some work to do with the current team to go as far as possible in the postseason. I look forward to working with these extraordinary young men at Cal Poly for a strong finish to our season."
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