Photo by: Owen Main | Cal Poly Athletics
Sampson to Return as Cal Poly Men’s Soccer Head Coach
12/20/2021 7:23:00 PM | Men's Soccer
SAN LUIS OBISPO – Nearly two months after Steve Sampson announced his retirement as men's soccer head coach for health reasons, the Cal Poly Athletics Department released Monday that he will return to the position effective immediately.
"One never knows in life how things change but, after consulting with family, I'm excited about Cal Poly's offer to reconsider my retirement and have accepted a multi-year contract to continue," said Sampson, Cal Poly's head coach since December 2014. "This could only have been done with the help of (director of athletics) Don Oberhelman and the support from (university president) Jeff Armstrong.
"I have the opportunity to proceed with my planned back surgeries, recover and then resume my responsibilities as head coach. I look forward to my continued work with our outstanding and committed student-athletes and building on our success from the 2021 season. Cal Poly and California's Central Coast are special places to work and I'm thankful for the opportunity to continue."
"We're all delighted that Steve has decided to return to the program," Oberhelman said. "Having him here allows us to continue the great progress the program has made. These past few weeks have allowed me to reflect upon how fortunate we are to have a coach of his stature working with our young men."
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.
Sampson's teams have combined to produce 42 victories, 21 All-Big West Conference honorees, three Major League Soccer SuperDraft selections, nine players signing professional contracts and a 31-15-6 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.
Most recently, Cal Poly hosted Big West Tournament matches in back-to-back (2019, 2021) seasons for the first time in program history. Cal Poly's 2019 squad set a program record with just 61 shots allowed on goal in 17 matches. The 2021 Mustangs then conceded just 64 while recording six shutouts.
Cal Poly's Aug. 30, 2021 win at Saint Mary's marked Sampson's 100th victory at the collegiate level. Sampson takes a 106-67-35 collegiate coaching record into 2022, when Cal Poly seeks a seventh successive winning home season at Spanos Stadium.
"One never knows in life how things change but, after consulting with family, I'm excited about Cal Poly's offer to reconsider my retirement and have accepted a multi-year contract to continue," said Sampson, Cal Poly's head coach since December 2014. "This could only have been done with the help of (director of athletics) Don Oberhelman and the support from (university president) Jeff Armstrong.
"I have the opportunity to proceed with my planned back surgeries, recover and then resume my responsibilities as head coach. I look forward to my continued work with our outstanding and committed student-athletes and building on our success from the 2021 season. Cal Poly and California's Central Coast are special places to work and I'm thankful for the opportunity to continue."
"We're all delighted that Steve has decided to return to the program," Oberhelman said. "Having him here allows us to continue the great progress the program has made. These past few weeks have allowed me to reflect upon how fortunate we are to have a coach of his stature working with our young men."
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.
Sampson's teams have combined to produce 42 victories, 21 All-Big West Conference honorees, three Major League Soccer SuperDraft selections, nine players signing professional contracts and a 31-15-6 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.
Most recently, Cal Poly hosted Big West Tournament matches in back-to-back (2019, 2021) seasons for the first time in program history. Cal Poly's 2019 squad set a program record with just 61 shots allowed on goal in 17 matches. The 2021 Mustangs then conceded just 64 while recording six shutouts.
Cal Poly's Aug. 30, 2021 win at Saint Mary's marked Sampson's 100th victory at the collegiate level. Sampson takes a 106-67-35 collegiate coaching record into 2022, when Cal Poly seeks a seventh successive winning home season at Spanos Stadium.
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