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The University of Akron men's soccer organization could not have made a better choice than Jared Embick, who was named the All-Ohio Coach of the Year in early December, for the vacant head coaching position at the beginning of the season.
UA needed a strong presence at the helm of the team after losing head coach Caleb Porter, who was one of the most successful coaches in Zips' history, to MLS' Portland Timbers. Porter's crowning accomplishment was winning UA's first national championship in 2010 while leading Akron to a overall record of 119-18-17 in his tenure.
After serving as Porter's top assistant and recruiting coordinator, Embick was the logical choice for head coach and he led the team admirably in his first season.
Embick led the Zips to a 17-4-1 record this past season. He also led the team to its seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and a No. 7 ranking in the country according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll.
UA took a 10-0 unbeaten run into the NCAA Tournament and continued its streak by knocking off 2012 national champions Indiana before falling short to Marquette in the second round.
The Zips can also attribute much of their success to senior forward Reinaldo Brenes, junior defender Bryan Gallego, senior midfielder Eric Stevenson and MAC Player of the Year senior forward Aodhan Quinn who were all picked for the All-Ohio First Team.
Embick won NSCAA National Assistant Coach of the Year in 2010 for playing a role in helping the Zips win their first national championship in any sport as per gozips.com. His skill as a recruiter can be traced to the overall success of his team and the outstanding play of Quinn.
