UNIVERSITY CENTER - Saginaw Valley State University Head Men's Soccer Coach Cale Wassermann has announced today that he will be accepting a coaching position with the Michigan State University Men's Soccer program.
Wassermann will join the Spartans, a Division I member of the Big 10 Conference, as an assistant coach. He joins a program rich with success, as MSU is fresh off back-to-back Elite Eight runs in the 2014 NCAA Division I Tournament. They finished the 2014 campaign with an overall record of 12-5-6.
Wassermann began his stint of five years as the SVSU Head Coach during the 2010 season, instantly turning the program into a winner. He guided the team to a 9-6-3 record in his debut season as head coach. Four members of the men's soccer team earned All-GLIAC honors that year, include Noah Sawyer who became the first freshman in school history to be named All-GLIAC. Anthony Palazzolo, Piotr Kazmierczak, and Zach Myers were also selected to All-Region teams.
The Cardinals built on that success in 2011, going 12-5-3 and claiming the program's first-ever GLIAC Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. Five Cardinals received All-GLIAC recognition, including Tyler Channell who was the lone freshman in the conference to be selected All-GLIAC. Zach Myers and Zach Walega were also selected to the All-Region teams. Coach Wassermann received GLIAC "Coach of the Year" honors and Zach Myers was named GLIAC Defensive "Player of the Year" as he helped the defense give up just 18 goals in 19 games.
The 2012 team was one that enjoyed an historic trip to the NCAA Division II National Championship Game, the deepest run in program history. SVSU set school records for both wins in a season (18) and at home (10) as they claimed their second straight GLIAC Championship and NCAA Tournament apperance. Seven Cardinals earned All-GLIAC honors including Zach Myers who was named "Player of the Year". Four players also earned NSCAA All-Region honors; Lachlan Savage, Michael Lamb, Jason Wise and Zach Myers, while Myers and Wise also earned All-Academic honors as well from the NSCAA. Zach Myers and Jason Wise also became the first two players in program history to be named All-Americans, with Myers earning both Daktronics Inc. and NSCAA honors and Wise earning NSCAA honors. Myers would also be named a Capital One Academic All-American and the 2012 NSCAA National "Player of the Year." Head Coach Cale Wassermann was named GLIAC "Coach of the Year", NSCAA Midwest Region "Coach of the Year" and also NSCAA National "Coach of the Year," as he guided Saginaw Valley to its first ever NCAA Championship game in just his third season.
In 2013, SVSU continued its success by finishing the season with an 11-4-5 overall record and an 8-2-4 record in the GLIAC. This placed them 3rd in the conference and reserved them a spot in the GLIAC Tournament, where they lost 2-1 in a double-overtime thriller to Ohio Dominican in the finals. The Cardinals swept the GLIAC Postseason "Player of the Year" honors that year, as Tyler Channell and Michael Lamb were named the Offensive and Defensive "Players of the Year," respectively. Jordan Kalk was tabbed as the league's "Freshman of the Year" as well.
The 2014 season was one that featured the Cardinals advancing to the NCAA Division II Round of 16 for the second time in three years. SVSU finished with an overall record of 14-5-2, falling to national semifinalist participant Quincy in the third round. The Cards got off to their best start in history, going unbeaten in the first 12 matches (10-0-2). Senior Craig Neal earned All-American honors for the Cardinals, as well as Academic All-American plaudits.
Wassermann departs SVSU with an overall record of 64-23-17 and as the winningest coach in program history. He led the team to three NCAA Postseason appearances in his five years. He claimed two GLIAC Championships (2011, 2012) and was twice named the GLIAC "Coach of the Year" (2011, 2012). He was named the Midwest Regional "Coach of the Year" in 2012 and was tabbed as the NSCAA National "Coach of the Year" following the team's historic 2012 campaign. He leaves the Cardinals after turning the program into one that is prominent on the national level.
Coach Wassermann reflected on his time at SVSU and commented on the new opportunity in his coaching career...
"I have definitely been through the whole spectrum of emotions over the last few days," said Wassermann. " I am extremely excited for my new opportunities and the challenges ahead but I also have to say goodbye to Saginaw Valley State University, a place where I have spent many years as a player and coach, had fabulous experiences on and off the field, and made some lifelong friendships and relationships in the process."
"I want to start by thanking the administration here at Saginaw Valley for giving me the opportunity five years ago to become Head Coach; especially Mike Watson, Angela Pohl and former President Dr. Eric Gilbertson. I also need to thank everyone else in the SVSU campus community in every department from admissions down to all the great people in our facilities staff. They have all made such a huge impact on the program, the players and on my own personal journey. Lastly, all of the SVSU alumni, families and, most importantly, all of the players who I have had the honor of working with over the years. You truly have made SVSU one of a kind and bought into building the program into something special!"
"I now look forward to the next step in my life as I join a program rich in history and tradition, where I will join a great team of coaches led by Head Coach Damon Rensing. The opportunity to be part of the staff at MSU while competing in The Big Ten, arguably the best soccer conference in the country, is something that I could not pass up. Michigan State University is a top institution in all facets of academics, community, and athletics; I very much look forward to working extremely hard to make an impact within the program and with the student-athletes. I would like to thank Damon Rensing, Mark Hollis, Shelley Appelbaum and President Simon for this new and exciting opportunity."
Current Men's Soccer Assistant Coach Kyle Segebart will step into a new role as the Interim Head Coach while a national search for a head coach is conducted. Segebart joined the program for the 2014 season, helping lead the Cardinals to an NCAA Division II Round of 16 appearance, the second in a span of three years for the team.
