Chris Karwoski Named Pitt Assistant Men's Soccer Coach
6/1/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
PITTSBURGH- University of Pittsburgh men's soccer coach Joe Luxbacher announced the hiring of Chris Karwoski as the team's assistant coach on Monday.
"Chris is an excellent addition to our staff and program," Luxbacher said. "Chris and I coached together at Pitt for several years during the 1990's and some of our best years were when Chris was previously with the program. He is an excellent coach with a true passion for the game. More important, he is a fine man whom I respect and trust. He and I have similar philosophies and work well together and I am looking forward to his return to the program."
Karwoski, a former Pitt men's soccer assistant coach from 1993-97, comes back to Pitt after spending the past 11 years as the head men's soccer coach at Western Michigan University. In his 11 seasons at WMU, Karwoski produced 22 All-Mid-American Conference (MAC) selections, nine MAC All-Tournament honorees, four All-Great Lakes Region players, the 2000 MAC newcomer of the year and 14 Academic All-MAC selections. In 2003, Karwoski was named MAC Coach of the Year after leading the Broncos to a school-record 12 wins, a MAC tournament title and the school's first-ever berth in the NCAA College Cup.
While coaching Western Michigan, Karwoski was able to reach out to the Kalamazoo youth soccer community by coaching the Kingdom Reserves Super Y League boy's team and by assisting with numerous youth programs such as the Michigan Olympic Development Program (ODP) and the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO). Karwoski is also a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) Nationally Licensed "C" coach.
During his time in Kalamazoo, Karwoski was able to garner much success at the club level with the Kingdom Reserves. Under Karwoski's leadership in 2007, the Kingdom Reserves Super Y League Under-13 boy's team earned a Midwest Regional League runner-up finish and qualified for the North American Finals. Karwoski improved on his successful 2007 campaign in 2008 when he led the Kingdom Reserves Under-14 boy's team to a Midwest Regional League championship and again qualified for the North American Finals. In 2009, Karwoski led the Kingdom Reserves Under-15 boy's team to an undefeated season en route to yet another Midwest Regional League championship. Karwoski's 2009 club also won the Junior Irish MDI championship and was a Michigan State Cup quarterfinalist.
Prior to accepting the head coaching job at Western Michigan, Karwoski served as the top assistant at Pitt from 1993-97. While at Pitt, the Panthers averaged 10 wins per season, highlighted by a school-record 14 victories and a No. 22 national ranking in 1995.
"I am very honored to rejoin the soccer staff at Pitt," Karwoski said. "I learned so much from Coach Luxbacher and the Pitt athletic department staff when I was here previously. I have seen the current team play and see so much potential for the upcoming season and beyond for the program. My 11 seasons as a head coach have taught me a lot and I look forward to working for Coach Luxbacher to help rebuild Pitt soccer into a force, not just in the Big East, but nationally as well. I could not be more excited and ready to give my complete commitment to Joe, the players and the university."
Karwoski graduated from the University of Vermont in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree in natural resources economics. During his collegiate soccer career, Karwoski earned All-North Atlantic Conference First Team honors and helped the Catamounts advance to the NCAA Elite Eight in 1989. Karwoski was awarded Vermont's Hal Grieg Award in 1990 which is awarded to the Catamount who, in the opinion of his teammates, has done the most for the Vermont men's soccer program through his desire, hustle and love of the game.
After graduating from Vermont, Karwoski went on to play professionally for the San Diego Nomads, Forfar Albion of the Scottish Third Division and the Polonia Falcon of the Connecticut Soccer League.
Karwoski and his wife Terry have four children: Corry, Kelly, Kathryn and Jack.
Pitt finished the 2008 season with a 7-8-3 overall record and went 3-6-2 in Big East play.