•University of California, Irvine Men Head Coach (D-1)
•NSCAA Advanced National Diploma
•NCAA College Head Coach for 20 Years
•NCAA (9) time College Coach of the Year
•Technical Director/Director of Coaching for Hawaii Youth Soccer Association
•Former California Youth Soccer Association South – Director of Coaching
•California Youth Soccer Association South - Coach of the Year (1995)
George Kuntz is the men’s head soccer coach at Division 1 University of California, Irvine and has been an NCAA college head coach twenty years.In 2010 Coach Kuntz will enter his 16th season at UC Irvine he is recognized as a “Program Builder” and “Educator”.
In 2009 the team won the Big West Tournament and received an automatic bid to the NCAATournament and a first round bye by virtue of a 4-1 win on the road against #4 UCSB and a high RPI in the Big West Conference. UC Irvine was rewarded for equaling a historical 15 win season by receiving the 16th Seed for the NCAA Division 1 Tournament.UCI Played host to Stanford in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in front of 2000 fans.The team finished #3 in the west region and #11 in the nation.
In 2008 the UC Irvine men's soccer team won the Big West regular season title in dramatic fashion during the last conference game. The Anteaters then added the inaugural Big West Tournament championship to their fantastic run while a record crowd of 2000 fans watched them win 4-2 over UCSB with their first NCAA Tournament appearance in soccer program history. The NCAA selection committee rewarded UCI with the #14 seed and a bye in the first round. They then beat Cal Poly 3-0 with the largest home soccer crowd in UC Irvine history a sellout of 2500 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.Finally, on a chilly night in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen at St. John’s University in Queen’s New York lost a thrilling game to an eventual NCAA Final Four team St. John’s 3-2.
In 2008 the UC Irvine Men's Soccer Team finished the regular season ranked #1 in the Far West for several consecutive weeks and #7 in the nation by the college soccer coaching organization the NSCAA known as the most recognized/respected soccer rankings in the United States for College Soccer.The final ranking at season end UC Irvine was ranked #1 in the Far West and #10 in the nation by the NSCAA. The team finished first in the Big West Conference and Kuntz was named NCAA College Coach of the Year for the ninth time in his college career. In 2008 the team finished ranked #1 in the west region out of all the Division 1 schools and 10th in the nation while finishing the season breaking the record for most wins.It also won the inaugural Big West Tournament and the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
UC Irvine Accomplishments
•2009 Record 15W – 7L – 0T
•2009 Big West Tournament Champions
•2009 NCAA Tournament 16th Seed
•2009 NCAA Tournament Second Round
•2008 results 15 W – 2 L – 6 T
•During the last four seasons ranked top 20 in the USA during the regular season
•2008 NSCAA Ranked #1 Far West Region (four weeks)
•2008 NSCAA Ranked #10 in the USA (highest ranking #7)
•2008 Big West regular season champions
•2008 Big West Tournament Champions/NCAA Tournament #14 Seed
•2008 NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen (third round)
•Academics - 145Scholar Athletes, 2 Big West (SAY),1 Lauds and Laurels, 1 Arthur Ashe, 4 UCI Leadership Awards,
•Athletic Awards - 82 All Big West, 27 All MPSF, 11 Conference Players of the Year, 10 All-Far West players, and two US U-20 National Team Members, 6 Coach of the Year Honors.
•Seven former players drafted/played in Major League Soccer
Awards – Nine Time College Coach of the Year
•2008 National Soccer Coaches Association of America Far West Coach of the Year (NCAA D 1 Men)
•2008 Big West Conference – Coach of the Year – (NCAA Division 1 Men)
•2006 National Soccer Coaches Association of America Far West Coach of the Year (NCAA D 1 Men)
•2006 Big West Conference – Coach of the Year – (NCAA Division 1 Men)
•Inducted into the California Lutheran University – Hall of Fame (Men’s and Women’s Soccer)
•2005, 2004, 2003 - Big WestConference (UC Irvine) Sportsmanship Award (team)
•2004 – The Outstanding Supporter of Prevention Award, Irvine Prevention Coalition - Community Service
•2001 - Big West Conference – Coach of the Year – (NCAA Division 1 Men)
•2000 - Mountain Pacific Sports Federation – Pacific Division Coach of the Year –(NCAA Division 1 Men)
•1995 - California Youth Soccer Association – South - Coach of the Year (Boy’s)
•1992 - National Soccer Coaches Association Far West Coach of the Year, (NCAA Women)
•1991 - National Soccer Coaches Association Far West Coach of the Year,(NCAA Men)
•1988 - NAIA District III Coach of the Year,(Men)
In 2006 the team was ranked as high as number #1 in the west region and 7th in the nation and broke all records that season.
During the 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 seasons the UC Irvine Men’s team has been ranked in the top 20 in the nation by the NSCAA during the regular season.At UC Irvine he has produced close to eighty players that have been named all conference and close to one hundred were honored as scholar athletes recognized for their academic achievement. A total of seven UCI players have been drafted or signed by Major League Soccer. His teams have broken all of the records at UC Irvine for wins and it’s first ever post season berth and NCAA Tournament berth for men’s soccer.
Kuntz began his collegiate coaching career at California Lutheran University in 1988 and compiled a successful five-year record.The Kingsmen won the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) titles in 1991 and 1992 and advanced to the NCAA Far West Regional title game.In 1989 founded the women’s soccer program at California Lutheran University.California Lutheran’s women’s team was ranked No. 1 in the Far West region and No. 3 in the nation in 1992 with a 17-4 record.Kuntz led the team to SCIAC championships in 1991 and 1992.The team went to the NCAA Far West final in 1992.
He was the first women’s soccer head coach at Pepperdine University D-1 where he recorded a remarkable 23-11-2 record in the first two seasons of the Waves programs existence.He is one of the pioneers for collegiate women’s soccer in the United States.
In 1994 Coach Kuntz worked at the Federation International Football Association (FIFA) World Cup in Pasadena, CA. for the as an (FIFA) Assistant Technical Advisor.
Kuntz has coached four National Championship teams in the (Donnelly Cup) as the California Soccer Association Head Coach for both the men and women.The California State Select Men’s Team won National Championships in 2003 (Florida), 2004 (Florida), and 2005 (Carson, California at the Home Depot Center).The California State Select Team is a United States Adult Soccer Association select team program college age players in southern California.His women’s California State Select won the national title in 2006 (Florida),the regional title in 2004 and, participated with the men at Home Depot Center (Carson, California) in the National Final Four in 2005.
Kuntz is a 1989 graduate of Arizona State University and holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts.He graduated with a Master’s degree in Education with an emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction from California Lutheran University.He holds the prestigious United States Soccer Federation “A” license, National Youth License, and the National Soccer Coaches Association Advanced National Diploma.
Coach Kuntz has spent an large part of his coaching career studying the development of the youth soccer player and is nationally recognized as the one of the longest serving United States Youth Soccer Association (USYSA) – Directors of Coaching for State Associations in the United States.George Kuntz has been the Technical Director and Director of Coaches Education for the Hawaii Youth Soccer Association for nine years.He served as the Director of Coaching for the California Youth Soccer Association – South for eight years and was the catalyst for mandatory licensing for youth soccer coaches in the United States.He was named 1995 CYSA – South Boy’s Coach of the Year.Kuntz was also director of the Olympic Development Program from 1992 – 1996.
Kuntz founded the popular Team Soccer Direct program in 1977, which has evolved into one of the nation’s best summer camp programs.
Known as a popular clinician, Kuntz has been directing camps for over thirty years.
College Coaching - Head Men’s Coach, University of California, Irvine 1994 – Present
Head Women’s Coach, Pepperdine University 1993-1994; Head Men’s Coach, California Lutheran University, 1988-1992; Head Women’s Coach, California Lutheran University 1989-92.
National Soccer Involvement:
Founding member of the Latino Soccer Coaches Association of America; Member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America; Member of the United States Soccer Federation Coaches Association; Volunteer with several youth organizations, NCAA Far West Committee Chair 1992; NCAA Far West D-1 Committee 1997-2000, 2006-Present Big West/Far West Committee Representative for NSCAA Rankings, Regional Olympic Development Coach, Community Public Speaking; Featured speaker, clinician, lecturer, and coach throughout the United States with the United States Youth Soccer Association, National Soccer Coaches Association of America,American Youth Soccer Organization.
Coach Kuntz has been involved in the Olympic Development Program (ODP) as a player, coach, and administrator for 33 years.
Publications:Performance Soccer Conditioning, California Youth Soccer Association Monthly (over 30 articles), several other publications.
Videos – Soccer Learning Systems - “Soccer: How To Play and How to Coach” Part 1, 2, and 3
Coach Kuntz played at Westmont College, San Diego Mesa College, and Scottsdale College during his collegiate years and was drafted by the Phoenix Fire of the American Professional Soccer League. George is married to Susan and they have two children, a son Jordan and daughter Sevilla
