Sean Holmes named head men's soccer coach at St. Cloud State

ST. CLOUD, MINN. - St. Cloud State University Director of Athletics Heather Weems has announced the appointment of Sean Holmes to the position of head coach of the men's soccer team, which will begin its inaugural season of NCAA Division II play at the University in 2020.

"The addition of NCAA Division II men's soccer to St. Cloud State University has generated buzz in soccer circles both regionally and nationally, including over 80 candidates for the head coach position," said Weems. "I am excited to introduce the St. Cloud State campus and our Central Minnesota community to Coach Sean Holmes and his family. In my work with Sean at Drake University, I am familiar with his soccer mind. He is a consummate teacher and team player with high expectations for students in the classroom, on the field, and as leaders in the community. He is well-respected and connected in the upper Midwest and will immediately bring credibility to our program as we build our foundation."

"I am thrilled that Coach Holmes will be a part of our University, athletics program and St. Cloud community. His years of experience, energy and enthusiasm make him the right choice to build a successful Huskies men's soccer program at SCSU. This is another step in positioning St. Cloud State University for the future," President Dr. Robbyn Wacker said.

A resident of Des Moines, Iowa, Holmes served as the head soccer coach at Drake University from 1998 to 2015. His teams at Drake consistently advanced to the Missouri Valley Conference playoffs, won the MVC championship in 2009, advanced to the NCAA Division I Elite Eight that same season and won 141 games in 17 seasons.

"I am honored to have been selected as the men's soccer coach at St. Cloud State University for its inaugural season at the first NCAA division II program in Minnesota," Holmes said. "The significance of these firsts only serves to increase my excitement for what lies ahead. Minnesota has a rich tradition of soccer at the youth, high school and professional levels. Collegiate soccer further enriches the community, the region and the state with yet another opportunity to grow the game. I look forward to finding the first group of young men ready to win on the field, excel in the classroom and become role models for young soccer players across the upper Midwest.

"I am so grateful to Director of Athletics Heather Weems, and our President, Robbyn Wacker, for their confidence in me to build and lead a program that reflects the values and traditions of SCSU Athletics. My family and I are thrilled to continue our journey together in the community of St. Cloud and as Huskies. I believe this will be special, and I can't wait to get started."

Prior to his time at Drake, Holmes was an assistant coach at the University of Evansville from 1994 to 1998 and was the head soccer coach at Baker University, where he charted a 78-26-2 record. Holmes helped Baker win three conference titles and three district titles in five years and he was named a district/conference coach of the year four times at Baker.

A graduate of Carleton University (Ottawa, Ontario), Holmes received his master's degree from the University of Kansas and holds a U.S. Soccer Federation "A" level coaching license. In addition to his collegiate soccer experience, Holmes has worked with the Region II Olympic Development Program and the Kansas Olympic Development Program along with serving as a MLS scout for the Minnesota United FC.

He played college soccer at Carleton University, where he served as a team captain and earned All-Ontario honors. Holmes later played professional soccer in the Canadian Soccer League for the National Capital Pioneers.

He most recently served as the head varsity boys soccer coach at Theodore Roosevelt High School and coached with the West Des Moines Soccer Club and Sporting Iowa.

The Huskies will begin intercollegiate men's soccer play as an independent NCAA Division II affiliate in 2020. St. Cloud State will become the first team in the state of Minnesota to play intercollegiate men's soccer at the NCAA Division II level.

A team roster and schedule for the upcoming season will be announced in the upcoming months and fans can follow these developments at scsuhuskies.com

Holmes will be introduced to the SCSU campus, and be available for questions from the media, at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 19, in the Husky Den of the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center. For more information on this event, please contact Tom Nelson at 320-224-0813 or tcnelson@stcloudstate.edu.

Saint Cloud State University Athletics

Sean Holmes named head men's soccer coach at St. Cloud State

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