Lehigh University Athletics
Men's Soccer
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- dk0f@lehigh.edu
- Phone:
- 610-758-5355
Dean Koski begins his 18th season as head coach of the Lehigh’s men’s soccer program. Since taking over the program in 1991, Koski, the 15th coach in school history, has guided the Mountain Hawks to a Patriot League Regular Season Championship in 2006, a Patriot League Tournament Championship in 2000, three NCAA tournament appearances, ten Mid-Atlantic Region Top 10 rankings and the best overall record in the Patriot League over the last twelve seasons (129-60-34). He has helped to develop 33 All-Patriot League First Team players, and 29 Second Team players. In addition, three players, Andrew Mittendorf, Kevin Jackson and Adam Williamson, were drafted by MLS franchises and three, Evan Bruno, John O’Reilly and Joe Verdi, were named All-Americans.
In 2006, Koski guided the Mountain Hawks to their most successful season since 1998 as Lehigh won a record 15 games and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. The 2006 team rolled through league play undefeated and became the first team to go through the Patriot League schedule without a loss or a tie. Midway through the season, Lehigh broke into the national polls and was ranked as high as No. 13 - the highest ever for the program. The Mountain Hawks made it to the NCAA Tournament for the third time and, as the No. 16 seed, earned a first round bye. Lehigh hosted the
In 2003, Koski passed yet another milestone, as he recorded career victory No. 100 versus Navy on November 8. Koski became the first coach in Lehigh history to win 100 games, and has the most wins in school history with 152. Koski led Lehigh to 12-consecutive winning seasons from 1996-2007, which is both a Patriot League and school record. By finishing 7-7-3 last season, Koski ensured his streak of not suffering a losing season since 1995.
Under Koski’s direction in 2002, Lehigh climbed as high as No. 14 in the Division I polls and was also ranked atop the Mid-Atlantic Region’s rankings for much of the season. The Mountain Hawks earned the school’s first at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, and hosted Northeastern in the first round. For his efforts, Koski was named the Patriot League Coach of the Year for the second time.
Koski, who holds a USSF “A” license, the NSCAA Advanced National Diploma and the England FA Preliminary and International Diplomas, serves as a staff coach for both the USSF and NSCAA coaching schools. The 2000 NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year, Koski also sits on the NCAA Division I Regional Advisory Committee and has chaired the Patriot League soccer coaches committee. He has been a featured clinician for the New York/New Jersey Metro Stars and the North Jersey Imperials.
“Coaching soccer is a passion for me,” Koski says when asked why he decided to pursue the profession. “My degree is in education and I yearn to teach. The relationships I have been able to forge with my players is especially rewarding. To be a part of their lives and watch them develop from boys to men is a privilege.”
Koski’s love of soccer can be traced back to his collegiate days where he played at
Koski says that he recruits players that exhibit the same type of characteristics that he displayed during his career.
“I want a Lehigh soccer player to be passionate, fiercely competitive and committed to being the best player, best student and best person that he can be.”
A native of
“We now have a program at Lehigh that places a great value on relationships, commitment, family and competition,” Koski says. “I think the involvement in the game of soccer is just one part of the overall experience that a student-athlete gets when he enrolls at Lehigh. We have players that love to play and come here wanting to play.”
Since arriving at Lehigh, Koski has signed team contracts with Nike and has established one of the most successful soccer camps regionally, drawing over 700 campers each summer.
Koski has a bachelor’s degree from
