T.J. Kolba returns to CSU for his eighth season on themen’s soccer staff. This will be his second year as theAssociate Head Coach, where he handles all administrative, traveland budgetary matters for the Vikings. He also assists withon-field coaching and recruiting.
Kolba has been instrumental in the improvement and growth of theprogram during his time at Cleveland State working with Kazemaini.During the 2005 season, the year before Kolba joined themen’s soccer team with head coach Ali Kazemaini, the team waswinless. During 2006, Kolba helped lead the Vikings to the largestturnaround among all NCAA Division I programs, with a 6-10-2record.
For the first two years of the Kazemaini and Kolba regime,CSU’s record was 9-22-5. Over the most recent five years ofhis involvement, however, Kolba has helped lead the team to 45wins, including a victory over No. 1 Akron in 2010.
That five-year stretch for the Vikings included one of the bestseasons in program history in 2012. Last season the Vikingswent 11-6-3 on the year, while also taking home the Horizon Leaguetournament title. With the league crown, the Vikings qualified forthe NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1980.
Kolba and Kazemaini have been working together for eightseasons, seven at CSU and one at John Carroll University whereKolba also served as an assistant coach under Kazemaini.
In his lone campaign at John Carroll, Kolba helped lead the BlueStreaks to a 13-7-1 overall mark, regular and postseason OhioAthletic Conference crowns and a berth in the second round of theNCAA Tournament.
A four-year letter winner and three-year captain for the BlueStreaks, Kolba was recognized as the Ohio Athletic ConferenceDefender of the Year as a senior in 2004. A three-time All-OACselection, Kolba finished his career with 24 points (eight goalsand eight assists) in 73 matches. His defensive efforts helped leadthe Blue Streaks to three consecutive OAC Championship matches. Asa freshman, he netted John Carroll’s first-ever postseasongoal when he scored against Wilmington in the 2000 NCAATournament.
In addition to his duties at CSU, Kolba serves as a staff coachwith the Cleveland Soccer Academy and is also a member of the StateOlympic Development coaching staff. Kolba graduated from JohnCarroll in the fall of 2004 with a degree in marketing andlogistics.
