| ||||||||||||||
Neil McGuire enters his third season as California's head coach after continuing the women's soccer program's tradition of excellence in his first year. With a No. 4 nationally-ranked recruiting class entering the mix in 2008, McGuire looks to have the Golden Bears contending for a national title in the near future. McGuire now owns a 25-24-2 overall record in two years with the Bears.
Under McGuire's direction, the 2008 squad recorded the program's 23rd winning season, finishing 10-9-1 overall and going 3-5-1 in Pac-10 play to finish sixth in the competitive league. The 2008 campaign also saw Cal earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament for its fifth consecutive and 16th overall trip to the postseason. The Bears fell, 2-1, to No. 7 Florida in Gainesville, Fla., in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Sophomore forward Alex Morgan, who scored the eventual game-winner to lead the U.S. to a gold medal in the FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup in December, led the Cal in points (23) and goals (nine). The team had nine players named to the Pac-10's All-Academic team.
In 2007 after spending two seasons as head coach at Texas Tech, McGuire directed Cal to a 15-5-1 overall record, to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and to a No. 11 national ranking.
Cal finished in a tie for third place in the Pac-10 with a 6-3 mark, including a six-game winning streak to close the conference schedule. Overall, the Bears went 7-0-1 over their final eight games and look to carry that momentum into the 2008 season.
After the season, Cal's top scorer, Alex Morgan, trained with the U.S. Under-20 national team in preparation for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup Nov. 19-Dec. 7, 2008, in Chile. Morgan was one of six Cal players to earn postseason Pac-10 honors, including first-team selection Courtney Hooker who was also a second-team Soccer Buzz All-American. Morgan and Megan Jesolva garnered second-team Freshman All-America accolades from Soccer Buzz.
In addition to his responsibilities at Cal, McGuire also serves on the Region 4 Olympic Development Program staff.
McGuire, who owns a 10-year career record of 93-90-11, arrived in Berkeley with a proven track record of vast improvement at his two previous Division I stops.
He served as head coach at Mississippi State from 2000-03, taking over a program that was just 4-16 the year before his arrival and, within two years, improved the Bulldogs' record by eight-and-a-half games.
McGuire averaged nine wins per season at MSU and established school records for overall wins and conference victories during the 2001 season. He was tabbed as the Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year when he guided the Bulldogs to the first-ever women's conference title in Mississippi State athletics, leading his team to a share of the 2001 SEC Western Division championship.
McGuire then spent the 2004 season as an assistant at Texas, during which the Longhorns finished with a 15-7-2 overall record, placed third in the Big 12 Conference and notched a No. 16 national ranking.
In 2005, McGuire moved to Texas Tech as head coach and quickly proved his rebuilding skills again. The Red Raiders went from one-game winners in his first season to notch seven wins in 2006 - most for the program in seven years. In addition to his collegiate experience, McGuire served as head coach of the Region 3 Under-19 team in 2002, 2004 and 2005.
McGuire began his head coaching career at Iowa Central Community College from 1996-97. He also served as an assistant at Iowa State (1998) and Arizona State (1999).
A native of Edinburgh, Scotland, McGuire earned his associate's degree in physical education with an emphasis on coaching from Telford College in Edinburgh before relocating to the United States. Upon his arrival, McGuire attended Augusta State University (Ga.), at which, while earning a bachelor's degree in psychology, he was named first-team All-Peach Belt Athletic Conference four consecutive years. He was also a three-time NSCAA all-region selection. McGuire earned his master's of education degree with an emphasis in sports administration in 2003 from Mississippi State.
McGuire's professional career includes time with the Falkirk Football Club in Scotland, the Des Moines Menace Professional Soccer Club and the Arizona Sahuaros Professional Soccer Club.
McGuire holds a United States Soccer Federation Class A license. He joined the University of California family with his wife, Jesica, daughter, Kelyn, and son, Ethan.
(last updated June 26, 2009)
