Brian Zwaschka Position: Assistant Coach Year at California: 2nd

Brian Zwaschka, who is also known as "Z", begins his second season as an assistant coach at California and his fourth year on head coach Neil McGuire's staff. His primary responsibilities are to oversee the program's performance-related tasks, including player development, fitness and wellness, nutrition, recovery, video, scouting, equipment and facilities. He assists with individual and team training and shares the responsibility of talent identification with McGuire.

In Zwaschka's first season at Cal, the Golden Bears posted a 15-5-1 record, advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and earned a No. 11 national ranking.

Prior to being an assistant coach for McGuire at Texas Tech from 2005-07, Zwaschka was an assistant at Grand View College, a NAIA program in Des Moines, Iowa. In two seasons on the coaching staff at his alma mater, Zwaschka helped the Vikings to the national tournament, a No. 11 national ranking and two conference championships. Before working at Grand View, Zwaschka was an assistant coach at Dowling High School in Des Moines, Iowa. Under his guidance, Dowling claimed the 2000 conference title.

Zwaschka also boasts club head coaching experience with the Iowa United Soccer Club (1997-98) and the Waukee Soccer Club (1995). He led the Iowa United Soccer Club to a state championship in 1998 and the Waukee Soccer Club to a gold medal at the Iowa Games.

Zwaschka was a player for Grand View from 1990-92, earning NAIA All-American and District 15 Player of the Year honors during his junior campaign. A three-year captain, he led the Vikings to district championships in 1990 and 1991, as well as the Regional Final during the 1991 season. Zwaschka was also named to the NAIA all-conference first team and the academic all-conference team from 1990-92.

His post-collegiate playing experience includes five years as a professional with the USL's Des Moines Menace. He captained the Menace to appearances in the final four in 1995 and 1998. He also played professionally for the Connecticut Wolves, formerly of the A-league level, when they won a Northwest Division championship.

In addition to the domestic game, Zwaschka gained significant experience abroad, playing a season each in Scotland and England, and two seasons in France.

Zwaschka and his wife, Sara, have two sons, Lochan (5) and Jagozar (2), and a daughter, Bria (4). They reside in Walnut Creek, Calif.