Mike Avery Joins Men's Soccer Staff
March 03, 2006 | Men's Soccer
March 3, 2006
Mike Avery, assistant coach at Notre Dame for the past six seasons, has been named to the University of Louisville's men's soccer staff by new Cardinal head coach Ken Lolla.
"We are very excited to have a person of Mike's character and experience to be associated with our program at U of L," said Uof L head coach Ken Lolla. "His background in the BIG EAST Conference will help us tremendously in this time of growth."
Avery began his Irish career under head coach Chris Apple in 2000 and remained when current head coach Bobby Clark took over in 2001. The Irish produced a 65-27-13 record over the past five seasons, including five NCAA tournament appearances and two trips to the Sweet 16. He was a member of what was named the BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year on two occasions (2001, 2004). The Irish are coming off an appearance in the Sweet 16 in 2005 after knocking off two-time defending national champion Indiana in the second round before falling to Clemson, 1-0, in the third round. Notre Dame had a first team All-American in midfielder Greg Dalby and placed two players on the BIG EAST First Team.
"I am very happy to be here. It is great opportunity to work for a very successful coach like Coach Ken Lolla. He is another of the top coaches in the game," said Avery. "I valued my time at Notre Dame because Coach Clark is one of the best, most respected coaches in the business, both soccer-wise and as a person. I hope to continue my growth as a coach here in Louisville."
In 2003, the Irish advanced to the Round of 16, which was the same year the team won the BIG EAST tournament title and produced an overall record of 16-3-4. Notre Dame made a strong showing in 2004, as the Irish recorded a 13-3-3 mark and captured the program's first-ever regular season BIG EAST title.
Avery joined the Irish staff as an assistant coach in March of 2000 following three seasons as head men's soccer coach at Cal State University San Bernardino. In addition to his duties with the men's soccer program, he also served as head coach of the women's program for the 1998 and 1999 campaigns. In three seasons as men's coach at Cal State San Bernardino, Avery led the Coyote program through a successful rebuilding. Avery's 1999 squad continued the trend of improving each year under his direction by finishing with an 8-11-1 record. In six seasons as a head men's coach, Avery compiled a 62-58-5 (.516) mark.
Avery began his coaching career at Bethel College in Mishawaka, Ind., in 1994 when the native of San Jose, Calif., transformed that program into one of the top small college NAIA men's soccer teams. In his final season at the school in 1996, he led a team which had won just three games in the season prior to his arrival to a 17-4-1 mark as the Pilots won the school's first-ever Mid-Central Conference crown. In three seasons at Bethel, his team posted an overall 43-21-2 mark. In Avery's first campaign (1994), the Pilots had a 10-9-1 record and then improved that by six wins the following season as they posted a 16-8-0 ledger. His efforts earned him conference coach-of-the-year honors in both 1995 and 1996 as well as Great Lakes Region coach-of-the-year accolades.
Avery played from 1986-89 at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, Calif., where he was a two-time honorable mention All-American and four-time all-conference and all-Far West standout for the NAIA school which made three national tournament appearances during his four seasons. In his senior season, he served as team captain on a squad which advanced to the national semifinals.
He received his degree in physical education in 1990, and following graduation, played professionally both in the United States and abroad for several teams. During a four-year span, he enjoyed stints with Real Santa Barbara and Askims (Sweden). He also served as a player-coach for the Indiana Invaders.
Avery received his master's degree in kinesiology from Midwestern State in 1994. His wife Carin is the head women's volleyball coach at Valparaiso University. The couple welcomed their first child, Alex Roddy, in November of 2003.
