The Menlo College men's soccer program will begin next season with the promise of a fresh start after the Oaks announced the hiring of Mike Keller as their new head coach. Keller comes to Menlo from Academy of Art where he was an assistant coach for the men's soccer team last season.
"Mike comes highly recommended and has demonstrated that he is highly motivated to be successful in his first opportunity as a collegiate head coach," Menlo College Athletic Director Keith Spataro said. "He has had the fortune to be coached by and coach with some legendary leaders, and his knowledge of the game and approach to coaching will be the difference in our program for the future."
Keller helped guide NCAA Div. II Academy of Art through its first season competing in the Pacific West Conference in just its second season of athletic competition. Prior to his one-year stint with the Urban Knights, Keller spent six years as an assistant at Ca?ada College in Redwood City. With Keller on the sidelines, Ca?ada made three appearances in the California Community College Playoffs.
While Keller honed his skills at the collegiate level for the past seven years, he also served as the head coach at San Mateo High for two seasons. In 2008, Keller led San Mateo to a Peninsula Athletic League Division Championship.
"I am really excited to be at a great place like Menlo College," said Keller. "I look forward to working with the present and future student-athletes to restore the tradition to the soccer program."
A San Carlos native, Keller played soccer at Ca?ada for two years, helping the Colts to the CCCAA State Championship Game as a freshman. Ca?ada finished the season ranked fifth in the nation as Keller earned All-West Region honors. As a sophomore he was named Team MVP.
Keller is a 2003 UC Davis graduate and earned a Master's degree in Kinesiology from San Jose State two years later.
The Oaks men's and women's soccer teams have been coached by Zack Masters for the past three seasons. Menlo finished the 2009 season 7-11 overall and 7-5 in the California Pacific Conference. The Oaks last won the Cal Pac title in 2005.
