The Akron Zips men's soccer team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of the

University of Akron The University of Akron is a public research university in Akron, Ohio. It is part of the University System of Ohio. As a STEM-focused institution, it focuses on industries such as polymers, advanced materials, and engineering. It is classifie ...

. The team is a member of the

National Collegiate Athletic Association The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It also organizes the athletic programs of colleges ...

Division I

Mid-American Conference The Mid-American Conference (MAC) is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I collegiate athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the t ...

through the 2022 season, after which it will join the

Big East Conference The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletic conference that competes in NCAA Division I in ten men's sports and twelve women's sports. Headquartered in New York City, the eleven full-member schools are primarily located in Northeast and ...

as a single-sport member. Akron is regularly ranked in the Top 10

NSCAA The United Soccer Coaches (formerly known as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)) is an organization of American soccer coaches founded in 1941. It is the largest soccer coaches organization in the world, with more than 3 ...

collegiate men's soccer poll. They have been ranked No. 1 previously in 2005, 2009, 2010, and 2016. The Zips have played their home games at FirstEnergy Stadium-Cub Cadet Field, formerly named Lee R. Jackson Soccer Field and Cub Cadet Field, since 1966. They won their first national championship in 2010.

History

In 1954, an

Oberlin College Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college and conservatory of music in Oberlin, Ohio. It is the oldest coeducational liberal arts college in the United States and the second oldest continuously operating coeducational institute of highe ...

transfer named Stu Parry started the soccer team at Akron. That year, they finished the season with two wins and one tie. The next year, men's soccer was officially offered by the university and after starting the season with two losses, they ended with a 2–4–1 record, with the team's first win coming against rival

Kent State Kent State University (KSU) is a public research university in Kent, Ohio. The university also includes seven regional campuses in Northeast Ohio and additional facilities in the region and internationally. Regional campuses are located in As ...

. Parry eventually led the team to nine Ohio College Soccer Association titles as well as six NCAA playoff appearances. In 1986, the men's soccer team gained the most exposure in the NCAA tournament, finishing second to

Duke Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they are r ...

by a score of 1–0. A Duke player, Ken Lolla, took over the program in 1993 and then became Akron's all-time winningest coach, with a record of 160–68–25. He also led the team to their first No. 1 ranking, which was also the first ever MAC team in any sport to be ranked No. 1. In 2006, Caleb Porter became head coach, leading the team to first-place finishes in the conference every year from 2007 to 2012, an appearance in the final of the national championship (the College Cup) in 2009, and a national championship in 2010. Jared Embick succeeded Porter as head coach after the 2012 season. The team has finished first in the conference every year since, and reached the national semi-final in 2015. After the 2022 season, the MAC, whose men's soccer league had been decimated by conference realignment earlier in the decade, dropped that sport. Akron moved men's soccer to the Big East Conference, making it the only one of the four full MAC members with men's soccer teams that did not move that sport to the

Missouri Valley Conference The Missouri Valley Conference (also called MVC or simply "The Valley") is the third-oldest collegiate athletic conference in the United States. The conference's members are primarily located in the midwest. History The MVC was established ...

Colors and badge

The team uses the school colors of blue and gold.

Stadium

Lee Jackson Field was dedicated on October 22, 1966. Along with the soccer venue, the complex also includes fields for the school's baseball, softball, and track and field competition areas along with a practice field for the

football team A football team is a group of players selected to play together in the various team sports known as football. Such teams could be selected to play in a match against an opposing team, to represent a football club, group, state or nation, an all-s ...

. The fields are located towards the southeast corner of the University of Akron campus, just west of

InfoCision Stadium InfoCision Management Corporation is a company that operates call centers. Based in Bath Township, Ohio outside of Akron, it is the second-largest teleservice company in the United States. It operates 30 call centers at 12 locations in Ohio, West ...

. Other expansions and upgrades for the stadium have included a grandstand with seating capacity of 2,200, berm seating around the stadium with a capacity of 2,600, and lighting which meets national television specifications. Announced in March 2011 was a partnership between The University of Akron and

Cub Cadet Cub Cadet is an American company that produces outdoor power equipment and services, including utility vehicles, handheld and chore products as well as snow throwers. History IH Cub Cadet was a premium line of small tractors, established in 196 ...

, the premier brand of Cleveland-based MTD Products, which will rename the Zips' new, state-of-the-art grass soccer field Cub Cadet Field. In June 2011, the field was renamed FirstEnergy Stadium-Cub Cadet field after Cub Cadet as well as First Energy plans were announced to build 300 new bleacher seats, permanent restrooms, and a concession stand along with the renaming.

Supporters

The AK-ROWDIES are a student organization which cheer on sports teams in various sports at the university. The ROWDIES were formed as an official student organization in 2005. During the soccer games, they can be found behind the goal area, heckling the opponent's goalie.

Notable alumni

* Niko De Vera (2014-2017) - Currently with

Portland Timbers The Portland Timbers are an American professional men's soccer club based in Portland, Oregon. The Timbers compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member club of the league's Western Conference. The Timbers have played their home games at ...

Conrad Earnest Conrad Earnest (born December 20, 1957) is a retired American soccer goalkeeper and well respected exercise physiologist. He spent two seasons in the American Soccer League. Career Earnest began playing soccer at the age of 16. Within two ye ...

George Nanchoff George Nanchoff (born 1954 in Resen, Yugoslavia (SR Macedonia)) is a retired Yugoslavian-American soccer player. He spent three seasons in the North American Soccer League and seven seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He also earned ten ...

(1973–1976) – Retired *

Louis Nanchoff Louis "Louie" Nanchoff (born May 13, 1956 in Resen, Yugoslavia) is a retired U.S.-Yugoslavian soccer player. He spent three seasons in the North American Soccer League and seven seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He also earned ten cap ...

(1974–1977) – Retired * Benny Dargle (1975–1977) – Retired *

Shaun Pendleton Shaun Pendleton, born in Sheffield, England, was an English-American soccer defender who played four seasons in the American Indoor Soccer Association before becoming a college soccer coach. His teams won the 1991 NAIA and 2003 NCAA Division ...

(1982–1985) – Retired *

Roderick Scott Roderick Scott (born 27 December 1965) is a Canadian former soccer player and coach. Club career University of Akron Scott attended the University of Akron on a soccer scholarship after a recruiter spotted him playing for the Canadian U-19 na ...

(1985–88) – Retired * Cameron Knowles (2001–04) – Retired * Devon McKenney (2003–2007) *

Siniša Ubiparipović Siniša Ubiparipović ( sr-Cyrl, Синиша Убипариповић; born 25 August 1983) is a retired Bosnian-born American Association football, footballer. Early life Ubiparipović was born in the town of Zenica, at the time part of Soci ...

(2004–2006) – Retired *

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(2005–2008) – Currently with

Columbus Crew The Columbus Crew, formerly known as Columbus Crew SC, is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio. The Crew competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference and began play in 1996 as one ...

* Justin Sadler (2005) *

Ben Zemanski Ben Zemanski (born May 12, 1988 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is an American retired Association football, soccer player and current assistant coach for the Portland Pilots men's soccer, Portland Pilots. Career College and Amateur Zemanski atten ...

(2006–2009) *

Steve Zakuani Steve Zakuani (born 9 February 1988) is a Congolese former footballer. He was born in Zaire—now the Democratic Republic of the Congo—and grew up in London. After a successful college career, he played for the Seattle Sounders FC and the Port ...

(2006–2007) – Retired * Chris Korb (2007–2010) * Michael Nanchoff (2007–2010) – Retired *

Blair Gavin Blair Gavin (born January 8, 1989) is a former American soccer player who is head coach of USL Championship side FC Tulsa. Career College and Amateur Gavin grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona, played club soccer for the Sereno soccer club which was ...

(2007–2009) – Retired * Teal Bunbury (2008–2009) – Currently with Nashville SC * Darlington Nagbe (2008–2010) – Currently with

* Anthony Ampaipitakwong (2007–2010) – Currently with Bangkok United *

Kofi Sarkodie Kofi Kwarteng Frempong Sarkodie (born March 22, 1991) is an American soccer player. Career Youth, College and Amateur After graduating from the IMG Soccer Academy in 2008, Sarkodie attended the University of Akron. Sarkodie started in al ...

(2008–2010) *

Zarek Valentin Zarek Chase Valentin (born August 6, 1991) is a professional footballer who plays as a right back for Major League Soccer club Minnesota United. A former youth international for the United States, Valentin represents the Puerto Rico national te ...

(2009–2010)- Currently with the

Houston Dynamo Houston Dynamo FC (formerly officially, but still commonly, called the Houston Dynamo) is an American professional soccer club based in Houston. The Dynamo compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference. Establish ...

Scott Caldwell Scott Caldwell (born March 15, 1991) is an American professional soccer player who plays for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer. Career Youth, college and amateur Caldwell spent a year with the New England Revolution academy, making six app ...

(2009–2012) – Currently with the

Real Salt Lake Real Salt Lake, often shortened to RSL, is an American professional soccer franchise based in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. The club competes as a member club of Major League Soccer (MLS) in the Western Conference. RSL began play in 20 ...

* Chad Barson (2009–2012) – Retired * Darren Mattocks (2010–2011) – Currently with FC Cincinnati *

Perry Kitchen Perry Allen Kitchen (born February 29, 1992) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a defensive midfielder. He was part of the Akron Zips side that won the 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship, and was a first ...

(2010) – Currently with

LA Galaxy LA Galaxy, also known as the Los Angeles Galaxy, are an American professional soccer club based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Galaxy competes in Major League Soccer (MLS), as a member of the Western Conference. The club began p ...

* DeAndre Yedlin (2011–2012) – Currently with Inter Miami CF *

Aodhan Quinn Aodhan Quinn (born March 22, 1992) is an American professional soccer player who currently plays for Phoenix Rising FC in the USL Championship. Career Early career Quinn played college soccer at Bradley University in 2010 and at the University ...

(2011–2013) – Currently with Phoenix Rising *

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(2011–2012) – Currently with

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(2012) – Currently with the

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* Saad Abdul-Salaam (2012–2014) – Currently with

Seattle Sounders Seattle Sounders Football Club is an American professional men's soccer club based in Seattle. The Sounders compete as a member of the Western Conference of Major League Soccer (MLS). The club was established on November 13, 2007, and began ...

* Richie Laryea (2014–2015) – Currently with

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(2013–2016) – Currently with Memphis 901 * Jonathan Lewis (2016) – Currently with

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(2018) - 2018 MLS Superdraft First-Overall Draft Pick for

Los Angeles FC Los Angeles Football Club, commonly referred to as LAFC, is an American professional Association football team based in Los Angeles. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member club of the league's Western Conference. The club ...

Previous head coaches

''Listed according to when they became head coach for Akron (year in parentheses):'' * 1950s–1960s: Stu Parry (1955) * 1970s–1980s: Bill Killen (1970), Robert Dowdy (1974), Steve Parker (1982) * 1990s–2000s (decade):

Ken Lolla Ken Lolla is a soccer coach who was formerly head men's soccer coach at the University of Louisville. He is also a writer and professional speaker. Lolla played collegiate soccer at Duke University and professionally at various US professional ...

(1993), Caleb Porter (2006)

Achievements

NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship The NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament, sometimes known as the College Cup, is an American intercollegiate soccer tournament conducted by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and determines the Division I men's national champi ...

: ** Winners (1): 2010 ** Runners-up (3): 1986, 2009, 2018 * Mid-American Conference Tournament: ** Winners (15): 1998, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 ** Runners-up (4): 1995, 1997, 2001, 2006 * Mid-American Conference Regular Season: ** Winners (17): 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 ** Runners-up (5): 1994, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2004 * Ohio College Soccer Association: ** Winners (19): 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987 * Mid-Continent Conference Regular Season: ** Winners (1): 1991

Records

* Most Goals in a game: 14 (12–2) vs. Cleveland State, September 9, 2005 * Most Goals in a half: 8 vs. Green Bay, 1986 * Lee Jackson Field attendance: 4,744 vs.

Tulsa Tulsa () is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 47th-most populous city in the United States. The population was 413,066 as of the 2020 census. It is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region wit ...

, September 22, 2010 * FirstEnergy Stadium–Cub Cadet Field attendance: 5,819 vs.

Ohio State The Ohio State University, commonly called Ohio State or OSU, is a public land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio. A member of the University System of Ohio, it has been ranked by major institutional rankings among the best public ...

, September 28, 2011

References

External links

* {{Big East Conference men's soccer navbox Akron Zips Soccer clubs in Ohio 1954 establishments in Ohio Association football clubs established in 1954