June 27, 2003

Tucson, Ariz. (June 27) - The University of Arizona athletics department has hired Dan Tobias as the new head coach for the Wildcat women's soccer program, announced athletics director Jim Livengood on Friday. Tobias will be the third head coach in the nine-year history of Arizona soccer.

The head coach of the women's soccer program at Washington State University for the last five years, Tobias tallied a 44-45-6 overall record with the Cougars, including a 17-24-4 mark in Pac-10 play. Tobias guided the Cougars to two NCAA tournament appearances during his time in Pullman, in both the 2000 and 2002 seasons, and he is the second-winningest coach in WSU soccer history.

Last fall, Tobias led Washington State to an 11-7-2 overall record, with a program history-making 5-2-2 mark and third-place finish in the Pac-10. The Cougars ended the season with a No. 8 ranking in the West Region and were edged by conference foe Arizona State in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

The Washington State position was the first collegiate head coaching job for Tobias, who went to Pullman after four seasons as an assistant women's soccer coach at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo from 1994-97. The Mustangs went 56-21-4 while Tobias was with the program, including a Big West title in 1997.

In the spring of 1998, Tobias was both head coach and interim general manager for the California Jaguars, a Division II professional team and Major League Soccer affiliate of the then-San Jose Clash. Tobias also served as head coach of the Central Coast Roadrunners of the USISL during his final two years at Cal Poly. He led the Roadrunners to consecutive national championships while garnering National Coach of the Year honors in 1996. The 1997 squad was also the U.S. Open Cup Amateur champion.

"We are very excited to have Dan Tobias take over our soccer program," said Livengood. "He has a history of success in the Pac-10, which is the best women's soccer conference in the nation, and his experiences at Washington State and Cal Poly have given him tremendous knowledge of recruiting on the West Coast. He's the perfect candidate for continuing the upward progress of our program."

Tobias is a member of the United States Soccer Federation, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and the Latin America Soccer Coaches Association. He has been an active member of the coaching staff for the Washington State Olympic Development Program for various age groups and was a staff coach for the Region IV ODP.

A graduate of Cal Poly, Tobias earned his bachelor of science in business administration from the school in 1987 and received the National Collegiate Business Merit Award for academic and athletic excellence. Tobias received a master's in business administration from Hamilton University in June of 2002.

Tobias replaces former head coach Cathy Klein, who resigned earlier in June to pursue her doctorate and a career in administration.

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Dan Tobias' Head Coaching Record

Year   School            Record   Pct.  Conference Record   Pct. Finish    Postseason
1998   Washington State  6-10-3   .395  Pac-10     4-4-1   .500  tied 6th
1999   Washington State  7-12-0   .368  Pac-10     1-8-0   .111  tied 9th
2000   Washington State  13-7-0   .650  Pac-10     5-4-0   .555  6th       NCAA first round
2001   Washington State  7-9-1    .441  Pac-10     2-6-1   .277  9th
2002   Washington State  11-7-2   .600  Pac-10     5-2-2   .677  3rd       NCAA first round
Totals Washington State  44-45-6  .495  Pac-10     17-24-4 .422