US U-19 National Team Coach Mark Krikorian Selected To Head Florida
State University Women’s Soccer
Mark Krikorian was named 2002 WUSA Coach of the Year with the
Philadelphia Charge.
*Jan. 12, 2005*
Tallahassee, FL – United States U-19 National Team head coach and 2002
WUSA Coach of the Year Mark Krikorian was announced as the new head
women’s soccer coach at Florida State today by Athletics Director Dave
Hart. Krikorian brings 14 years of head coaching experience to
Tallahassee at all levels of the game including college, pro and with
the US Olympic Development Program. He is just the third coach in the
history of the FSU soccer program.
“Having Mark Krikorian accept our offer to become the head coach of our
women’s soccer program is certainly cause for much excitement and
anticipation,” said Hart. “Mark brings a wealth of experience and
knowledge from his prior positions on the college, professional and
national team levels of competition. He is an accomplished teacher,
coach and recruiter who will build on the success which Patrick Baker
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generated during his outstanding tenure at Florida State. This search
produced some truly distinguished candidates, which speaks volumes about
our soccer program. We welcome Mark, Linda and their children into our
Seminole family.”
“I am thrilled to join the Florida State family and am looking forward
to working with such an outstanding group of student-athletes,” said
Krikorian. “I am excited to work with an athletic department that is so
committed to excellence.”
Krikorian comes to Florida State fresh off leading the United States
U-19 National Team to the bronze medal while winning the FIFA Fair Play
Award at the 2004 U-19 Women’s World Cup. Prior to that he spent 2003 as
a scout for the US Women’s National Team preparing reports on opponents
in both the CONCACAF Qualifications and the Women’s World Cup.
As the head coach of the Philadelphia Charge from 2000-2003, Krikorian
had another opportunity to coach the top players in the world and he
once again proved he could take talent and guide it to great heights. He
coached the Charge to two playoff berths in his three seasons and was
named the league’s coach of the year in 2002. Krikorian drafted and
coached 10 WUSA All-Stars and coached an all-star team during his tenure
with the league.
“I feel fortunate that I have had so many opportunities and experiences
in both the WUSA and with the US National Team program,” said Krikorian.
“I feel that those experiences will be a huge benefit to us (FSU) as we
continue to improve upon the outstanding foundation that Patrick (Baker)
and his staff have established.”
Krikorian has achieved an equal measure of success on the college level.
He coached the University of Hartford for five seasons from 1996-2000
leading the squad to an Elite Eight and two Sweet Sixteen appearances
during his four consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament. He recruited
five National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)
All-Americans, three academic All-Americans and his squads received the
NSCAA Team Academic Award on four occasions. Overall, Krikorian’s teams
averaged 15 wins per season as he posted a 75-30-3 overall record while
winning three conference championships. Three of his squads finished the
year ranked in the NSCAA’s top 15. He coached two of his players to
conference player of the year awards and three to conference rookie of
the year honors.
Before taking over the Hartford program, Krikorian was the head coach at
Franklin Pierce College in Rindge, NH for six seasons from 1990-1996
where his teams won two National Championships, both during undefeated
seasons, and appeared in two other final fours. His squads had a
remarkable 39-game winning streak and his 1995 National Championship
team was 20-0. Krikorian’s teams compiled a 93-19-2 record in seven
seasons. He recruited three National Players of the Year, eight
All-Americans, five academic All-Americans and four national scoring
champions. His team at Franklin Pierce also garnered the NSCAA Team
Academic Award.
“Academics have always been very important to me wherever I coached and
few schools combine the athletic and academic opportunities that FSU
provides its student-athletes,” said Krikorian. “The average SAT score
of an FSU student is 1200 and when you couple that with what the
athletic department has to offer, FSU becomes a very attractive school
to potential recruits.”
On top of his coach of the year honor from the WUSA, Krikorian was named
the NSCAA’s Northeast Division I Coach of the Year in 1997, the NSCAA
Division II National Coach of the Year in 1992 and 1995, the NSCAA
Division II Northeast Region Coach of the Year in 1992 and 1995 and was
a two-time New England Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year in 1994
and 1995. In 1990 and 1993 he was named the Division II New England
Coach of the Year as well.
Krikorian was a standout player at St. Anselm College in Manchester, NH
from 1981-1983. He was a two-time captain and team MVP. In 1983 he was a
New England Indoor Soccer League (NEISL) All-Star and a first team
All-New England selection.
“This is a very exciting time for our team and this program,” said team
captain Kelly Rowland
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“A lot of the unknowns we were going through are behind us and it is
good to have a coach in place. The administration did a great job and we
are excited to meet coach Krikorian. I watched him coach the Charge
growing up in Philadelphia so it is especially exciting for me. We are
all very happy with the decision and look forward to getting started.”
Krikorian graduated with a degree in history from St. Anselm College and
he earned his master’s degree in education from Keene (NH) State College
in 1994. Krikorian also served as an assistant men’s coach at the
University of Maine at Farmington and was a Social Studies teacher at
Mt. Abram High School in Maine and Raymond High School in New Hampshire.
He is married to the former Linda Mastrogiovanni. They have two children
Alexandra (4) and Michael (2).