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| Head soccer coach Paul Caligiuri has been elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame. |
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| Caligiuri will direct one-week soccer camps for kids ages 7-13 beginning July 5 at Cal Poly Pomona. |
Cal Poly Pomona?s head soccer coach Paul Caligiuri was one of three soccer stars elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame, it was announced May 5 at a press conference at the Home Depot Center in Carson.
Caligiuri, who has been the university?s men?s and women?s soccer head coach since retiring as a player in 2001, will join Eric Wynalda and Michelle Akers in the class of 2004. The induction and enshrinement ceremonies will take place on Columbus Day weekend, Oct. 9-11, at the Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, N.Y.
?This is a great thrill. I was very fortunate to play with and against so many great players,? says Caligiuri. ?I believe it?s important to recognize my family and my teammates and all my coaches who have been so supportive of me along the way. Their support has meant a lot.?
Caligiuri scored one of the most memorable goals in United States soccer history when his looping volley from 35 yards out went into the net and became the lone goal in a 1-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago on Nov. 19, 1989, in the deciding game for 1990 World Cup qualification. That goal lifted the United States into the World Cup for the first time since 1950. Caligiuri started all seven U.S. World Cup matches in 1990 and 1994 and played all but 18 minutes.
He was also one of the first U.S. players to play in the German Bundesliga and he had a six-year Major League Soccer career with the Columbus Crew and Los Angeles Galaxy. He helped the Galaxy win the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championship in his final Galaxy match in 2001.
Shortly thereafter, he assumed the top position with the Cal Poly Pomona soccer program. He has been the Bronco head coach for two seasons and has led the women?s team to two straight appearances in the CCAA Championship Tournament with a combined record of 21-14-3. He also led the men?s team to records of 8-9-1 in 2002 and 7-9-2 in 2003 for a combined record of 15-18-3 after the team had struggled to a 3-15-1 record in 2001.
?This is a great honor for Paul and I am very excited for him,? says the university?s Interim Athletic Director Glenn Shenker. ?He deserves this recognition for his outstanding contributions to the sport of soccer.?
Caligiuri will be directing soccer camps at Cal Poly Pomona beginning July 5. The one-week camps will run through July 30 and are for kids ages 7-13. For more information, call (909) 869-2810.