POMONA, Calif. - Cal Poly Pomona Director of Athletics Brian Swanson announced Tuesday afternoon the hiring of Mike Dibbini as the Broncos' women's soccer head coach. Dibbini becomes the seventh head coach in the 30-year history of the program.

"I'm honored and excited for this great opportunity," Dibbini said. "I'm looking forward to competing in one of the toughest conferences in the country. I'm also looking forward to working with a great athletic department and representing Cal Poly Pomona as a great ambassador. Through my coaching experience, I've learned that commitment, enthusiasm, and loyalty will lead to positive success."

Dibbini - originally from Palmdale, Calif. - has spent the past eight years at Kansas Wesleyan, where he served as the Director of Soccer Programs while leading the men's and women's teams. Combined between the two squads, he compiled a collegiate coaching record of 244-65-25 in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). In conference play, his teams went 133-7-4 while capturing 12 regular season titles and 12 tournament titles.

"After spending time with Coach Dibbini, I became convinced that he was going to be a great fit for the Bronco family and the values we expect in our athletic program," said Doug Freer, Cal Poly Pomona's Vice President for Student Affairs. "Mike's background will serve the women's soccer program well now and in future years."

Entering the 2013 season, Dibbini will lead a Broncos' women's soccer team that reached new heights last fall when the program made its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2001. CPP completed the 2012 season at 10-6-3 and in a late push to the playoffs, the Broncos put together a 11-game undefeated streak to set a new program record.

"We are excited to welcome Mike and his family to Cal Poly Pomona," Swanson said. "His teams' accomplishments in the classroom and on the field of play have a long history of outstanding success. His established and extensive California recruiting base will certainly enable Mike to grow our program. Our student-athletes and entire department are looking forward to Mike's arrival and leadership of the women's soccer program."

The Kansas Wesleyan women's team posted a record of 126-30-14 under Dibbini and this past year, the Coyotes went 20-2 overall en route to capturing the league's regular season and tournament titles. Dibbini earned Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) Coach of the Year honors for the fifth time in his career while picking up Regional Coach of the Year recognition for the second time.

Dibbini also helped KWU secure a berth in the 2012 NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship Opening Round where Wesleyan defeated Benedictine to advance to the NAIA National Championship Final site in Orange Beach, Ala. It marked the second time in the Opening Round era that the Coyotes had reached the Final Site, with the first occurrence coming in 2008.

The KWU women's squad won three-straight regular season championships in 2006, 2007 and 2008 while going undefeated during that span, and won four-consecutive conference tournament championships in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 before adding another in 2010.
 
The Kansas Wesleyan men's soccer team finished the 2012 season with a 16-3-2 record overall, winning both the KCAC regular season and tournament championships for a third-straight season and advancing to the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Opening Round for a third-consecutive year as well. Dibbini earned his sixth KCAC Coach of the Year accolade in 2012 and through his eight seasons, the men's team went 118-36-11 overall.

Prior to coaching at KWU, Dibbini was the Boys' and Girls' Soccer Coach at Salina Central High School in Salina, Kan., from 1999 through 2006. In 2006, he was named the AVCTL Division I Coach of the Year. In 1999, he received the Kansas State Youth Soccer Boys Coach of the Year award. He holds an NSCAA Premier Coaching Diploma and USSF National Coaching License.

Dibbini graduated in 1999 from Kansas Wesleyan University with a degree in Elementary Education, and continued on to earn a Master of Business Administration in 2002.
 
As a student-athlete with two years at KWU and two at Bethany Lutheran (Minn.), Dibbini became a four-time All-Conference, All-Region and All-American selection. In 1997, Dibbini was ranked No. 2 in the NAIA for goals and points while also earning NAIA Academic All-Region and National Small College Player of the Year honors.
 
While attending Palmdale High School in California, Dibbini was a two-time All-CIF First Team and Golden League Player of the Year honoree. His high school career featured a CIF Player of the Year selection as well.
 
Dibbini and his wife Trina, also a Kansas Wesleyan graduate, have two children named Jada and Kadin.