POMONA -- Matt O'Sullivan, who spent the last two seasons as the head assistant coach for the UC Irvine men's soccer program, has been selected as the next head coach for Cal Poly Pomona men's soccer, it was announced by CPP Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Brian Swanson on Thursday.  O'Sullivan becomes the 11th head coach in the history of the CPP men's soccer program and returns to the CCAA for the first time since he played for California State University, Bakersfield from 2003-05, winning a CCAA title before the Roadrunners later made the move to NCAA Division I.

"It was clear that Matt has a focused and articulate vision for Cal Poly Pomona Men's Soccer," Swanson said.  "Being extremely familiar with the CCAA and having a well-established recruiting network will serve Matt well in his transition to our head coach.  He has worked and played alongside highly successful and nationally-known mentors and coaches and we are excited for Matt to lead us in our newest chapter of Broncos Soccer.  We look forward to having Matt join our Broncos family."

"It is truly an honor to accept this leadership position of head coach at such a prestigious university and to be a part of an elite athletic program," said O'Sullivan.  "I would like to thank Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Brian Swanson, Senior Associate Athletics Director Stephanie Duke, and the search committee for entrusting me with the future of the CPP men's soccer program. To be able to work in this great community with a top-class staff and student-athletes is very exciting. I am extremely thankful for the wonderful mentors and incredible student-athletes I've worked with in the past, and I look forward to continuing to build great relationships at CPP as well as wonderful memories."

In two years at UC Irvine, under the tutelage of former CPP head coach Yossi Raz, O'Sullivan served a vital role in turning around an Anteater program that went 8-8-3 overall in 2017 to winning the Big West Conference championship as a nationally-ranked squad at the NCAA Division I level with an 11-6-4 mark and reaching the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.  For their efforts, the UCI coaching staff was named the Big West Conference Staff of the Year.  As the lead recruiter at UCI, O'Sullivan's work was recently recognized by Top Drawer Soccer, which ranked the Anteaters at No. 1 in NCAA Division I for their 2019 recruiting class.

Prior to arriving in Irvine, O'Sullivan spent seven seasons as an assistant coach at NCAA Division II powerhouse St. Edward's University.  The Hilltoppers were nationally-ranked in five of his seven years of being on the sidelines, and as high as third in the country during the 2016 season.  They also qualified for three straight NCAA Tournaments, including being the number one seed in the South-Central Region in 2014 and 2016.  The 2016 Hilltoppers' staff was also selected as the South-Central Regional Staff of the Year by the NSCAA (now known as the United Soccer Coaches).

During O'Sullivan's tenure in Austin, St. Edward's won five Heartland Conference titles with an impressive combined record of 87-31-15.  They were the first Heartland Conference team ever to go undefeated in a season during 2014 and followed it up with the same feat in 2015, winning 27 straight conference games.  As St. Edward's recruiting coordinator he brought in 13 All-Americans, 26 All-Region and 48 All-Conference student-athletes.  St. Edward's was impressive on the defensive side of the ball as they led the nation in Goals Against Average (0.50) in 2015 with 14 shutouts and were ranked No. 1 nationally in shutouts (15) in 2016 with 0.45 GAA.

Prior to arriving at St. Edward's in 2010, O'Sullivan started coaching college soccer at the University of the Incarnate Word, a NCAA Division II institution that won two Heartland Conference championships and made the NCAA Division II Championship Tournament with an overall record of 35-20-4 over his three seasons.

Before starting with his coaching career, O'Sullivan played at California State University, Bakersfield for three seasons (2003-05) where he was part of the 2004 CCAA championship team that advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Division II Tournament.  He earned First Team All-CCAA honors after leading the Roadrunners in goals and assists in 2005.  O'Sullivan scored 13 goals from the midfield and added 10 assists over his three years at CSUB including a hat trick against defending NCAA National Champion Sonoma State.

O'Sullivan, a native of Preston, England, graduated CSU Bakersfield in 2007 with his Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Science and completed his Master's Degree in 2009 from University of the Incarnate Word in Business Sports Management.  He and his wife, Taylar, have two children.

O'Sullivan takes over for Adam Reeves, who stepped down last month to take the head coaching position at the University of the Pacific in Stockton.

TRANSACTION:  Matt O'Sullivan named head men's soccer coach at Cal Poly Pomona.