Paul Caligiuri
Head Men's and Women's Soccer Coach - 3rd year
UCLA '86

Email: pdcaligiuri@csupomona.edu
Phone: (909) 869-2821

One of the most successful and recognizable soccer players in the United States, Hall of Famer Paul Caligiuri begins his third year as the head coach of Cal Poly Pomona’s men’s and women’s soccer teams.

Caligiuri, a former member of the Los Angeles Galaxy and veteran of the U.S. National Team, was elected to the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame earlier this summer along with Michelle Akers and Eric Wynalda. He will be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame in October in Oneonta, N.Y. Undoubtedly one of the best soccer players to ever play for the United States, the Walnut native played professionally and internationally for 18 years.

He joined Cal Poly Pomona shortly after he finished his playing career with the Galaxy. In his first two years at Cal Poly Pomona, Caligiuri has compiled a 15-18-3 record with the men’s team and a 21-14-3 record with the women’s team.

In 2003, the Bronco men finished with a 7-9-2 overall record and were in the race for a spot in the California Collegiate Athletic Association championship tournament until the final day of the season. The women’s team finished with a 10-8-1 record and won its last three regular-season matches to qualify for the CCAA Championship Tournament for the sixth consecutive season.

In his first year at Cal Poly Pomona, Caligiuri guided the men’s team to an 8-9-1 overall record, which was significantly better than the 3-15-1 record the Broncos struggled to the previous season. The Broncos finished second in the CCAA South Division and posted an impressive victory over NCAA Division II champion Sonoma State. Caligiuri led the women’s team to an 11-6-2 overall record despite key injuries to several of the team’s top players. The Broncos qualified for the CCAA Championship Tournament for the fifth straight year and wound up ranked 25th in the nation, marking the fourth straight time Cal Poly Pomona finished a season ranked in the national Top 25.

From 1984-97, Caligiuri was a member of the United States national team and had 110 game appearances, including participation in two World Cups in 1990 and 1994 and the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea. One of the most memorable moments of his playing career came in 1990 when he scored the game-winning goal – known as the “Goal Heard Round The World” – against Trinidad & Tobago that qualified the U.S. for its first World Cup in 40 years.

Well-respected internationally, Caligiuri played professionally in West Germany and became the first American player to make a Division I professional team in Europe when he earned a spot with FC Hansa Rostock Oberliga in 1990. He completed his career abroad with St. Pauli, German Bundesliga in 1995.

In 1996, Caligiuri played for the Columbus Crew of the newly-founded Major Soccer League. After one year with the Crew, Caligiuri was assigned to the Galaxy, where he helped the team become one of the top defensive units in the league. Los Angeles reached the MSL championship game two times while Caligiuri was with the team.

While he was finishing his playing career, Caligiuri was also working toward a career in coaching. He acquired his “A” License from the U.S. Soccer Federation and, in the past few years, Caligiuri has been involved with consulting in coaching, playing and organizing camps and clinics throughout the United States.

Caligiuri graduated from nearby Walnut High School in 1982 and then played at UCLA from 1982-86. A two-time All-American at UCLA, Caligiuri captained the Bruins to the NCAA Division I championship in 1985, earning the Most Valuable Player award in the title game. As a senior, he was named the 1986 U.S. Male Soccer Athlete of the Year. In 1996, he was inducted into the UCLA Hall of Fame.

He is also an accomplished broadcaster, working as an expert commentator on MLS and other international league games with Fox Sports World. He also worked as a commentator on ESPN 2’s “World Cup 2Night” during the 2002 World Cup. He is also an active ambassador for the sport of soccer and toured Air Force bases in London, Germany, Turkey and Norway as part of the Extreme Summer 2002 Goodwill Military Tour in late July.

Caligiuri graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology from UCLA in the College of Letters and Science. He has two daughters: Ashley, 12, and Kayley, 8.

For more information on Cal Poly Pomona men's soccer, please direct e-mail to pdcaligiuri@csupomona.edu