Former Cal State University San Bernardino head coach joins Irish coaching staff.

March 17, 2000

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - Mike Avery, head men's soccer coach at Cal State University San Bernardino since 1997 and former head coach at Bethel College, has been named assistant men's soccer coach at the University of Notre Dame it was announced today by head men's soccer coach Chris Apple.

Avery becomes the first assistant to join Apple's coaching staff. Apple was named men's soccer coach on March 3 following the sudden death of 10-year head coach Mike Berticelli on January 25.

In addition to serving as the men's coach at Cal State San Bernardino, Avery also directed the women's soccer program there for two seasons.

In three seasons as men's coach at Cal State San Bernardino, Avery was instrumental in developing the Coyote program in the NCAA Divison II California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). His teams showed steady progress during his tenure with his 1999 squad compiling a 7-11-2 record. In three seasons, the Coyotes compiled an 18-38-4 mark,

Avery began his coaching career at Bethel College in 1994 where the 31-year-old native of San Jose Calif., native transformed that program into one of the top small college NAIA men's soccer teams. In Avery's final season in 1996, he led a team, which had one just three games prior to his arrival, to a 17-4-1 mark as the Pilots won the school's first-ever Mid-Central Conference crown. In three seasons at Bethel, his teams posted an overall record of 43-21-2 mark. In Avery's first campaign (1994), Bethel had a 10-9-1 record and then improved that by six wins the following season as the Pilots posted a 16-8-0 ledger. His efforts earned him conference coach-of-the-year honors in both '95 and '96 as well as Great Lakes Regional coach-of-the-year accolades.

Avery played from 1986-89 at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, Calif. where he was a four-time all-conference and all- Far West standout for the NAIA school which made three national tournament appearances during his four seasons. In his senior season, Avery served as team captain on a squad which advanced to the national semifinals in 1989.

Born September 19, 1968, he received his degree in physical education in 1990, and following graduation, played professionally both in the United States and abroad for a number of teams. During a four-year span, he enjoyed stints with Real Santa Barbara, the Chicago Power and Askims IK (Sweden). He also served as a player-coach for the Indiana Invaders.

Avery, whose wife Carin is the assistant women's volleyball coach at Valparaiso University, received his master's degree in kinesiology from Midwestern State University (Tex.) in 1994.

"Mike is an outstanding addition to our coaching staff," Apple says. "I have known Mike personally for four years and I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with him. Mike's soccer knowledge, integrity and work ethic will prove invaluable to the soccer program at Notre Dame. He brings with him a wealth of head coaching experience, as well as an excellent recruiting record. Mike is a great trainer of players, an enthusiastic motivator and an insightful coach. I am thrilled to welcome him as the newest member of the Irish men's soccer team."