From Brandeis University Athletics
For the second time in the last four years, Brandeis University men's soccer coach Mike Coven has been selected as the New England Division III Coach of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).
Coven, who was previously honored as the Regional Coach of the Year by the NSCAA in 2012, recently completed his 43rd season on the Judges' sidelines. He guided the Judges to an 18-3-1 record and the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III tournament for the fourth year in a row. Brandeis had an 11-match unbeaten streak during the season and clinched their first-ever outright University Athletic Association (UAA) title in the process, garnering Coven conference Coach of the Year honors.
"When you have good players who are good people, you will have success on and off the field, and that's what we've had over the last few years," Coven said.
"I also have to share this with [associate head coach] Gabe Margolis. There's no way I deserve this honor without him."
During the season, Coven earned his 500th career victory on September 12 with a 1-0 overtime win against rival Babson College. He was the 11th NCAA coach and sixth in Division III to reach the 500-win plateau, a feat that earned him a spot in Sports Illustrated's Faces in the Crowd feature on Sept. 28. Coven's current career record stands at 513-260-53 for a .653 winning percentage.
The Judges, who were ranked #3 in the NSCAA national poll at the end of the regular season, won their first two matches in the NCAA tournament. Playing at home, they defeated Thomas College, 2-1, in the first round and bested RPI by the same score in double overtime. The Judges dropped their third round match at Amherst College against the #2 team in the nation, Trinity (Texas).
Coven has guided the Judges to 13 NCAA tournament appearances and three Final Four berths. His team won the 1976 Division III title, and finished in second place in 1984 and third in 1981. Coven has also made 10 Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III New England tournament appearances, winning titles in 1994, 2006, 2010 and 2011.
Coven is a native of Brookline, Mass., and 1969 graduate of American International College. He currently resides in Duxbury, Mass.