April 3, 2009

FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State Director of Athletics Thomas Boeh has announced the hiring of Brian Zwaschka as the new head women's soccer coach. Zwaschka has been an assistant for the last two years at Cal where his primary responsibilities were to oversee the program's performance-related tasks, including player development, fitness and wellness, nutrition, recovery, video, scouting, equipment and facilities.

In Zwaschka's first season at Cal, the Golden Bears posted a 15-5-1 record, advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and earned a No. 11 national ranking.

Before Cal, Zwaschka was an assistant coach at Texas Tech from 2005-07. Zwaschka was an assistant at Grand View College, a NAIA program in Des Moines, Iowa. In two seasons on the coaching staff at his alma mater, Zwaschka helped the Vikings to the national tournament, a No. 11 national ranking and two conference championships. Before working at Grand View, Zwaschka was an assistant coach at Dowling High School in Des Moines, Iowa. Under his guidance, Dowling claimed the 2000 conference title.

Zwaschka also boasts club head coaching experience with the Iowa United Soccer Club (1997-98) and the Waukee Soccer Club (1995). He led the Iowa United Soccer Club to a state championship in 1998 and the Waukee Soccer Club to a gold medal at the Iowa Games.

Zwaschka has extensive soccer playing experience as he played for Grand View from 1990-92, earning NAIA All-American and District 15 Player of the Year honors during his junior season. After playing collegiately, he played five years as a professional with the USL's Des Moines Menace. Zwaschka also played for the Connecticut Wolves, formerly of the A-League level.

In addition to the domestic game, Zwaschka gained significant experience abroad, playing a season each in Scotland and England, and two seasons in France. Zwaschka and his wife, Sara, have two sons, Lochan and Jagozar, and a daughter, Bria.

Zwaschka will be introduced to the media on Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Josephine Theatre. Zwaschka replaces coach Steve Springthorpe who took the head coaching position at North Carolina State.