MIAMI (Dec. 16, 2016) – Former first assistant Kevin Nylen has been named FIU's new men's soccer head coach, Executive Director of Sports and Entertainment Pete Garcia announced today. Nylen becomes the seventh head coach in program history.
 
Nylen, who spent four seasons at FIU from 2012-15, returns to Miami after spending last season as the chief scout and U16 head coach with the Orlando City SC (Major League Soccer) Development Academy.
 
"Kevin Nylen is one of the top young coaching talents in college soccer and we are thrilled to have him lead our men's soccer program," Garcia said. "He is a tremendous recruiter and knows how to win. I have no doubt that Kevin will continue to develop our program into one of the top teams in the nation.   
 
"I would like to thank Pete Garcia and (Senior Associate Athletics Director) Julie Berg for this opportunity and their confidence in me to lead the FIU men's soccer program," said Nylen.  "I am excited and honored to return to FIU and I can't wait to get started with the team."
 
In addition to on-the-field coaching with Orlando City, Nylen identified and oversaw all player recruitment into the MLS academy. On the pitch, Nylen has helped Orlando City become one of the top academies in the country.
 
During his four years at FIU, Nylen helped build the Panthers into one of the top teams in Conference USA and the nation. During the 2015 season, FIU posted a 12-7-1 record, won its first-ever Conference USA Tournament championship and returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2004 campaign. In addition, the Panthers finished the season ranked No. 16 in the final National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Top 25 poll.
 
As recruiting coordinator for FIU, Nylen secured the program's first Top 20 recruiting class in 11 years when the Panthers' class was ranked as high as No. 14 by the NSCAA. Nylen was recognized for his efforts at the conclusion of the 2015 season by being named the NSCAA Southeast Region's Glenn "Mooch" Myernick Assistant Coach of the Year.
 
Prior to his time at FIU, Nylen spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Boston College where he helped guide the Eagles to a 24-11-6 record from 2010-2011 with two NCAA Tournament appearances. The 2010 team advanced to the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament semifinals, while the 2011 squad took part in the ACC title game.
 
Nylen, a 2003 graduate of St. Anselm College, began his coaching career in August of 2009 at Amherst College. Following his collegiate playing career Nylen enjoyed a six-year professional playing career before taking to the sidelines as a coach.
 
Nylen, wife Michelle and daughter Pearl are looking forward to returning to Miami.
 
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Twitter (@FIUMensSoccer) and become a fan on Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUMensSoccer) for all the latest Men's Soccer news.
 
Follow all of FIU's 18 athletic teams on Twitter (@FIUAthletics), Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSports), YouTube (FIUPanthers), and Instagram (FIUathletics).
 
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About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium.
 
About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. It is a public research university with colleges and schools that offer more than 180 bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU contributes $8.9 billion each year to the local economy. FIU is Worlds Ahead in finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded over 200,000 degrees and enrolls more than 54,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell, FIU@I-75, and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU also supports artistic and cultural engagement through its three museums: the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, the Wolfsonian-FIU, and the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has over 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.