Mark Krikorian Position: Head Coach Experience: 4th Season Alma Mater: St. Anselm College (1983)

Florida State head coach Mark Krikorian took over the Seminole women's soccer program in 2005 and has proven to the nation that FSU soccer will be one to be reckoned with on an annual basis. In his first three years in Tallahassee, Krikorian guided the Seminoles to three straight College Cup appearances and the school's first appearance in the national championship game in 2007. He has registered at least 18 wins in each of his three seasons while finishing no lower than second place in the Atlantic Coast Conference, the nation's premier soccer conference.

Not only has Krikorian accomplished things that had never been done at Florida State, but he has also achieved what has yet to be accomplished by head coaches on the national level. Since the NCAA expanded to 64 teams in 2001, Krikorian is the first coach to take over a program and lead that team to three consecutive College Cups. He is also the first coach to advance through 13 rounds of the NCAA Tournament in his first three seasons at a school and is the first FSU coach to ever lead the program to a spot in the national finals. In three years, Krikorian has led the Seminoles to a 12-3-1 mark in NCAA Tournament play while claiming an overall winning percentage of .769.

The 2007 season marked the seventh straight year Krikorian led a team to the NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament and the fourth time he guided a Division I squad to the quarterfinals. He took Hartford to the NCAA Tournament from 1997-2000 including trips to the quarterfinals and two appearances in the round of 16. Krikorian has a lifetime winning percentage of .700 in the Division I Women's Soccer Tournament and also captured two Division II National Championships with Franklin Pierce. FSU's run to the 2007 national title game against Southern California represented Krikorian's third all-time appearance in an NCAA soccer championship game.

In just three seasons as FSU's field general, Krikorian's players have won more than 70 conference, regional and national honors including seven All-ACC first team selections, which ties for the conference lead. Last year, Florida State once again made school history as three athletes were honored at the national level for their outstanding season. Mami Yamaguchi became the most decorated soccer player to come out of Tallahassee claiming the MAC Hermann Trophy, presented to the top female player in NCAA Division I soccer. After rewriting the Seminole single-season record books and finishing the season as the national leader in points (66), Yamaguchi added NSCAA Player of the Year and ACC Offensive Player of the Year to her list of accolades while becoming FSU's first consensus first team All-American. Freshmen Amanda DaCosta and Sanna Talonen were named National Freshman of the Year by Soccer Buzz and Soccer America, respectively, the first recipients of such an award in the 13-year history of the program. In all, three players have been named semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy under his watch, while four players were finalists for national player of the year recognition. A total of seven players received All-America accolades last season as well.

The Seminoles have flourished both offensively and defensively under Krikorian's guidance. In 2005, Florida State finished with a +43 goal differential, 11 points better than the previous school record, en route to establishing single season records for goals (65) and points (188). Those records were shattered two years later as the 2007 squad became the highest scoring team in school history. The Seminoles tallied 233 points on 81 goals and 71 assists, good for a +55 goal differential. FSU went on to set school records for points per (8.63), goals per game (3.00), assists per game (2.63) and shots on goal (202). The offensive production also made ACC history marking the first time that a school other than North Carolina led the league in every major offensive category.

Defensively, Krikorian's teams have been just as good registering sub-1.00 goals against average in each of his three seasons for the first time in school history including a school record 0.67 GAA in 2006. Goals have certainly been hard to come by for opponents since Krikorian's arrival as the Seminoles have posted a shutout in almost half of their total games he has coached - 37 shutouts in 78 games (47.4%). In 2007, FSU recorded the second most shutouts in school history with 12 and have now reached double-digits in that category in each of the last three seasons. The Seminoles went on to post a school record 14 shutouts in 2006. In the quarterfinals of the 2007 NCAA Tournament, the Seminoles set a program first blanking Texas for the team's third shutout of the postseason. The previous school record for postseason shutouts was two set in 2006. Prior to Krikorian coming to Tallahassee, the most shutouts recorded in a season were nine set twice in 2003 and 2004.

His first year on the job was nothing short of magnificent leading the Seminoles to their first 20-win season and second College Cup in 2005. In his second year at the helm, the Seminoles continued their dominance in 2006 reaching the College Cup for the third time in the program's 12th year. In all three seasons, Krikorian has earned at least three NCAA Tournament wins and reached the Tournament semifinals, a feat that had only occurred once in program history. It shouldn't be surprising when examining Krikorian's past. He won two National Championships following undefeated seasons at Franklin Pierce. He then built Hartford into a national power before coming to FSU. Krikorian has never posted a winning percentage below .700 at any of his collegiate head coaching positions. With that kind of success it is easy to see why he is one of the most successful coaches of all-time. Krikorian currently ranks 20th on the all-time list for winningest coaches across all divisions and is the eighth winningest active head coach in Division I. The Seminole coach is one of only two members of that top 20 that coached in two divisions of the NCAA.

After what Krikorian has done in three seasons at Florida State, it would be hard not to argue that he is one of the best coaches in Division I. What the Seminole head coach is doing when it comes to consecutive victories is unprecedented in FSU soccer history. Krikorian's teams have the two best win streaks to open a season at seven (2005) and six (2006) games. In 2005, he led FSU to nine and seven game streaks. With a 6-0 start in 2006, the three longest win streaks in school history have all come under Krikorian's guidance. Three seasons ago, he became just the second coach in ACC history to lead his team to seven consecutive wins in conference play. The Seminole boss led FSU to a school record 24-game home unbeaten streak (22-0-2), a feat covering three seasons. Krikorian also had a successful start to his FSU coaching career. In his first 30 games, Krikorian posted a .850 winning percentage, 300 points better than any previous coach. With a 2-1 victory over Stetson in 2006, he became the fastest FSU coach to earn 30 wins, reaching it in just 38 matches. He also established a new record two seasons ago when his 2006 squad had just one loss after 15 matches. No previous FSU team had ever played more than 10 games without suffering multiple losses.

Krikorian hasn't just produced wins; he has secured big wins as well. In the first 10 years and 206 games of FSU soccer history, the Seminoles recorded seven wins over top 10 teams. In 78 games under Krikorian, Florida State has recorded eight top 10 victories. In addition to the win streaks, wins over top teams and trips to the College Cup, Krikorian led FSU to its highest ranking ever in all four college soccer polls including the first No. 1 ranking in school history. After downing Portland 2-1 to kickoff the 2006 season, the Seminoles jumped to the top spot in the nation in the Soccer America top 25 poll, a spot they held for four consecutive weeks. Following its run to the national championship game in 2007, the Seminoles finished the season ranked as high as number two in a pair of national polls.

In Krikorian's first year at the helm of the Seminole program, FSU established new records for overall wins, winning percentage, fewest losses, most ACC wins, the best ACC winning percentage and longest winning streak both in and out of the conference. Krikorian's 2005 squad was the first in school history to reach 20 wins and they matched the highest finish ever by an FSU team in ACC play as they tied for second. He led Florida State to a school-record seven wins over NSCAA top 25 teams and for the first time in program history, FSU spent a month ranked among the nation's top 10 teams in every soccer poll.

Krikorian took a Seminole team that was eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 2004 and led them to the College Cup the very next season. He is just the sixth coach in the history of DI Women's soccer to lead his team to the national semifinals in his first season at a school. FSU is now one of six schools who have gone to the College Cup under the direction of two different coaches.

For his efforts, Krikorian was honored both regionally and nationally in his first season. He was named the first ACC Coach of the Year in Seminole soccer history, the 2005 Soccer America National Coach of the Year, the 2005 Soccer Buzz National Coach of the Year, Soccer Buzz's Southeast Region Coach of the Year and the NSCAA's South Region Coach of the Year.

Defense was the name of the game for the Seminoles in 2006, setting the school record for fewest goals allowed (18), shutouts (14) and GAA (0.67). FSU also tied the school mark for the fewest defeats in one season with four set in 2005.

On top of his impressive resume in coaching the top talent at the collegiate level, Krikorian has worked with the world's best players during his stops as the head coach of the U-19 National Team and his three years with the Philadelphia Charge. Florida State's head coach has coached soccer greats from all over the world including U.S. National team stars Brandi Chastain, Kristine Lilly, Tiffeny Milbrett, Heather Mitts and Lorie Fair, English National team player Kelly Smith, French National Marinette Pinchon and Brazilian National Team players Sissi and Katia.

Florida State players haven't only been recognized for their success on the field, but in the classroom as well. Over the last three years, Florida State earned regional academic awards eight times. Katrin Schmidt and Kirsten van de Ven were named first team Academic All-Americans by the NSCAA, marking the first distinction of its kind at FSU. Additionally, FSU soccer players have been named to the ACC All-Academic Team 13 times including six in 2007 to tie a league-high. Last year alone, 11 student-athletes made the Dean's List while three earned President's List honors with perfect 4.0 GPA's. The Seminoles finished the 2007-08 academic year with a team GPA of 3.225.

The FSU coach has been at the helm of a college team for a total of 14 seasons now and he has recorded 18+ wins eight times in that span. The 2005 season bettered his first year coaching at Franklin Pierce and Hartford for wins, fewest losses and highest winning percentage.

The 2008 season got off to a fabulous start as Soccer Buzz awarded Florida State with the nation's top recruiting class - the first of its kind in the program's 14-year history. The publication ranked six freshmen in the top 40 with five receiving PARADE All-American honors. The ranking is a year removed from the 2007 class that Soccer Buzz rated second nationally and first in the Southeast Region.

U.S. U-19 NATIONAL TEAM
Prior to taking over the Seminole soccer program, Krikorian came to Florida State fresh off leading the United States U-19 National Team to the bronze medal, while winning the FIFA Fair Play Award at the 2004 U-19 Women's World Cup. As the head coach for the U.S. U-19 National Team, Krikorian was responsible for all technical aspects of the program as the team prepared for the second-ever U-19 FIFA World Championship.

His U-19 squad cruised through Group C play finishing undefeated beating South Korea, Russia and European Champion Spain. They were the only team to win all three group matches in the tournament, as the U.S. outscored its opponents 8-1. Krikorian then led the U.S. past Australia in the quarterfinals before falling to eventual World Champion Germany in the tournament semifinals. The team responded by beating Brazil 3-0 to secure the bronze medal. The win kept the U.S.'s streak alive as the only country to secure a top-three finish in all nine FIFA World Championships for women.

The team not only left Thailand with bronze medals but they also were awarded the FIFA Fair Play Trophy. Individually, U.S. midfielder Angie Woznuk received the Silver Ball as the tournament's second Most Outstanding Player and the Bronze Shoe as the tournament's third-leading scorer. Overall, Krikorian's squad outscored the competition 13-4 in the World Championships.

WUSA
As the head coach of the Philadelphia Charge from 2000-2003, Krikorian had another opportunity to coach the top players in the world and he once again proved he could develop talent and guide players to great heights. Not only did he coach 2002 WUSA MVP and Offensive MVP Pichon, but he also tutored the league's top keeper in Melissa Moore, who led the league with a 1.00 GAA. He coached the Charge to two playoff berths in his three seasons and was named the league's coach of the year in 2002. Krikorian drafted and coached 10 WUSA All-Stars in just three years on the Charge bench.

In his first season with Philadelphia, Krikorian posted 11 wins in leading the Charge into the playoffs. The team finished the season ranked third in the regular season standings. The next year the Charge once again won 11 games and finished second in the standings, which was an amazing accomplishment considering Krikorian's top player was lost for the season when Kelly Smith went down with an injury. His squad still finished the regular season 11-4-6.

UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD
Krikorian had achieved an equal measure of success on the college level before jumping to the WUSA. He coached the University of Hartford for five seasons from 1996-2000 leading the squad to an Elite Eight and two Sweet Sixteen appearances during his four consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament. He recruited five National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Americans, three academic All-Americans and his squads received the NSCAA Team Academic Award on four occasions. Overall, Krikorian's teams averaged 15 wins per season as he posted a 75-30-3 overall record while winning three conference championships. Three of his squads finished the year ranked in the NSCAA's top 15 and they were awarded the NSCAA Team Academic Award for four straight seasons.

Krikorian wasted little time in turning Hartford into a national power. After a 4-14 first season, Krikorian's Hawks won at least 17 and never lost more than five games, while advancing to the NCAA Tournament in each of his next four seasons.

Hartford immediately improved to 19-2-1 in just the second season under Krikorian including a win over national power Connecticut. Hartford also won just the second NCAA Tournament game in school history that year. In 1998, the success continued as the Hawks posted a 17-5 record while advancing to the Sweet 16. That year Krikorian led Hartford to wins over Texas A&M and Harvard in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

In 1999, only his third year at the helm of the Hawk program, Krikorian put together the best soccer season in school history. Hartford finished the regular season 15-4-2 and as conference champions for the third straight year. That regular season success was tame compared to the team's magical run through the NCAA Tournament. After opening with a home win over Princeton, Krikorian traveled to Gainesville to take on the defending National Champions. His Hawks dethroned the Gators on the road and then did the same thing a week later to Virginia in a 3-2 triple overtime win. The victory moved the Hawks into the Elite Eight for the first time in school history.

In his final season in Connecticut, Krikorian put together his most impressive regular season as his Hawks went 17-2. They defeated both Virginia and Florida again. The win over Florida was a decisive 3-0 victory. Krikorian also led the Hawks to the school's first-ever victory over Dartmouth in the seventh meeting between the programs.

FRANKLIN PIERCE COLLEGE
Krikorian came to Hartford after spending six years as the head coach at Franklin Pierce College in Rindge, NH (1990-1996) where he built one of the most dominant soccer programs in the college game. His teams won two National Championships, both during undefeated seasons, and appeared in two other final fours. His squad's had a remarkable 39-game winning streak and his 1995 National Championship team was 20-0. Krikorian's teams compiled a 93-19-3 record in six seasons. He recruited three National Players of the Year, eight All-Americans, five academic All-Americans and four national scoring champions. His team at Franklin Pierce also garnered the NSCAA Team Academic Award.

Before Krikorian arrived at Franklin Pierce, the school had an all-time record of 21-36-4 in five seasons winning just under 38% of their games. After he arrived on campus, the Ravens have had just one losing season in 14 years and have won five National Championships. Since Krikorian became the head coach and rejuvenated the program, Franklin Pierce has won almost 89% of their matches. Krikorian built the foundation for the Franklin Pierce dynasty in just six years on the job.

In 1990, his first year in New Hampshire, Krikorian went 10-6-2. The school's 10 victories were just four shy of tying the program's total from its first five years of existence. Two seasons later the Raven's were 20-1 and finished in the NCAA semifinals. After a 16-3 season in 1993 and another NCAA semifinal, Krikorian completed his reclamation of Franklin Pierce by going a perfect 19-0 and winning the school's first-ever NCAA women's soccer championship. What did Krikorian then do for an encore? In 1995 he repeated as National Champions, this time with a record of 20-0.

After departing for Hartford after the 1995 season, the Ravens went on to capture two more National Championships and five in a six-year span. Franklin Pierce and North Carolina are still the only two schools in the history of NCAA soccer to win four consecutive NCAA Championships.

HONORS & AWARDS
Krikorian's two national coach of the year awards in 2005 continued an impressive trend in which the Seminole boss has been honored at every stop of his career. He was named WUSA Coach of the Year in 2002 and received numerous honors and awards throughout his coaching career prior to moving to the professional ranks. He was named the NSCAA's Northeast Division I Coach of the Year in 1997, the NSCAA Division II National Coach of the Year in 1992 and 1995, the NSCAA Division II Northeast Region Coach of the Year in 1992 and 1995 and was a two-time New England Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year in 1994 and 1995. In 1990 and 1993 he was named the Division II New England Coach of the Year as well.

Krikorian was a standout player at St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H. from 1981-1983. He was a two-time captain and team MVP. In 1983, he was a New England Indoor Soccer League (NEISL) All-Star and a first team All-New England selection.

PERSONAL
Krikorian graduated with a degree in history from St. Anselm College and he earned his master's degree in education from Keene (NH) State College in 1994. Krikorian also served as an assistant men's coach at the University of Maine at Farmington and was a Social Studies teacher at Mt. Abram High School in Maine and Raymond High School in New Hampshire. Krikorian was born in Malden, Mass. on March 28, 1960. He is married to the former Linda Mastrogiovanni. They have two children Alexandra (7) and Michael (5).

KRIKORIAN YEAR-BY-YEAR

CAREER HIGHS
Most Wins - 20 (1992, 1995, 2005)
Best Record - 20-0-0 (1995)
NCAA Finish - Nat'l Champs (1994, 1995)
Conference Finish - Champions (1994, 1997, 1998, 1999)

AWARDS

KRIKORIAN ALL-TIME VERSUS D-I OPPONENTS