Ali Kazemaini Position: Head Coach Experience: 4th season

It has taken head coach Ali Kazemaini just four years to turn around the CSU men's soccer program that was winless when he first arrived. Kazemaini has also worked to make the squad a contender for the Horizon League Championship, leading them to the title game last season for the first time since 2002.

A true ambassador of the game and one of Cleveland's top soccer minds, Kazemaini has built the CSU program with a local flavor, having 18 current players from the Greater Cleveland area.

Last season the Vikings rebounded from a slow start to go 8-2-1 over their last 11 matches, including two victories in the Horizon League tournament, before losing a heartbreaking 1-0 match against Loyola in the finals.

Part of the success during 2008 came from having a 5-5-2 record in matches that were decided by one goal or less, compared to 2007 when they were 3-7-2.

Kazemaini returned to his alma mater in 2006 and led the Vikings to the largest turnaround among all Division I programs, ending the season with a 6-10-2 record, six more wins than the previous season.

Kazemaini came back to Cleveland State after 14 successful seasons as head coach at cross-town John Carroll University.

Kazemaini took over at John Carroll in 1992 and the Blue Streaks immediately benefited, going 15-2-1 and winning the Ohio Athletic Conference Championship in his first season.

The accomplishments quickly piled up. He won seven OAC regular season titles during his 14 seasons, earning a league tournament berth 12 times and claiming four tournament championships. He guided his teams to the NCAA Tournament in 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2005, highlighted by a trip to the round of 16 in 2003.

For his efforts, Kazemaini was named OAC Coach of the Year three times (2000, 2001, & 2005) and the NCSAA/Adidas Regional Coach of the Year twice (2000 & 2001).

During his tenure at John Carroll, Kazemaini coached players who won all-league honors 42 times, all-region accolades 21 times and 31 All-Ohio choices. In the classroom, eight of his players were named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District teams and two earning Academic All-America honors.

A native of Tehran, Iran, Kazemaini originally came to Cleveland State in 1980 and played on teams that compiled a 42-21-12 record, making one NCAA Championship appearance.

Kazemaini, one of two players in Vikings history to lead the team in scoring four straight years, currently ranks fifth in CSU history in goals (41), sixth in total points (102) and ninth in assists (20).

Kazemaini began his CSU playing career in fine fashion, leading the team in goals (6), assists (4) and points (16) in 1980. He came back the following year to double his scoring totals, tallying team highs in all three categories with 12 goals, eight assists and 32 points to earn second team All-America and first team All-Ohio accolades, helping CSU to a 14-5-2 record.

His junior campaign in 1982 saw similar success as he led the team with 11 goals and 26 points to make All-Ohio first team for the second straight year.

Kazemaini capped off his collegiate career in 1983 by earning second team All-America honors for the second time in his career, tallying 12 goals with four assists for 28 points to again lead CSU in every scoring category. He is one of a handful of Vikings to earn first team All-Ohio recognition three times during his career.

A two-year letterman in tennis (1982-83), Kazemaini was the recipient of the CSU Varsity "C" Club Athlete of the Year in 1981 while being tabbed as the player of the year in soccer three times and twice in tennis.

Selected to play on the 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Kazemaini had to forego playing in the Los Angeles games when immigration paperwork could not be approved in time.

Undaunted, Kazemaini turned professional. He was selected in the first round of the 1983 Major Indoor Soccer League Draft by the Cleveland Force and in the fourth round of the North American Soccer League Draft by the San Diego Shockers.

Kazemaini chose indoor soccer and was immediately successful, being chosen as the MISL Rookie of the Year in 1984-85. He played professionally for 11 years.

As his professional career wound down, Kazemaini pursued coaching, an aspect of the sport that he had worked in during the off-season for over a decade, participating in numerous coaching clinics and player camps.

His extensive soccer background includes working as an instructor for the Cleveland Force Summer Soccer Camps from 1984 to 1988 before moving on to the Cloverleaf Soccer Academy, where he served as a director.

Kazemaini currently serves as the Director of Coaching at the Cleveland Soccer Academy and Director of Soccer Operations at Lost Nation Sports Park. He is also a member of the State Olympic Development coaching staff.

Kazemaini is married to the former Michelle Mone and they reside in Concord with their daughter Zari and son Ali Jr.