TJ Kolba Position: Assistant Coach Experience: 4th season

T.J. Kolba returns for his fourth season as an assistant coach for Cleveland State, where he handles all administrative, travel and budgetary matters for the Vikings. He also assists with on-field coaching and recruiting.

Last season the Vikings advanced to the Horizon League title game, for the first time since 2002 under Kolba.

In his initial campaign as an assistant coach at CSU, Kolba helped coach the Vikings to become the most-improved team in NCAA Division I, posting a 6-10-2 record, compared to 0-17-1 the year before.

Kolba and head coach Ali Kazemaini have been working together for five seasons, four at CSU and one at John Carroll University where Kolba served as an assistant coach for Kolba.

In his lone campaign at John Carroll, Kolba helped lead the Blue Streaks to a 13-7-1 overall mark, regular and post-season Ohio Athletic Conference crowns and a berth in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

A four-year letterwinner and three-year captain for the Blue Streaks, Kolba was recognized as the Ohio Athletic Conference Defender of the Year as a senior in 2004.

A three-time All OAC selection, Kolba finished his career with 24 points (eight goals and eight assists) in 73 matches. His defensive efforts helped lead the Blue Streaks to three consecutive OAC Championship matches. As a freshmen, he netted John Carroll's first-ever postseason goal when he scored against Wilmington in the 2000 NCAA Tournament.

In addition to his duties at CSU, Kolba serves as a staff coach with Cleveland Soccer Academy and is also a member of the State Olympic Development coaching staff. Kolba graduated from John Carroll in the fall of 2004 with a degree in marketing and logistics.

Kolba is single and resides in Parma.