1369 Crawford Hall | 949-824-8158 | gekuntz@uci.edu

Head Coach George Kuntz

George Kuntz enters his 17th season as the men's head soccer coach at UC Irvine in 2011 and has been a NCAA/NAIA collegiate head coach for 24 years. He has been named NSCAA/adidas Far West Region Coach of the Year in (2006 & 2008) and seen a number of players jump to the next level including 10 in Major League Soccer (MLS) and three on various U.S. National Teams.

Coach Kuntz and the Anteaters returned to the postseason in 2011 after winning the Big West Tournament for a third time earning a No. 8 National seed finishing the season ranked 13th with a school record 16 wins while going 16-6-1. The 2011 season was another giant leap in the college soccer world being ranked as high as fifth. The 'Eaters earned their third All-American honor under Coach Kuntz and the first First Team All-American. In addition, the soccer program has earned 13 conference players of the year, 117 all-conference honors, and 12 All-West region honors.

2010 saw Coach Kuntz lead the Anteaters to a 14-3-3 record and a Big West regular season title. The 14 wins marked the second most for Kuntz behind only 2008's 15 wins. The team's seven conference wins tied a school conference mark, as well, and it still finished ranked 22nd.

In 2009, UCI won the Big West Tournament and received an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and a first round bye by virtue of a 4-1 win on the road against No. 4 UCSB. UC Irvine was rewarded for a historic 15 win season by receiving the 16th seed for the NCAA Division I Tournament and played host to Stanford in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in front of 2000 fans. The team finished No. 3 in the West region and No. 25 in the nation.

Kuntz led the 2008 Anteaters to their first ever Big West championship with a 5-1-4 record, their first Big West Tournament title and first trip to the NCAA Tournament. In the NCAA tournament he guided the team to the Round of 16 after earning the No. 14 national seed to start the tourney. Kuntz was named Big West Conference Coach of the Year. The 2008 squad had four players earn All-American honors. The 'Eaters were ranked as high as seventh nationally, 10th in the NSCAA, UCI's highest year-end ranking to date at the end of the regular season and concluded with a school-best 15-2-6 record.

Kuntz came to UCI from Pepperdine where he was the first women's soccer head coach; recording a 23-11-2 record in the first two seasons of the program's existence including historic wins over UCLA and USC. Kuntz began his collegiate coaching career at California Lutheran University in 1988 and compiled a five-year record of 60-27-10 (.670). The Kingsmen won the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) titles in 1991 and 1992 and advanced to the NCAA Far West Regional title game. In 1989 founded the women's soccer program at California Lutheran University and recorded a 51-24-1 (.678) record from 1989-1992. California Lutheran's women's team was ranked No. 1 in the Far West region and No. 3 in the nation in 1992 with a 17-4 record. Kuntz led the team to SCIAC championships in 1991 and 1992. The team went to the NCAA Far West final in 1992.

Kuntz coached four National Championship teams in the Donnelly Cup (Amateur Adult Division National Championships) as the California Soccer Association Head Coach for both the men and women. The California State Select Men's Team won National Championships in 2003, 2004 and 2005. His women's California State Select won the national title in 2006, the regional title in 2004 and, participated in the National Final Four in 2005.

Kuntz is a 1989 graduate of Arizona State University and holds a bachelor's degree in communication arts. He graduated with a Master's degree in education with an emphasis in curriculum and instruction from California Lutheran University. He holds a United States Soccer Federation "A" license, National Youth License, and the National Soccer Coaches Association Advanced National Diploma.

Coach Kuntz has spent a large part of his coaching career studying the development of the youth soccer player and is nationally recognized as the one of the longest serving United States State Association (USYSA) Directors of Coaching in the United States. George Kuntz has been the Technical Director and Director of Coaches Education for the Hawaii Youth Soccer Association for ten years.  He served as the Director of Coaching for the California Youth Soccer Association - South for eight years and was the catalyst for mandatory licensing for youth soccer coaches in the United States. He was named 1995 CYSA - South Boy's Coach of the Year. Kuntz was also director of the Olympic Development Program from 1992 - 1996.

In May, 2011 he was appointed the AYSO National Director of Player Development –Technical Advisor.

In 1994 Kuntz worked at the Federation International Football Association (FIFA) World Cup in Pasadena, California as an (FIFA) Assistant Technical Advisor.

Kuntz founded the Team Soccer Direct camp program in 1977, which has evolved into one of the nation's best summer camp programs and has been involved in the Olympic Development Program (ODP) as a player, coach, and administrator for 34 years.

Kuntz played at Westmont College, San Diego Mesa College, and Scottsdale College during his collegiate years and was drafted by the Phoenix Fire of the American Professional Soccer League. Kuntz has two children; a son Jordan and daughter Sevilla.

During each of the past five seasons the UC Irvine Men's team has been ranked in the top 25 in the nation by the NSCAA during the regular season. At UC Irvine, he has produced close to 80 players that have been named all-conference and close to 100 were honored as scholar athletes recognized for their academic achievement. He has had ten players drafted or signed by Major League Soccer. His teams have broken all of the records at UC Irvine for wins and earned it's first and second ever post season berth into the NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament.

The Kuntz File

  • 2008 - National Soccer Coaches Association of America Far West Coach of the Year (NCAA DI Men)
  • 2008 - Big West Conference - Coach of the Year - (NCAA DI Men)
  • 2006 - National Soccer Coaches Association of America Far West Coach of the Year (NCAA DI Men)
  • 2006 - Big West Conference - Coach of the Year - (NCAA DI Men)
  • 2006 - Inducted into the California Lutheran University - Hall of Fame (Men's and Women's Soccer)
  • 2005, 2004, 2003 - Big West Conference (UC Irvine) Sportsmanship Award (team)
  • 2004 - The Outstanding Supporter of Prevention Award, Irvine Prevention Coalition - Community Service
  • 2001 - Big West Conference - Coach of the Year - (NCAA DI Men)
  • 2000 - Mountain Pacific Sports Federation - Pacific Division Coach of the Year - (NCAA DI Men)
  • 1995 - California Youth Soccer Association - South - Coach of the Year (Boy's)
  • 1992 - National Soccer Coaches Association Far West Coach of the Year, (NCAA Women)
  • 1991 - National Soccer Coaches Association Far West Coach of the Year, (NCAA Men)
  • 1988 - NAIA District III Coach of the Year, (Men)
Kuntz Coaching Record
Year School Record    
2011 UC Irvine 16-6-1    
2010  UC Irvine  14-3-3      
2009  UC Irvine  15-7-0     
2008  UC Irvine  15-2-6    
2007 UC Irvine 6-9-5    
2006  UC Irvine 13-4-3    
2005 UC Irvine 11-6-3    
2004  UC Irvine 7-13-0    
2003  UC Irvine 6-11-3    
2002  UC Irvine 8-8-4    
2001 UC Irvine 10-4-6    
2000  UC Irvine 12-8-1    
1999  UC Irvine 8-11-1    
1998  UC Irvine 8-12-0     
1997  UC Irvine 6-10-4     
1996  UC Irvine 7-7-5     
1995  UC Irvine 3-15-2     

 

Contact Coach Kuntz

Email: gekuntz@uci.edu | Phone: 949-824-8158

Assistant Coach Chris Volk

Chris Volk is in his 14th season as George Kuntz` lead assistant and goalkeeper coach.

In 2008, Volk was named the NSCAA Far West Region Assistant Coach of the Year. Volk came to UCI after spending the 1996 season as a goalkeeper with the Anaheim Splash, and serving as an assistant coach at San Diego State, his alma mater, from 1995-96.

Coach Volk served as the women's assistant coach at Mesa College in 1994 and as the goalkeeper coach for the men`s team that same year. He also served as Grossmont High School's head coach for the girls` team from 1992-96, taking them to the CIF playoffs every year.

Volk played collegiately at San Diego State University from 1987 to 1991. The Aztecs were NCAA Division I runners-up in 1987. In 1990, he received the Most Inspirational Player Award.

On the professional level, Volk was the goalkeeper coach for the F.C. Bratz in 1996 and a head coach for the Scripps Ranch Soccer Club from 1992-1996. He was a member of the 1994 Continental Indoor Soccer League Championship team, the Las Vegas Dustdevils as well as a member of the 1998 A-League Orange County Zodiac.

Volk holds a USSF National 'A` License as well as a National Youth License.

Volk was an assistant coach with the National Champion California State Amateur team that won the Donnelly Cup in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Volk and his wife Amy have a son, Kevin and a daughter, Katie

 

 

 

The Volk File

  • NSCAA Far West Region Assistant Coach of the Year
  • Assistant Coach, San Diego State
 

Contact Coach Volk

Email: cvolk@uci.edu | Phone: 949-824-1096

Assistant Coach Mike Ditta
Mike Ditta is in his third year as an assistant coach at UC Irvine after joining the program from Santiago Canyon in 2008 where he was an assistant coach.

Ditta has been the Director of Coaching for the Pateadores Soccer Club for the past four seasons. He also had great success at the high school level where he won CIF Championships with the girls team at Riverside Polytechnic in 1994 and with the boys team at West Covina South Hills in 1999. He completed his first year as the head coach of the boys soccer team at Newport Harbor High School in 2008-09.
 
Ditta played two seasons with the Los Angeles Salsa Soccer Club for the Third Division Los Angeles Cobras from 1993-95 where he earned All-Tournament honors at the national championships. He later played two seasons at Vanguard University where he earned league and regional honors.
 
Ditta concluded his playing career at Azusa Pacific University where he earned his bachelors degree in sociology. He later completed his M.S. degree in education administration from National University in 2004 and was awarded his USSF A License in 2005.He lives in Yorba Linda with his wife Alana and his daughter Madison.
 

The Ditta File

  • Director of Coaching, Pateadores Soccer Club

Contact Coach Ditta

Email: mditta@uci.edu | Phone: 949-824-1096

 

Volunteer Assistant Coach Carlos Aguilar
Carlos Aguilar joins the UC Irvine programs as a volunteer assistant coach. He played professionally in the USSF D-2 with the Rochester Rhinos in 2010.
Aguilar played two years with the UCI soccer team from 2008-2009. He earned Big West Conference Tournament MVP honors in 2009 along with First Team All-Big West status. During his time as an Anteater, he was named to the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week once and College Soccer News Team of the Week twice.
Aguilar came to UCI from Taft College where he played from 2006-2007. Each year he was named CVC First Team All-Conference and the team went to the Junior College State Championship match, winning the title in 2007. 
 
Aguilar played prep soccer at Palmdale High School. He lead his school to the CIF Semifinal match his senior season. That year, he also earned Third Team All-CIF and First Team All-Golden Valley honors.
 
He is currently still attending UC Irvine as a Social Ecology major. 

The Aguilar File

Contact Coach Aguilar

Email: carlosaa@uci.edu | Phone: 949-824-1096

 

Director of Operations Curt Bauer

Curt Bauer joins the UCI coaching staff after retiring from coaching the boy's soccer programs at Santa Margarita Catholic High School after 18 seasons. The SMCHS Boys soccer coaching icon was named 2008 NSCAA/Adidas High School National Coach of the Year at the NSCAA Convention in St Louis, Missouri.

Bauer has been named CIF coach of the year 8 times, OC coach of the year 3 times, NSCAA California State coach of the year once, and NSCAA Western Regional coach of the year 2 times. His teams have been very successful winning a record 9 CIF Titles and the first ever California State Championship last year. Bauer has coached over 80 players that have gone on to play major college soccer and 9 players that have played professionally. He has a combined overall coaching record of 458-74-73 in just over 20 plus years of high school coaching.

Bauer was an all-county player at Mater Dei High School. He went on to play college soccer at CSUF. While still playing college soccer, Bauer began his coach career at Mater Dei High School.  From there he coached three years for Orange Soccer Club where he won a State Title. He then moved to South Orange County where he took the head coaching job at Santa Margarita Catholic High School at the age of 24. He stayed there until he retired in 2008.

Bauer married his high school sweetheart Melinda and they have been married for 23 years. They have two beautiful daughters Megan and Katlyn who are now in college at the University of Oregon and TCU. Since his retirement, Bauer has spent the last three years enjoying his daughter’s high school and club activities, games and competitions. Now that they are grown and off to college, Curt has decided to quietly get back into soccer and finds his new position with the UCI Men’s soccer team to be the perfect beginning.

The Bauer File

  • 2008 - NSCAA/Adidas High School National Coach of the Year
  • 2008 - California State Champions with Santa Margarita Catholic High School

Contact Coach Bauer

Email: curtb@dthermal.net | Phone: 949-824-1096