Courtesy: Andy Mead

AKRON, Ohio – University of Akron Director of Athletics Tom Wistrcill announced Tuesday that men's soccer head coach Caleb Porter has signed a new five-year contract that will keep him on campus through the 2014 season.

The current agreement will begin immediately and replaces the contract Porter signed in 2008.

"I want to thank our President, Dr. (Luis) Proenza, and our Director of Athletics, Tom Wistrcill for their commitment to the future of the University of Akron Men's soccer program," Porter said. "My wife, Andrea, and I are humbled by the support we have received from alumni, friends and fans and we are thrilled to continue raising our family in this community. I am extremely proud of the brand of program we have built and the accomplishments that our student-athletes have had over the last four seasons.

"After reaching the pinnacle of college soccer this season, my vision will be to sustain the program for long-term success as one of the nation's elite programs. This an exciting time for Akron Soccer and with upgrades to the facility on the horizon I am confident we have all the resources necessary to continue competing for national championships for many years to come."

The announcement comes on the heels of the school's second appearance in a national championship game and one of the greatest seasons in NCAA history.

Under Porter's leadership, the Zips matched a Division I milestone for consecutive wins in a season (23) in 2009 and took a perfect record to the NCAA College Cup. Along the way, Akron set program records for wins (23), shutouts (19), fewest goals allowed (7) and lowest goals-against-average (GAA) (0.27), among others.

"This new contract shows the level of commitment the University is making to ensure the best collegiate coach remains at Akron and this program continues to be at the forefront of collegiate soccer for years to come," Wistrcill said. "Since my arrival, I have made it a priority to do what is best for the Akron men's soccer program and Dr. Proenza agrees that keeping Caleb is a must."

Of all the 203 Division I teams, none was more dominant in 2009 as Porter's Zips. Akron led the nation in goals per game (2.32) and goals-against-average (0.27 GAA) as the consensus No. 1-ranked team for the final nine weeks of the regular season. Additionally, Akron established these milestones while playing the most difficult schedule in the country with the nation's No. 1-ranked RPI in the final regular-season release.

UA's 19 shutouts represent the second-highest total in NCAA history while its goals-against-average and shutout percentage (.760) are third all-time.

Since taking over in 2006, Porter has taken the Zips' program to unprecedented heights. During his tenure, Akron has posted an overall record of 68-12-8 (.818) overall and 20-1-1 (.932) in Mid-American Conference play. Moreover, since 2005 UA has logged the highest winning percentage in the nation, going 86-13-12 (.829).

Porter's Zips have claimed four straight MAC regular-season championships, three straight MAC Tournament titles and qualified for the NCAA Tournament in each of the last three seasons, culminating in last Sunday's appearance in the national championship game.

The foundation of Porter's success has been the accumulation of the nation's top talent. He and his staff – including assistants Dave Giffard, Jared Embick and Oliver Slawson – recruited the No. 1 class in the nation in 2009 after recording No. 5 designations for both 2007 and 2008.

Porter is a three-time MAC Coach of the Year (2007, 2008, 2009) and the NCAA Division I All-Ohio Coach of the Year in 2008.

Defensive efficiency has been the hallmark of Porter's teams at UA and for the second straight season, the Zips led the nation in goals-against-average. In fact, Akron allowed more than one goal in a game once in 2009 and just twice in the past two years.

Of Akron's many remarkable trends under Porter, the Zips are 63-1-1 (.977) when scoring first, 45-0-0 (1.000) when leading at halftime and 49-0-0 (1.000) when scoring two or more goals since 2006.

Individually speaking, a number of performers have blossomed under Porter's guidance. The Zips have produced the MAC Player of the Year in each of his four seasons as well and the nation's leading goal scorer in each of the last two.

English-born striker Steve Zakuani became the No. 1 overall selection of the 2009 Major League Soccer SuperDraft after just two years in Porter's system. Zakuani led the nation with 20 goals 47 points in 2008 while finishing runner-up for the prestigious Hermann Trophy as a sophomore. Furthermore, Zakuani was an NSCAA first team All-American and the Player of the Year according to Soccer America and Top Drawer Soccer publications.

In that same mold, sophomore Teal Bunbury was the country's top goal scorer in 2009 with 17 goals to his name and an NSCAA first team All-American. Bunbury, the MAC and Goal.com Player of the Year, will also be representing the University of Akron as one of three finalists for this year's Hermann Trophy.

Porter also had the privilege of working with current MLS star Sinisa Ubiparipovic in 2006. Ubiparipovic was the first of six UA All-Americans produced since Porter's arrival. Junior Anthony Ampaipitakwong is a two-time honoree while Bunbury and Darlington Nagbe became first-time honorees in 2009.

The Zips have been just as impressive in the classroom under Porter's watch with nine players named to the all-conference academic team; with more expected this season. UA posted a team GPA of 3.256 in 2009 and were led by a pair of Academic All-Americans, sophomore Kofi Sarkodie (first team) and senior Ben Zemanski (third team). Elliot Bradbrook earned Academic All-American honors (second team) in 2007.