In a short amount of time, Caleb Porter, who owns the highest win percentage among all active Division I coaches, has become one of the most highly respected soccer coaches in the nation.

Since becoming the sixth head coach in Akron history in 2006, Porter, who owns a career mark of 105-17-14 (.824), has built the Zips' program into a perennial national championship contender – capturing the school's first national title in any sport in 2010 – while developing a brand of play that is attractive and attack-oriented, yet effective on both sides of the ball.

Due in large part to this dynamic vision, unprecedented success and keen ability to identify and develop talent, Porter was named head coach of the U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team last October.

The Zips' historic 2010 campaign capped off one of the most dominating two-year runs the college soccer world has ever seen. During that time, the Zips, who lost just once during the regular run of play over 50 matches, posted an overall mark of 45-2-3 while becoming the first school to advance to national championship games in back-to-back seasons since Indiana accomplished the feat in 2003 and 2004.

Leaving little doubt of its strength of schedule, Akron achieved this success while playing the most difficult competition in college soccer with the No. 1-ranked RPI in the final regular-season release in 2009 and the No.1-ranked non-conference RPI in 2010.

Fueled by one of the greatest defensive seasons in college soccer history, the Zips matched an NCAA record by winning 23 consecutive matches on their rampage to the College Cup and runner-up finish in 2009. UA didn't allow a single goal during the NCAA Tournament that year and finished with 19 shutouts – representing the second-highest total all-time. Furthermore, it's goals-against average (0.27) and shutout percentage (.760) were ranked third all-time.

Porter's Zips then matched another NCAA milestone in 2010 by registering their 11th consecutive shutout in a 4-0 rout at home over No. 2 Tulsa before a sold out crowd and nationally televised audience. The win also represented the 29th game of UA's 48-match home-unbeaten streak, which shattered an NCAA record the following season.

In all, Porter, 36, has guided Akron to seven Mid-American Conference regular season championships, four MAC Tournament titles and four consecutive trips to the NCAA's Round of 16. He became the fastest in program history to reach 100 career wins, accomplishing the feat in just 126 matches, and is among the fastest all-time to do so; beating legendary Hall of Fame coaches, Virginia's Bruce Arena (140 matches) and UCLA's Sigi Schmid (131) to the century mark.

Porter, who was rewarded with a 10-year contract extension that will keep him at UA through the 2020 season, was named the NSCAA National Coach of the Year in 2009 and has won the MAC Coach of the Year award in each of the past five seasons (2007-11). He is also a three-time Division I All-Ohio Coach of the Year.

Highly regarded for his tactical insight and ability to recognize talent, Porter, who served as an assistant coach on the U.S. Under-18 National Team for three years from 2009-11, has developed two Hermann Trophy winners in the last three seasons.

Teal Bunbury, a current member of the U.S. Men's National Team, became the first UA player to win the prestigious award in 2009 and teammate Darlington Nagbe, who was the No. 2 overall selection of the 2011 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, followed suit in 2010. UA was just the fifth school in the history of the men's player of the year award to record consecutive winners all-time and the first since Virginia in 1995-96.

Moreover, Bunbury and Nagbe are two of 14 players in MLS who were coached by Porter and his staff in the last six years at Akron, including nine first-round draft picks. In fact, Zips' players had their names called at a record-setting pace at the 2011 MLS SuperDraft as seven members from the national championship team were selected, including five of the first eight picks. The five first-round selections set an MLS record, as did the seven players taken overall.

English-born striker Steve Zakuani, who led the nation with 20 goals as a sophomore in 2008, became the No. 1 overall selection of the draft (to Seattle) after just two years in Porter's system. In that same mold, Bunbury was the country's top goal scorer in 2009 as a sophomore with 17 goals and was selected with the No. 4 pick overall (Kansas City) in 2010.

Nagbe was the first of three straight UA selections drafted in 2011, going No. 2 overall to the expansion Portland Timbers. Freshman midfielder Perry Kitchen (No. 3 to D.C. United) and sophomore defender Zarek Valentin (No. 4 to Chivas USA) would follow before another run of Zips that saw junior defender and Soccer America Player of the Year Kofi Sarkodie go to Houston with the No. 7 pick and junior midfielder Michael Nanchoff go to Vancouver with the No. 8 pick complete the historic first round of the 2011 draft. After senior defender Chris Korb became the second Zip on the day to go to D.C. United (No. 31 overall), senior midfielder Anthony Ampaipitakwong was taken by San Jose (No. 33) to push UA's total number of draftees to seven; setting the MLS standard.

Akron's success at the MLS draft continued in 2012 when sophomore Darren Mattocks was the No. 2 overall selection, going to the expansion franchise Montreal Impact. He was the fourth UA sophomore to be drafted in as many seasons after tallying 21 goals – the third highest, single-season total in school history – in 22 matches.

In the past six seasons, the Zips have yielded 10 All-Americans, 12 freshman All-Americans and 27 NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region standouts. During that time, nine players have been signed to highly coveted Generation adidas contracts, including five in 2010, which represented another MLS record.

UA has also produced 63 all-conference honorees since 2006, including 52 first teamers, and has captured the MAC Player of the Year award in each of Porter's seasons at the helm (Mattocks in 2011, Nagbe in 2010, Bunbury in 2009, Zakuani in 2008, Corey Sipos in 2007 and Sinisa Ubiparipovic in 2006). In fact, the Zips have swept the league's postseason awards in each of the past five seasons by claiming Coach of the Year, Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year (Wil Trapp in 2011, Mattocks in 2010, Valentin in 2009, Nagbe in 2008 and Zakuani in 2007) honors.

Porter and his staff have also taken the recruitment game to an all new level at UA by securing top-five classes each year. After reeling in fifth-ranked classes in both 2007 and 2008, the Zips recorded the No. 1 class in the nation in 2009 and the No. 2 classes in 2010 and 2011.

As a team, the Zips have been just as impressive in the classroom during Porter's tenure.

Akron was ranked No. 2 in the nation for the 2010-11 academic year with a team GPA of 3.44 (second only to Harvard's 3.45) after earning a No. 8 designation (3.33) for 2009-10. In all, 10 Zips have been named to Academic All-America teams in six seasons under Porter while 19 have been named to the all-conference academic team.

Headlining that list of Academic All-Americans in 2010 was Sarkodie, who became the first player in school history to earn Academic All-America of the Year honors with a 3.969 GPA as a biology major at UA. He was one of four players to land on the ESPN Academic All-America squad that season, which signified the most representatives by any single team in UA history.

Furthermore, Ampaipitakwong, an ESPN Academic All-America Third Team honoree in 2010, was the recipient of the 2010 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, which is presented annually to the most outstanding senior student-athlete in NCAA Division I men's soccer. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence - community, classroom, character and competition.

Akron has also established newly-renovated FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field as one of the nation's toughest places for opposing teams to play over the past few years with a sparkling 64-3-6 (.918) record in six seasons under Porter.

As a result of the unprecedented success, excitement for Akron soccer has never been greater. After finishing seventh nationally for attendance in 2009, the Zips drew an average of 3,213 fans to the pitch in 2010, which was the second-highest figure in the country and represented an increase of more than 1,000 fans on average from the previous season.

The enthusiasm continued in 2011 as UA saw its numbers rise again with an average of 3,300 fans packing the pitch, including a facility-record figure of 5,819 supporters for the Zips' 3-1 win over in-state rival Ohio State on Sept. 28.

Porter came to the Zips from Indiana where he spent six seasons as an assistant coach for the Hoosiers, four of which came under Hall of Fame head coach Jerry Yeagley, who is the all-time winningest coach in Division I history and a six-time national coach of the year honoree, and the last two under Mike Freitag.

As Indiana's recruiting coordinator, Porter helped compile a recruiting class that was rated No. 1 in the nation in 2005 by College Soccer News and StudentSportsSoccer.com. The talent he attracted to the Hoosiers included four national players of the year, 14 Youth National Team members, 18 All-Americans and 12 state players of the year.

During his time as an assistant with IU, the Hoosiers won five Big Ten Conference championships and made six NCAA Tournament appearances - including four trips to the College Cup. Indiana won consecutive national championships in 2003 and in 2004.

A 1998 graduate of Indiana with a degree in sports management, Porter was a four-year letterwinner in the midfield for the Hoosiers. He was just the second three-year captain in IU history and was the runner-up for the 1997 Hermann Trophy, awarded to the nation's top collegiate player.

Porter's Indiana teams won four Big Ten titles and made four NCAA Tournament appearances, advancing to the College Cup on two occasions. As a senior, Porter captained IU to an NCAA record 23 consecutive wins before losing to eventual national champion UCLA in the national semifinals.

Porter's resume also includes playing two seasons with the U.S. National B Team in 1996 and 1997 and earning a bronze medal at the '97 World University games.

The three-time All-Big Ten selection was chosen by the San Jose Clash as the 26th overall pick in the 1998 Major League Soccer Draft. He spent one season in San Jose and one year with the Tampa Bay Mutiny before a knee injury ended his career in 2000.

During the MLS offseason in 1998, Porter served as an undergraduate assistant coach at Indiana while finishing his degree. That season IU won the Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles en route to an NCAA Championship.

From 2003-05, Porter served as a coach and senior age group trainer with the Bloomington Cutters Soccer Club, winning an Under-18 Indiana state championship in 2004 and a U-19 state championship in 2005.

Porter is a native of Kalamazoo, Mich. He currently resides in West Akron with his wife, Andrea, and their two sons, Colin (3) and Jake (2).

CAREER HONORS
National Championship (2010)
National Runner-Up (2009)
NSCAA National Coach of the Year (2009)
NSCAA All-Ohio Coach of the Year (2011, 2009, 2008)
Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year (2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007)

Jared Embick, the 2010 National Assistant Coach of the Year, helped guide Akron to its first team national championship in any sport last December. He has been on Caleb Porter's staff since 2007 and was promoted to his current position of Associate Head Coach during the summer of 2010.

Embick's primary responsibilities on the staff include recruiting, scouting, game-day preparation and video analysis. He also serves as the team's academic liaison and compliance coordinator and assists with daily training.

During Embick's time at Akron, the Zips have posted an overall record of 77-8-9 (.867), including a 22-0-1 (.978) mark in league play, while also securing four straight conference tournament titles and as many trips to the NCAA Tournament.

Prior to joining the Zips, Embick spent four seasons as the head men’s soccer coach at Missouri Baptist University. There he oversaw operation of the entire soccer program, including practice planning, recruiting, scheduling, fundraising, budget planning and development and academic monitoring.

During his four seasons the men posted a record of 47-21-8, including the program’s first NAIA regional tournament berth in 2003. In 2006, the school achieved its highest-ever national ranking at No. 7.

In addition, Embick took over head coaching duties for the women’s program in 2006. In all he spent six years with the Spartans, including two seasons as a graduate assistant (2000-01) and one season as assistant coach (2002) with the men’s program.

While at Missouri Baptist, Embick also served as assistant coach for River Cities FC of the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL). There he assisted with practice planning and recruiting, helping to lead the squad to a 13-2-1 record in its inaugural season and an appearance in the WPSL national final.

Embick has kept active at the club level, working as a part-time staff coach with Metro United (2000-06) and Marion Lightening (1999).

His experience at the collegiate level includes serving as a staff coach with the Indiana University Soccer Camp (2001-05) and the Duke University Soccer Camp (2003).

A 2000 graduate of Indiana Wesleyan, Embick was named an All-American by the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) in 1998 and 1999. He was also an NAIA honorable mention All-America honoree in 1999 and was twice named to the all-Mid-Central Conference squad.

Oliver Slawson is in his sixth season on Caleb Porter's coaching staff with the school's first team national championship in any sport last December. Slawson, who was promoted to the position of assistant coach during the summer of 2010, served as the team's volunteer assistant his first four years at UA.

Slawson handles all the day-to-day business operations of the team with a primary focus on travel coordination. He also manages equipment, coordinates camp programs, alumni relations and community service, and provides video analysis.

A native of Manchester, England, Slawson earned his Master of Science in Education at Akron in 2006. Prior to coming to the Zips he spent the 2003 and 2004 seasons as an assistant coach at Kenyon College. He has also spent the past five summers coaching at clinics in Ohio and with the Ohio FC Soccer Club and in southern Maryland, as well as previous coaching spells in France.

Slawson graduated from Leeds Carnegie Metropolitan University in Leeds, England with a degree in Business and Management in 2003. While at Leeds he was a four-year member of the soccer team which won the Northern Universities League title three times and the Northern Universities Cup twice.

Before attending Leeds, Slawson was selected for the Lancashire County Football Association U-19's and represented Oldham Athletic Football Club of the English Football League at academy level.

Slawson currently holds the Advanced Regional Diploma from the NSCAA.

Former Zips standout Pablo Moreira was named Director of Soccer Operations for The University of Akron men's soccer program on Aug. 15, 2011.

Moreira, who played at UA from 2003-'07, assists in a number of areas relating to the daily operation of the program. Specifically, he serves as the team liaison for marketing and promotions and website coordinator. Among other responsibilities, Moreira works closely with academics as well as provides support with fundraising efforts, accounting, the coordination of camps and management of equipment.

Moreira, a native of Broadview Heights, Ohio, appeared in 65 games with the Zips, including 40 starts, and was a two-time All-Mid-American Conference team striker; earning first-team honors in 2006. He helped lead the Zips to back-to-back regular-season championships under Porter in 2006 and '07 and league tournament titles in '04 and '07.

In all, UA made four NCAA Tournament appearances during Moreira's time in an Akron uniform, including a trip to the quarterfinal round in 2005.

Moreira, who completed his International Business degree from UA in 2007, spent the 2010 season as a volunteer coach at his alma mater, Brecksville-Broadview Heights High where he helped lead the Bees to an 18-1-1 overall record and a district championship.

Liam Curran is in his second season on the Akron staff after having served the previous three years as an assistant coach on the Georgia Southern men’s soccer staff.
 
Among his responsibilities at UA, Curran serves as goalkeeper coach, coordinates video analysis and assists with daily team training, equipment, compliance, alumni relations, game-day planning and camps.

As goalkeeper coach at Georgia Southern, Curran helped the Eagles record the least goals allowed (21) and ranked second in goals-against-average (1.20) in the Southern Conference in 2008. Additionally, Curran coordinated camps and assisted in recruiting, game-day preparation, team travel arrangements, and video analysis.
 
Among his stops prior to his post at Georgia Southern, Curran served as the under-11 boys coach at the Ohio Elite Soccer Academy in 2007 where he led his team to the Spring Classic Tournament Championship. Curran also coached two years at GK1 Goalkeeper Academy, one year at the Midwest Soccer Academy and two years at Waza F.C. In the summer of 2008, Curran was the assistant soccer director at Windridge Sport Camps in Vermont where he assisted with all aspects of the program.
 
The Sydney, Australia native began his collegiate soccer career as goalkeeper at Schoolcraft College in Livonia, Mich. While at Schoolcraft, Curran earned All-State first team, All-Region first team, and National Junior College Athletic Association Region XII Goalkeeper of the Year in both years, while his team finished sixth at the NJCAA National Tournament in 2004.
 
In 2005, Curran moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, to play at Xavier University.  In his senior year at XU, Curran served as captain, was an All-Ohio Second Team selection and two-time student-athlete of the week.  During the 2006 campaign, Curran led his team to an Atlantic 10 Championship for the first time since 1997 and he currently holds the record for lowest goals against average in a career with 1.36.
 
While in Australia, Curran was a member of the Parramatta Eagles F.C., competing in the New South Wales (NSW) Premier League. Curran was selected for trials with Manchester United F.C., Glasgow Celtic F.C., Newcastle United F.C. and St. Johnstone F.C in 2001.  That same year, his Parramatta Eagles squad made the quarter-finals of the Gothia World Youth Cup (Sweden) and were crowned champions of the Rimini Cup (Italy).
 
Curran earned his Associate of Arts degree from Schoolcraft in 2005 where he was placed on the Dean’s List.  He later received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Xavier in 2007 and was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society.  In May 2009, Curran completed a M.S. Kinesiology with a Coaching Education emphasis from Georgia Southern University.