Sports

Brandeis Names New Men's Soccer Coach

Coach Mike Coven announced his retirement this month after 44 years at the helm of the celebrated program.

WALTHAM, MA – Brandeis University announced Thursday the successor to venerable men's head soccer coach Mike Coven.

Gabe Margolis, who spent 11 years as an assistant to Coven, will take over at the helm of the celebrated program. Coven announced his retirement earlier this month, effective Dec. 31.

Margolis has twice been named to the University Athletic Association Coaching Staff of the Year and is a two-time NSCAA New England Coach of the Year. During his tenure, the Judges have gone 146-67-20 and posted at least 10 wins in eight of his 11 seasons.

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Individually, Margolis has helped recruit and coach six All-American players, two UAA Players of the Year, four NSCAA Scholar All-Americans and one CoSIDA Academic All-American. The Judges also reached the reached the NCAA Division III Final Four this year for the fourth time in program history, and first since 1984.

"I want to thank Lynne Dempsey and the entire Administration for the opportunity to be the head men's soccer coach at Brandeis University," Margolis said in a statement. "In particular I want to say a very special thank you to coach Coven. I came to Brandeis 11 years ago to work for Coach and very quickly he became much more than just a boss, he became a great friend. It was an absolute honor to work for and with him for the last decade, and I am very excited to continue the proud tradition that he has established at Brandeis over the last 44 years."

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Coven will retire after more than 40 years at the head of the program, where he built the team into a Division III powerhouse.

"We will certainly miss Coach Coven, but there is no one more deserving and prepared to lead the program than Coach Margolis," said senior member of the team Josh Berg in a statement. "His passion and commitment to Brandeis soccer is second to none and the players are excited to have him lead us."

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