Paul Caligiuri, a Bruin alumnus and veteran of the United States
National Team, plans to decide later this week whether or not he
will apply for the UCLA men’s soccer coaching job vacated
when Tom Fitzgerald resigned last week.
Now in his second year as the men’s and women’s
soccer coach at Cal Poly Pomona, Caligiuri has maintained close
ties to the UCLA program since graduating in 1987.
He spoke to Fitzgerald as recently as this past weekend, and
actually served as a reference for the former Bruin coach before he
was hired in 2002.
Caligiuri said Wednesday that he had not been contacted yet by
anyone at UCLA, but hopes to be consulted soon, either as a
candidate or a reference.
Other potential candidates for the job include third-year Bruin
assistant coach Jorge Salcedo and Loyola Marymount coach Paul
Krumpe.
“I’m a little biased as an alum, but I believe UCLA
is the best program in the nation,” Caligiuri said.
“The coaching job there is a dream position.”
A two-time All-American at UCLA, Caligiuri led the Bruins to the
1985 NCAA Championship, earning the Most Valuable Player award in
the title game. He played in two World Cups, and was a member of
the U.S. National Team from 1984-1997.
Caligiuri has amassed a 15-18-3 record in two years since taking
over the men’s program at Cal Poly Pomona.
Fitzgerald returned to the University of Tampa, where he coached
from 1987-95.
With reports from Elizabeth Neuman, Robert Costa, Colin
Yuhl, Bruin sports senior staff.