Carlson, by far the winningest coach in Carleton soccer history, is also a finalist for the NSCAA/adidas National Coach of the Year award, which will be announced at the annual NSCAA Awards Banquet on Friday, Jan. 16 in St. Louis, Mo., as part of the 2009 NSCAA Convention.
Under Carlson, the Knights had the best season in the program’s history, going 17-2-3 following the team’s first-ever trip to the NCAA Championships. That victory total shattered the previous school record for wins (11) in a single season. Carlson’s Knights finished 8-1-1 in MIAC play this year and repeated as regular season conference champs, earning him the title of Men’s Soccer Coach of the Year by the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) for the second consecutive year.
After reaching the MIAC Playoffs for the first time in 2007, Carlson guided Carleton to a decisive 2-0 triumph over St. Thomas in the 2008 semifinals followed by a shootout victory over Augsburg to give the Knights their first MIAC playoff title and earn the squad its initial trip to the NCAA tournament. The Knights reached the NCAA Sectionals (Sweet Sixteen) only to fall to defending national champion Middlebury College, 1-0.
Carleton was ranked throughout most of the 2008 campaign, rising as high as No. 7 in the NSCAA/adidas national poll.
The Knights have become nearly unbeatable at Bell Field under Carlson. Over the last two years Carleton has compiled an amazing 18-2-2 record at home. In addition, under his direction, the Knights have gone 20-1-3 in MIAC play since Oct. 14, 2006.
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