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FULLERTON, Calif. - George Kuntz, a 26-year head coaching veteran, has been appointed the eighth men's soccer head coach in Cal State Fullerton history, Athletic Director Jim Donovan announced Monday.

Kuntz comes to Cal State Fullerton after serving 19 years as the men's head soccer coach at UC Irvine, turning the Anteaters into a perennial soccer power that have made four NCAA Tournament appearances in the last six years, winning four Big West Tournament championships (2008, 2009,2011, 2013) and three regular season titles (2008, 2010, 2011).Kuntz, a collegiate head coach for 26 years, was named the NSCAA/Adidas Far West Region Coach of the Year in (2006 and 2008) and has seen a number of players jump to the next level including 12 in Major League Soccer (MLS) and three on various U.S. National Teams.

His career record is 319-217-64, ranking second in Big West history with 141 victories as a member of the Big West Conference. In addition, his 62 Big West wins ranks third all-time. The Anteaters earned seven All-American honors under Kuntz, and in addition, the soccer program has earned 15 conference players of the year, 107 all-conference honors, and 15 All-West Region honors.

The Anteaters most recent run to the postseason ended on Dec. 1, in a 1-0 loss to eventual College Cup runner-up and No. 5 seed Maryland in the round of 16. UC Irvine finished up the 2013 season at 15-5-3 on the season, the second-highest win total in program history. The trip to the round of 16 was its second in the program's history.

Prior to 2013, UCI entered the postseason in 2011 after winning the Big West Tournament for a third time earning a No. 8 national seed and finishing the season ranked 13th with a school record 16 wins while going 16-6-1. The 2011 season was another giant leap in the college soccer world being ranked as high as fifth. In 2010, Kuntz led the Anteaters to a 14-3-3 record and a Big West regular season title. In 2009, UCI won the Big West Tournament and received an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and a first round bye by virtue of a 4-1 win on the road against UC Santa Barbara. UC Irvine was rewarded for a historic 15-win season by receiving the 16th seed for the NCAA Division I Tournament and played host to Stanford in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in front of 2,000 fans. The team finished No. 3 in the West region and No. 25 in the nation.

Kuntz led the 2008 Anteaters to their first-ever Big West championship with a 5-1-4 league record, their first Big West Tournament title and first trip to the NCAA Tournament. In the NCAA tournament, he guided the team to the Round of 16 after earning the No. 14 national seed to start the tourney. Kuntz earned his second Big West Conference Coach of the Year honor that season. Four players earn All-American honors, and the Anteaters were ranked as high as seventh nationally.

Kuntz came to UCI from Pepperdine where he was the first women's soccer head coach; recording a 23-11-2 record in the first two seasons (1993 & 1994) of the program's existence including historic wins over UCLA and USC. Kuntz began his collegiate coaching career at California Lutheran University in 1988 and compiled a five-year record of 60-27-10 (.670). The Kingsmen won the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) titles in 1991 and 1992 and advanced to the NCAA Far West Regional title game.

In 1989, Kuntz founded the women's soccer program at California Lutheran University and recorded a 51-24-1 (.678) record from 1989-1992. California Lutheran's women's team was ranked No. 1 in the Far West region and No. 3 in the nation in 1992 with a 17-4 record. Kuntz led the team to SCIAC championships in 1991 and 1992. The team went to the NCAA Far West final in 1992.

Kuntz coached four National Championship teams in the Donnelly Cup (Amateur Adult Division National Championships) as the California Soccer Association Head Coach for both the men and women. The California State Select Men's Team won National Championships in 2003, 2004 and 2005. His women's California State Select won the national title in 2006, the regional title in 2004 and, participated in the National Final Four in 2005.

Kuntz is a 1989 graduate of Arizona State University and holds a bachelor's degree in communication arts. He graduated with a master's degree in education with an emphasis in curriculum and instruction from California Lutheran University. He holds a United States Soccer Federation "A" license, National Youth License, and the National Soccer Coaches Association Advanced National Diploma.

Kuntz spent a large part of his coaching career studying the development of the youth soccer player and is nationally recognized as the one of the longest serving United States State Association (USYSA) Directors of Coaching in the United States. Kuntz has been the Technical Director and Director of Coaches Education for the Hawaii Youth Soccer Association for 10 years.  He served as the Director of Coaching for the California Youth Soccer Association - South for eight years and was the catalyst for mandatory licensing for youth soccer coaches in the United States. He was named 1995 CYSA - South Boy's Coach of the Year. Kuntz was also director of the Olympic Development Program from 1992 - 1996.

In May of 2011, he was appointed the AYSO National Director of Player Development –Technical Advisor. In 1994 Kuntz worked at the Federation International Football Association (FIFA) World Cup in Pasadena, California as an (FIFA) Assistant Technical Advisor.

Kuntz founded the Team Soccer Direct camp program in 1977, which has evolved into one of the nation's best summer camp programs and has been involved in the Olympic Development Program (ODP) as a player, coach, and administrator for 34 years. Kuntz played at Westmont College, San Diego Mesa College, and Scottsdale College during his collegiate years and was drafted by the Phoenix Fire of the American Professional Soccer League. Kuntz has two children; a son Jordan and daughter Sevilla.

During each of the past six seasons the UC Irvine men's team was ranked in the top 25 in the nation by the NSCAA during the regular season. At UC Irvine, he has produced close to 80 players that have been named all-conference and close to 100 were honored as scholar athletes recognized for their academic achievement. He has had ten players drafted or signed by Major League Soccer. His teams have broken all of the records at UC Irvine for wins.

Kuntz replaces Bob Ammann, whose contract was not renewed following the 2013 season. Ammann served as Cal State Fullerton's head coach for eight years (2006-13).