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Carlos Somoano is in his sixth season as the top assistant coach with the University of North Carolina men's soccer team. He assists head coach Elmar Bolowich in all aspects of the Tar Heel program, including practice and conditioning, recruiting, fund-raising, game operations and management, alumni relations and community service projects. He also is the coordinator of the Carolina Soccer Camp. With his assistance, the Tar Heels have been to the NCAA Tournament each season that Somoano has been in Chapel Hill. Carolina finished the 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006 seasons ranking among the nation's top 20 and earned the No. 4 national seed for the 2003 and 2005 NCAA tournaments. At the conclusion of last season, Somoano was honored by College Soccer News as one of the "20 Top Assistant Coaches of 2006" for the fourth time in his career and the third occasion while in Chapel Hill. While at Carolina, Somoano has helped recruit freshmen classes in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 that were rated among the top five nationally. Included in the 2003 class were four eventual MLS draft choices - Corey Ashe, Michael Harrington, Justin Hughes and Jamie Watson. The 2004 group featured U.S. National Team product Dax McCarty, a 2005 All-America selection and member of FC Dallas. Freshman All-America Scott Campbell highlighted the 2005 rookie class, while Bill Dworsky was the top performer in last year's rookie class. In addition to his work with the Tar Heels, Somoano has coached 16-to-18-year old boys with Raleigh's Capital Area Soccer League since 2002. He has guided three different teams within this age group to a total of five straight state titles and two Disney Soccer Showcase championships. Somoano also served as the United States Youth Soccer Region III Staff Coach in 2004, 2006 and 2007 and was responsible for selecting and coaching ODP state team players. He also served in a similar position in Region I from 1999-2002. Somoano came to Carolina from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he was an assistant coach for six seasons. Prior to his stint in Richmond, he was an assistant coach at Eckerd College from 1992-95. Somoano was the top assistant to VCU head coach Tim O'Sullivan for six seasons (1996-2001). During his tenure in Richmond, the Rams went to three consecutive NCAA tournaments from 1997-99 and earned a national ranking of No. 7 in 1999. He helped recruit and coach two All-Americas and three academic All-Americas in his six seasons. The 1998 Ram squad received the NCAA Academic Award as one of only 16 teams nationwide with a team grade point average of 3.0 or better. VCU was one of only two of those teams that reached the NCAA Tournament that season. In addition, Somoano served as head coach and trainer for boys and girls (ages 6-19) with the Richmond Strikers, who he guided to three consecutive state titles, four straight Virginia Club Champions League crowns and back-to-back Sun Bowl championships. He also was a head coach with the Virginia state ODP team from 1997-2002. Somoano received a Bachelor of Science in biology (concentration in pre-medicine) from Eckerd College in 1992. He then earned a Master's of Sport Management degree from the University of Richmond in August of 2000. Somoano earned four letters in soccer at Eckerd College and was a two-year team captain. Somoano is married to the former Martina Nedelkova, and the couple had their first daughter, Sofia Kathleen, May 6, 2006. |
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