Somoano Replaces Bolowich At UNC.
Somoano, the 2011 National Soccer Coaches Association of America South Region Assistant Coach of the Year, has served as the top assistant at North Carolina for the last nine seasons helping lead the Tar Heels to eight NCAA Tournament appearances, including three straight NCAA College Cup showings.
“We are thrilled to hire a coach of Carlos’ pedigree to lead our men’s soccer program,” Baddour said. “Carlos has worked alongside Elmar Bolowich for the last nine years and has been an integral part of building this program into one of the nation’s best. He has consistently proven to be one of the sport’s finest recruiters as well as a great teacher of the game and I have the utmost confidence in his ability to continue the tradition of excellence that we have seen from our men’s soccer program.”
“It is an honor to be able to represent the University of North Carolina and its’ tradition of excellence. I want to thank Mr. Dick Baddour for offering me the opportunity to lead the men’s soccer program,” Somoano said. “When I came to Carolina nine years ago I was immediately welcomed into the Carolina family and I am excited that I will continue to be a part of this great institution.”
“I would also like to thank Elmar Bolowich for his guidance and trust. He gave me the opportunity to be a Tar Heel and He he was a great mentor to me,” Somoano said.
While at Carolina, Somoano (pronounced Some-WAH-no) has helped recruit six top 10 recruiting classes and has watched over one of the most successful periods in school history. The Tar Heels have advanced to three consecutive NCAA College Cups, including the 2008 National Championship game, and have amassed a 118-52-27 record under Somoano’s watch.
Somoano has helped lead the Tar Heels to nine All-America honors and 41 All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors, including the 2003 ACC Rookie of the Year, Jamie Watson. Twelve different Tar Heels have been named to the All-ACC Academic Team for their work in the classroom and on the field, including 2010 ACC Men’s Soccer Academic Athlete of the Year Kirk Urso.
Somoano has also played a key part in developing the Tar Heels into professional soccer players helping lead 20 former players into Major League Soccer. David Stokes, Dax McCarty, Michael Harrington, Zach Loyd, Jalil Anibaba and Eddie Ababio have all been MLS SuperDraft selections under the tutelage of Somoano.
Three former Tar Heels who played under Somoano have represented the United States in the past year as McCarty, Logan Pause and Loyd have all been called upon to represent their country.
Somoano has been named a Top 20 Assistant Coach by College Soccer News six times in his career as well as the NSCAA South Region Assistant Coach of the Year in 2010.
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 three 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.
Additionally, Somoano serves as a scout for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. In 2009, Somoano was the head coach for the U-16 CASL Chelsea Academy, where he led his team to the National Championship week. He was named the 2009 US Soccer U-15/16 Development Academy Southern Conference and National Coach of the Year.
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 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 has two daughters and a son: Sofia Kathleen, born May 6, 2006, Gabriela Martina, born Dec. 24, 2007, and Alexander Luis, born April 24, 2011.