Boys’ Soccer: Sailors turn to successful college coach
Shocked is how Jerry Murray, Newport Harbor High’s athletic director, said he felt when Ali Khosroshahin applied for the boys’ soccer coaching job at the school a couple of weeks ago.
The Sailors, who are coming off one of their worst seasons in the program’s history, attracted someone with Khosroshahin’s credentials. He has coached on the college and international levels.
“If you looked at the resume … he’s got all the credentials,” Murray said of Khosroshahin, who led the USC women’s soccer program from 2007-13, led the Cal State Fullerton women’s soccer program from 2001-06, and served as an assistant and scout with the Mexican Soccer Federation from 1998-2008. “He’s got a really nice ring, too.”
That ring Murray is referring to is the one Khosroshahin won leading USC to an NCAA Division I title in 2007.
Nine years later, Khosroshahin will be guiding boys at Newport Harbor as a walk-on coach.
Murray said Khosroshahin is taking over the Sailors for Carlos Alcazar, who stepped down after one season. The Sailors finished 2-15-6 overall and 0-10 in the Sunset League last season.
Khosroshahin’s family situation in Fountain Valley helped Newport Harbor land him.
“I have a daughter, she’s 2 years old, and I just really enjoy being around her and my wife,” Khosroshahin said for wanting to coach locally. “Since 1988 to 2013, I was on a college campus, either as a student, an assistant coach, or a head coach, and I kind of like being around family.
“I like the position that [the Sailors are in] and the challenges that they have in front of them, and I like to be involved in my community.”
Khosroshahin has coached on the high school level before. He was in charge of the boys at Canyon from 1992-94 and the girls at San Marino from 1994-95.
During his time in college, Khosroshahin enjoyed plenty of success. He led USC to an 82-53-15 overall record and four NCAA tournament appearances. While at Cal State Fullerton, Khosroshahin went 76-40-6.
If the Sailors turn things around this winter under Khosroshahin, they will have to do it away from Newport Harbor. Khosroshahin said each of the team’s matches are on the road because Davidson Field is undergoing renovations.
“It’s an opportunity to be able to establish some culture because we will be traveling a lot, and when you travel a lot, you have a lot of time to spend together,” Khosroshahin said. “It’s enough time on the freeways and the roads in Southern California to really figure some stuff out.”
