Virginia’s Arena Chosen to Coach U.S. Men’s Olympic Soccer Team

Bruce Arena, who has coached Virginia to five NCAA soccer titles, including the last four in succession, Tuesday was named coach of the U.S. Olympic team that will compete in next summer’s Atlanta Games.

Arena, 44, will remain with the top-ranked Cavaliers, who have compiled a 287-57-31 record since he became coach in 1978, winning or sharing eight Atlantic Coast Conference championships and five ACC tournament titles.

U.S. Soccer officials said the appointment is through the end of the 1996 Olympics. After the NCAA season in December, Arena also is expected to be named coach of Major League Soccer’s Washington D.C. United.

Arena is not expected to take over the Olympic team until after the NCAA finals in December. Currently, the team is in residency camp in Chula Vista, under the direction of Steve Sampson, the U.S. national team coach.

U.S. Soccer officials said it was likely that the camp would be moved, possibly to the Washington area, if that is financially viable.