Tom Fitzgerald, 53; Led UCLA Soccer Team to NCAA Title in 2002

Tom Fitzgerald, 53, who led the UCLA soccer team to a National Collegiate Athletic Assn. title in 2002, died Saturday in Tampa, Fla., of injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident. He was on his way to Bradenton, Fla., to scout players at a tournament when the accident occurred.

Fitzgerald, who left UCLA last year, was the soccer coach at the University of Tampa. He had also coached the school’s Spartans from 1987 to 1996, leading them to a Division II championship in 1994 and to the Final Four three times.

When he helped UCLA win the NCAA Division I title two years ago, he became the third person to win a championship in the top two divisions. He left Los Angeles to return to Tampa to be closer to his family.

From 1996 to 2001, Fitzgerald coached the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer. He began as assistant coach in the league’s inaugural season and was promoted to head coach the following year. He led the Crew to three straight conference titles.