Ken Lolla
Encyclopedia
Ken Lolla is the head men’s soccer coach at the University of Louisville
. He is also a writer and professional speaker. Lolla played collegiate soccer at Duke University
and professionally at various US professional soccer teams. He has earned several accolades as both a player and coach.
in Belmar, New Jersey
where he was a 1980 High School All-American; he also played on the U.S. Olympic Sports Festival teams in 1979 and 1983. Lolla went on to play collegiate soccer at Duke University
from 1980–1983 where he was a three-time all-conference selection of the Atlantic Coast Conference
and earned All-South and All-America in 1981 and 1983. He graduated in 1983 with a degree in Biology.
Lolla played professional soccer for the Charlotte Gold of the United Soccer League
. He also played for the Canton Invaders
of the National Professional Soccer League
from 1984–1988. He also served as the Youth Development Director for the Canton Invaders
in 1985 and 1986. He handled community and public relations in 1987 and 1988 in conjunction with appearances as a player for the NPSL franchise. In the Spring 1988, he moved to the New Jersey Eagles
of the American Professional Soccer League
. In 1990, he played for the Penn-Jersey Spirit
, but he left the team on June 14, 1990 when he was hired as head coach of Belmont Abbey College
. In 2002, Lolla was one of 55 players named to the ACC's 50th Anniversary Men's Soccer Team.
in 1984. In 1985, he spent time as an assistant coach with his alma mater, Duke, then served as the head coach at Lake High School
in Uniontown, Ohio
in 1987. He returned as an assistant coach with Duke in 1988 and 1989. In 1993, he became the head coach of Belmont Abbey College
an NCAA Division II soccer team. In his three seasons as head coach, he compiled a 49–16–3 record and the team won three consecutive Carolinas Conference Championships. Lolla was named the Carolinas Conference Coach of the Year in 1990 and NSCAA-NAIA National Coach of the Year in 1992.
For the next thirteen years Lolla when on to coach the Akron Zips
where he was the winningest coach in school history compiling a 160–68–25 record along with eight Mid-American Conference
Championships and a school record five straight NCAA Tournament appearances. Lolla coached 38 first team All-MAC players while at Akron and was named MAC coach of the year three times. Coach Lolla is a member of the Akron Hall of Fame.
On December 16, 2005, University of Louisville
announced it had hired Lolla as the school’s new head coach. In his second season at Louisville, the Cardinals finished 11–7–4 with an appearance in the NCAA Tournament's second round, where they lost to eventual National runner up Ohio State University
. In the past five seasons, Coach Lolla has taken University of Louisville
from a losing program to the 2010 NCAA College Cup Final, 2010 Big East Conference
Championship, No. 1 national ranking, and 20–1–3 record. Lolla was named the 2010 National Coach of the Year and his staff was named the 2010 Big East Coaching Staff of the Year. In Fall 1999, he was appointed head coach of the U.S. Soccer Federation Under-15 National Team.
.
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
. He is also a writer and professional speaker. Lolla played collegiate soccer at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
and professionally at various US professional soccer teams. He has earned several accolades as both a player and coach.
Player
Lolla attended St. Rose High SchoolSt. Rose High School
St. Rose High School is a co-educational four-year Catholic high school in Belmar, New Jersey, United States. The school operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton. The school was founded in 1923 by the Parish of St...
in Belmar, New Jersey
Belmar, New Jersey
Belmar is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 5,794. The Borough of Belmar is governed under the Faulkner Act system of municipal government....
where he was a 1980 High School All-American; he also played on the U.S. Olympic Sports Festival teams in 1979 and 1983. Lolla went on to play collegiate soccer at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
from 1980–1983 where he was a three-time all-conference selection of the Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
and earned All-South and All-America in 1981 and 1983. He graduated in 1983 with a degree in Biology.
Lolla played professional soccer for the Charlotte Gold of the United Soccer League
United Soccer League
The United Soccer League was a professional soccer league in the United States in the mid-1980s.After the demise of the second incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1983, four ASL teams founded the USL...
. He also played for the Canton Invaders
Canton Invaders
The Canton Invaders was an indoor soccer club based in Canton, Ohio that competed in the National Professional Soccer League.After the 1995/96 season, the team became the Columbus Invaders.- Canton Invaders :...
of the National Professional Soccer League
National Professional Soccer League
The National Professional Soccer League was a professional indoor soccer league in the USA. It started out as the American Indoor Soccer Association in 1984 but changed its name to the National Professional Soccer League in 1990...
from 1984–1988. He also served as the Youth Development Director for the Canton Invaders
Canton Invaders
The Canton Invaders was an indoor soccer club based in Canton, Ohio that competed in the National Professional Soccer League.After the 1995/96 season, the team became the Columbus Invaders.- Canton Invaders :...
in 1985 and 1986. He handled community and public relations in 1987 and 1988 in conjunction with appearances as a player for the NPSL franchise. In the Spring 1988, he moved to the New Jersey Eagles
New Jersey Eagles
The New Jersey Eagles were an American soccer team founded in 1987 as the Cosmopolitan Eagles. In 1988, they entered the third American Soccer League as the New Jersey Eagles. They folded following the 1990 American Professional Soccer League season....
of the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
. In 1990, he played for the Penn-Jersey Spirit
Penn-Jersey Spirit
Penn-Jersey Spirit played in the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 and 1991. The team's home stadium was Lions Stadium in Ewing, New Jersey, on the campus of Trenton State College...
, but he left the team on June 14, 1990 when he was hired as head coach of Belmont Abbey College
Belmont Abbey College
Belmont Abbey College is a private liberal-arts Catholic college located in Belmont, North Carolina, USA west of Uptown Charlotte. It was founded in 1876 by the Benedictine monks of Belmont Abbey...
. In 2002, Lolla was one of 55 players named to the ACC's 50th Anniversary Men's Soccer Team.
Coach
Lolla began coaching during his playing career when he served as an assistant at Monmouth CollegeMonmouth College
Monmouth College is a four-year coeducational private liberal arts college located in Monmouth, Illinois, United States.-History:Monmouth College was founded on April 18, 1853 by the Second Presbytery of Illinois, a frontier arm of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church...
in 1984. In 1985, he spent time as an assistant coach with his alma mater, Duke, then served as the head coach at Lake High School
Lake High School (Uniontown, Ohio)
Lake High School is a public high school in Lake Township, Ohio. It is the only high school in the Lake Local Schools district. Lake's sports teams are nicknamed the Blue Streaks and are a part of the Federal League Conference along with North Canton Hoover High School, Jackson High School,...
in Uniontown, Ohio
Uniontown, Ohio
Uniontown is a census-designated place in Stark County, Ohio, United States. The population was 2,802 at the 2000 census. Uniontown was named #69 on CNN Money's list.Uniontown is part of the Canton–Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area....
in 1987. He returned as an assistant coach with Duke in 1988 and 1989. In 1993, he became the head coach of Belmont Abbey College
Belmont Abbey College
Belmont Abbey College is a private liberal-arts Catholic college located in Belmont, North Carolina, USA west of Uptown Charlotte. It was founded in 1876 by the Benedictine monks of Belmont Abbey...
an NCAA Division II soccer team. In his three seasons as head coach, he compiled a 49–16–3 record and the team won three consecutive Carolinas Conference Championships. Lolla was named the Carolinas Conference Coach of the Year in 1990 and NSCAA-NAIA National Coach of the Year in 1992.
For the next thirteen years Lolla when on to coach the Akron Zips
Akron Zips
One of the unique nicknames in all of intercollegiate athletics belongs to The University of Akron. Originally Zippers, athletic director Kenneth Cochrane officially shortened the nickname to the Zips in 1950. Twenty-five years earlier a campus-wide contest had been conducted to choose a nickname...
where he was the winningest coach in school history compiling a 160–68–25 record along with eight Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
Championships and a school record five straight NCAA Tournament appearances. Lolla coached 38 first team All-MAC players while at Akron and was named MAC coach of the year three times. Coach Lolla is a member of the Akron Hall of Fame.
On December 16, 2005, University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
announced it had hired Lolla as the school’s new head coach. In his second season at Louisville, the Cardinals finished 11–7–4 with an appearance in the NCAA Tournament's second round, where they lost to eventual National runner up Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
. In the past five seasons, Coach Lolla has taken University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
from a losing program to the 2010 NCAA College Cup Final, 2010 Big East Conference
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
Championship, No. 1 national ranking, and 20–1–3 record. Lolla was named the 2010 National Coach of the Year and his staff was named the 2010 Big East Coaching Staff of the Year. In Fall 1999, he was appointed head coach of the U.S. Soccer Federation Under-15 National Team.
Personal
Lolla, his wife Tina, and their three children reside in Louisville, KentuckyLouisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
.