Kos Donev begins his 27th season atop the Florida Atlantic men's soccer program just two wins away from win number 200.
In 2007, Donev had arguably his best year as a coach, leading the Owls to a 6-0-1 Atlantic Soccer Conference mark and the program's second regular season and first tournament title.
Donev came to FAU as a student-athlete in 1985. He soon made the transition from player to coach and has been instrumental in the evolution of the FAU soccer program. He has witnessed and been an integral part of the move from NAIA to NCAA Division II and NCAA Division I, the addition of women's soccer, the construction of five on-campus lighted soccer fields, and the transition from four conference realignments
Named the fourth coach since the program's inception in 1980, Donev holds the record for most matches coached (460) and most coaching victories (198). Donev was named the 1989 Florida College Men's Soccer Coach of the Year by the Florida Intercollegiate Soccer Coaches Association just four
seasons after he entered the profession as a student-coach at FAU in 1986. Following the 1986 season, Donev was elevated to interim coach and in 1987 he assumed the position on a full-time basis.
After taking the helm, Donev quickly guided the Owls to their first NCAA Division II ranking (1989). FAU returned to the polls in 1991 with a No. 9 national ranking and were again ranked in 1992 at No. 7.
Donev has had 44 all-conference players and led 10 of his squads to an Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament.
In 1997 and 1998 Donev guided the Owls to conference tournament semifinal appearances. The 1999 team managed two shutouts in the tournament before falling in the championship game.
After making six straight appearances in the conference tournament, the Owls missed postseason play in 2002. However, Donev's 2003 squad returned to conference tournament and reached championship game before falling to UCF 3-1.
Donev finally broke through in 2004, guiding FAU to the first regular season conference championship in program history.
A one-year stint in the Atlantic Soccer Conference during the 2007 season proved fruitful as the Owls won their second regular season conference title and first conference tournament title. The championship game against Longwood was a nail-biter as the game was tied 1-1 going into a five-shot shootout. FAU was able to win the shootout, in part due to a key save by the goalkeeper. Donev then faced the challenges of bringing the Owls into the highly competitive Mid-American Conference (MAC) in 2008. That year the Owls qualified for the first round of the MAC Tournament. In 2013, Donev will lead the team through their first season as a member of Conference-USA.
As part of the university's move to Division I, FAU added women's soccer in 1991. Donev was instrumental in both adding the team and developing the women's team to a nationally-ranked contender. That year also marked the first season FAU played its matches on campus with the addition of two lighted fields, which Donev helped plan and design. With Donev again overseeing construction, two more fields were added for the 1996 season. A fifth field was completed in 1999 which serves as the current home for FAU's men's and women's soccer games.
An outstanding collegiate player, Donev was a three-time letter winner at Flagler College, where he earned NAIA All-District 25 honors as a midfielder. He then transferred to FAU in 1985 to finish his collegiate playing career.
The 1987 FAU graduate was born in present day Macedonia (part of the former Yugoslavia), where he lived until moving to Ft. Lauderdale in 1975 (age 13).
He was a prep standout at South Plantation High School in Ft. Lauderdale.
Donev currently resides in Boca Raton with his wife, the former Claudia Alvarez, and their sons Kristian Brian, Dereck Brennan and daughter Shannon Lorraine.
DONEV FILE:
Record at FAU: 198-237-25 Alma Mater: FAU `87 Place of Birth: Yugoslavia High School: South Plantation HS Junior College: Flagler College Played at FAU: 1985-1986
Two Regular Season Conference Championship Teams (Atlantic Sun `04, Atlantic Soccer `07) One Conference Tournament Championship Team (`07) 15 First Team All-Conference Selections 30 Second Team All-Conference Selections Four Conference All-Freshman Two Conference Offensive Player of the Year
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