Men's Soccer Head Coach Mark Talan Steps Down
2/14/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Moraga, CA (Feb. 14) - Saint Mary's College Director of Athletics, Carl R. Clapp announced that Mark Talan has stepped down as the head coach of the men's soccer program. Talan is stepping down to spend more quality time with his wife and four children. This will leave a vacancy with the head coaching position and an immediate national search will begin to find a replacement for Talan.
In four seasons as the head men's soccer coach, Mark Talan accumulated a 28-46-3 overall record, 6-17-1 in the West Coast Conference. Talan was a former Gael standout, playing collegiately at Saint Mary's from 1980-83.
Talan led the 1999 Saint Mary's team to an 8-10-1 record, 2-3-1 in the WCC, while leading his team to key victories over #5 Davidson, 2-0, #14 Portland, 1-0, Gonzaga, 2-0, and tying #9 Santa Clara, 1-1. The season also saw the team post a school record eight game unbeaten streak (7-0-1) that included five shutout victories.
Talan, an assistant coach at Saint Mary's for eight years (1986-93), spent 1994-96 as the school's Associate Athletics Director before accepting the head coaching position in December of 1996. Prior to returning to Saint Mary's to become an assistant coach and head up the Saint Mary's Summer Camps Program, Talan served as an assistant coach for two seasons at Moreau High School in Hayward. He has also been involved in coaching youth soccer at the district and state levels, as well as participating in clinics with the Olympic Development Program.
A 1984 graduate of Saint Mary's with a degree in Art, Talan was voted team captain for his final two seasons on the men's soccer team. Following his senior campaign, Talan received national recognition as he was voted to the Academic All-America Team.
MSOC | Saint Mary's vs. LMU Game Highlights
Monday, October 20
MSOC | Game Highlights vs. Santa Clara
Thursday, October 16
MSOC | Bentley PK save and Toelhoej penalty goal, 1-1 draw vs. Seattle U
Saturday, September 27
MSOC | Saint Mary's vs. UC Davis Game Highlights
Thursday, September 04
