North Carolina State University Athletics
Men's Soccer Adds Popik to Staff
6/2/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
June 2, 2005
Raleigh, N.C. - NC State men's soccer head coach George Tarantini has announced the hiring of Dan Popik as the team's goalkeeper coach. Popik, a former MLS player and top college keeper himself, will be working with the NC State goalies this upcoming season.
Popik spent 2005 as Brookfield East High School's goalkeeper coach and was also the Elm Grove Soccer Club's goalkeeper coach. In 2004, Popik was the head coach of the U-14 girls Long Beach United Soccer Club. Popik also was the Director of the Milwaukee Rampage's Goalkeeping Academy, and has worked the Rampage's summer camp as well as the SGA goalkeeping summer camp.
Popik has professional playing experience with both the Los Angeles Galaxy of the MLS and the Milwaukee Rampage of the A-League. He spent the 2003 and 2004 seasons with the Galaxy backing up Kevin Hartman. Popik made his debut October 18, 2003 and played 16 minutes in a win over San Jose. In the 2004 season, he logged 45 minutes in goal.
Prior to joining the Galaxy, Popik played three seasons in the A-League with the Milwaukee Rampage, including helping the club win the 2002 A-League Championship. He was named the 2002 Team MVP, and boasts a 40-22-6 all-time record with the Rampage with 312 saves and 15 shutouts.
He also has played on the international level. Popik spent three years as a member of the U.S. Under-20 National Team. He served as an alternate during the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championships in Nigeria.
Popik played his college soccer at both North Carolina and St. John's. Popik started 12 games for the Tar Heels as a freshman in 1997. Popik then played the 1998 and 1999 seasons at St. John's. During the 1999 season, Popik recorded an impressive 0.68 GAA and seven shutouts. He helped lead the team to a 9-3-2 record and a Sweet 16 berth in the NCAA Tournament. In 1998, Popik led St. John's to the Big East Conference title and a spot in the NCAA Elite Eight. He finished the season with a 0.75 GAA and seven shutouts, while leading the team to a 12-4-3 record.
Popik attended Syosset High School in New York, and registered a 0.40 GAA and 11 straight shutouts in 1996. He was named one of Soccer America's `Super 11 Recruits'.
Popik will be working with one of the deepest positions on the NC State roster. Jorge Gonzalez enters his senior season, his third year as the starter. Gonzalez was named first-team All-ACC last season. He finished with a GAA of just 1.10, the second-best single season total in the NC State record books, and also has 13 career shutouts in just two seasons. Backing up Gonzalez will be senior Aaron Sanders. Sanders appeared in four games last year, with two starts. He finished with a GAA of 0.41 in those four contests, and before coming to NC State he was named first-team All-Big South at nationally ranked Coastal Carolina in 2002. In addition to Gonzalez and Sanders on the 2005 roster will be redshirt freshman Michael Day and freshman Christopher Widman.
