PUEBLO, Colo. (GoThunderWolves.com - February 4, 2013) - Former CSU-Pueblo assistant soccer coach, Paul Regrutto, has been named the new head coach for the CSU-Pueblo women's soccer program, Director of Athletics Joe Folda announced Monday.
Regrutto, who has most recently served as the assistant women's soccer coach at Cal State-San Bernardino, where he helped lead the Coyotes to a 9-7-2 record in 2012 while regularly starting six to eight freshmen, returns to CSU-Pueblo after a one-year absence.
He was the assistant men's soccer coach with the ThunderWolves under Roy Stanley from 2007-11, and assisted Stanley as an assistant for both the men's and women's programs from 2002-2006. At CSU-Pueblo, he was primarily in charge of the goalkeepers, coaching multiple keepers to All-RMAC awards.
While assisting both programs in his first stint at CSU-Pueblo, he acted as head coach for the men's or women's team 14 times while Stanley helmed both programs. He also successfully recruited the program's all-time goals leader and RMAC All-Century Team member, Robin Hayes, as well as coached CSU-Pueblo all-time goals-against-average leader, all-region selection and CSU-Pueblo Athletics Hall of Famer, Nadia Fercha.
In between stints at CSU-Pueblo, he was the head men's soccer coach at the University of Hawaii-Hilo in 2006.
Also a CSU-Pueblo alum, Regrutto played in 38 games over two seasons with the ThunderWolves from 1998 to 2000, helping lead CSU-Pueblo to its school-record 15-5-1 RMAC Championship season in 1999, when he was a team captain. During the 2000 season, he was an All-RMAC selection, as well. He graduated in 2001 from CSU-Pueblo with a degree in biology.
"[CSU-Pueblo] and the soccer program has given me a lot, and I'm looking forward to giving back to a program that has given me so much," Regrutto said. "I believe there's potential in this program, and we are looking forward to recruiting girls that are highly academic, will graduate, make successful decisions and be all-around good human beings. That combined with effective soccer training will make us successful."
Cal State-San Bernardino head women's soccer coach, Travis Clarke, said replacing a coach of Regrutto's caliber will be difficult.
"We are very sad that Paul is leaving, but we are very excited for him and this next chapter in his personal and professional life," Clarke said. "Paul is an outstanding coach and mentor of student athletes and will do a fantastic job as the head coach at CSU-Pueblo. His contributions to our program this past year were fantastic and he will be very hard to replace."
Folda said transitioning to a Regrutto-led regime in the women's soccer program will be seamless.
"He has great contacts at this University and in the community, conference and region, and everybody enjoys working with him," Folda said. "He has always been a positive force in the soccer program, is familiar with CSU-Pueblo, and will build us an outstanding women's soccer program."
Regrutto's will begin his new role as head women's soccer coach this week.
