Soka University Men's Soccer

Marine Cano Appointed Founding Director of Men's and Women's Soccer

The addition of Marine Cano to Soka's coaching staff marks the university's continued drive to build an athletics program that is both elite and all-encompassing. With 231 wins in 21 years as a head coach, Marine Cano brings an impressive combination of success, intensity, and excitement to the newly established soccer program.

Coach Cano comes to SUA from UC Irvine, where he coached the women’s soccer team for 12 seasons. During his tenure at UC Irvine, Coach Cano led his team to a Big West Conference title and his teams broke numerous school records.

Coach Cano’s own accomplishments are equally remarkable. Entering the 2005 season, he was the 11th all-time most winning coach in Division I, by victories in women’s soccer, and his 231 victories give him the 23rd most career wins in all-divisions of NCAA women’s soccer history.

Prior to UC Irvine, Coach Cano was the head men’s and women’s soccer coach at CSU Dominguez Hills, where he led the women’s team to an NCAA Division II national championship in 1991, two California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) titles, and two Division II West Region titles. Coach Cano was recognized as the 1992 CCAA Coach of the Year and the 1989 Western Region Coach of the Year.

Under his skilled direction, Coach Cano’s players have gone on to national success. He has coached five All-Americans, three Academic All-Americans, and an NCAA Adidas Player of the Year and a Final Four MVP. As part of the Olympic Development Program, Coach Cano has worked with such National team members as Julie Foudy, Carin (Jennings) Gabarra, and Joy (Fawcett) Biefield.

Coach Cano was a member of the 1976 U.S. National team and played soccer professionally for nine years. Marine Cano received his BA in Physical Education from California State University Dominguez Hills and holds NSCAA National Advance License.