Jan. 13, 2007

Indianapolis, Ind. - GVSU Head Women's Soccer Coach Dave DiIanni was recently recognized as the National Coach of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association Of America (NSCAA) at the 2007 National Convention. DiIanni led the Lakers to a 19-2-1 record in 2006, with their first-ever National Championship appearance. DiIanni has posted a 70-12-3 record in his four years at GVSU, including the school's only four postseason appearances.

DiIanni led Grand Valley State to a school-best 19-2-1 record on the season as the team broke a number of school records and ranked near the top of the nation in both offensive and defensive numbers. He has guided the Lakers to the NCAA tournament in each of his four years at the helm, including an appearance in the 2006 championship game. In each of the last two years, Grand Valley State ended its season with a loss to the eventual national champion. DiIanni owns a 70-12-3 record at GVSU.

Dave DiIanni Bio
Dave DiIanni recently finished his fourth season as the head women's soccer coach at Grand Valley State. Dave has tallied a 70-12-3 (.841) record in his four seasons and guided the Lakers to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, the only four trips in school history. DiIanni is just the second head coach in the program's 11-year history.

DiIanni guided the Lakers to an NCAA National Championship appearance in 2006, after posting a 19-2-1 overall record. GVSU fell one goal short of a national title, dropping a 1-0 overtime decision to Metro State (Colo.). GVSU's past two postseason defeats have come at the hands of the eventual national champions (Nebraska-Omaha, 2005; Metro State, 2006) The Lakers set school records in goals scored (86) and goals allowed (8) outscoring their opponents by nearly four goals a game (3.95-0.36 per game). GVSU claimed its second GLIAC title in as many years and posted its second consecutive Great Lakes Regional Title. The Lakers defeated 2005 national champion Nebraska-Omaha, 1-0, in the quarterfinal and Tampa (2-0) to advance to the national title match. DiIanni helped to put the Lakers in the top 10 of every category in Division II and led the nation in goals-against-average (0.36) and shutout percentage (0.75). GVSU ranked second in scoring offense (3.95 gpg) and won-lost-tied percentage (.886), while ranking seventh in save percentage (0.881).

DiIanni led GVSU through a year of firsts in 2005, capturing GVSU's first-ever GLIAC and NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championships. The 19-3 overall record was the best in school history as the Lakers rolled off 11 consecutive victories in the middle of the season. GVSU finished the season ranked eighth in the final NSCAA/Adidas National Poll. The Lakers' 7-1 GLIAC record helped them claim their first-ever GLIAC soccer title, after finishing second during DiIanni's first two years.

The Lakers also improved in regional play, capturing GVSU's first-ever Great Lakes Regional Championship and advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinals. GVSU captured the regional title with a 1-0 win over SIU-Edwardsville and a 2-0 win over host Northern Kentucky in the final. The Lakers dropped a 2-0 decision to eventual National Champion, Nebraska-Omaha in the quarterfinals of the 2005 NCAA Tournament. In 2005, GVSU ranked among the top 10 in Division II in a number of categories including: Scoring Offense - 3.41 gpg (ninth), Goals-Against Average - 0.55 (eighth), Shutout Percentage - 0.59 (seventh), and Won-Lost-Tied Percentage - .864 (eighth).

In 2004, DiIanni's Lakers recorded a 15-5 overall record , while finishing second in the GLIAC with a 6-2 record. GVSU made its second straight NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Championships appearance. The Lakers fell, 1-0 to host Wisconsin-Parkside. DiIanni guided the Lakers to a then school-best 17-2-2 (.857) record in 2003. GVSU recorded its first-ever NCAA Tournament appeareance as they hosted the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Championships. GVSU defeated Wisconsin-Parkside, 4-0, in the first game, before falling, 4-3, to Northern Kentucky in the Championship game.

DiIanni joined Grand Valley after seven years as the head coach of the Jackson Lumen Christi High School women's soccer team.

DiIanni also spent three years as an assistant coach at Hillsdale College, where he helped begin the men's and women's soccer programs. During his stint at Hillsdale, the women's team finished fourth in the GLIAC in their third season. The men's team was also ranked nationally one week. DiIanni turned in a 100-19-18 overall coaching record while at Lumen Christi. The Titans advanced to the state finals in 2000, dropping a 1-0 decision to Detroit Country Day.

In addition, Lumen Christi made it to the state semifinals three times under DiIanni and the regional finals twice. DiIanni was a five-time district Coach of the Year and a four-time regional Coach of the Year. DiIanni has spent six years working with the Olympic Development Program in Michigan, training and developing the highest level of soccer in the state. Dave is presently the head coach for the 89 ODP age group. He is also a USSF B licensed coach, which is highly recognizable among soccer coaches.

Dave and his wife, Kristy, have a four-year old daughter, Karissa and a newborn daughter named Kelsey.