Staff Report
The coaching carousel at UNM spun again Monday with the announcement of men’s soccer coach Klaus Weber’s retirement, effective Aug. 31.
UNM associate athletics director Janice Ruggiero said the University would begin a coaching search immediately.
Weber, 59, began his coaching career at UNM as head coach of the nordic ski team in 1975. He took over as coach for men’s soccer in 1988.
In 15 years as head coach, Weber compiled an overall record of 152-128-18. He took over as interim coach in 1986 and 1987. He did not coach the team in 1988, but was named head coach in 1989.
“After so many years, there come a point when it’s time to enjoy some of the other things you want to achieve in life,” Weber said in a press release. “It was just time for me to go in a different direction.”
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During his tenure, Weber led UNM to 10 winning seasons. Under his guidance, the Lobos reached the Soccer America rankings twice, placing No. 20 in 1992 and No. 15 in 1997 — the latter being the Lobos’ highest ever ranking.
Weber was named Mountain Pacific Sports Federation coach of the year in 1992 after leading UNM to a 14-4-1 record.
That year, UNM upset the nation’s number one team, the University of California at Los Angeles, 1-0 in front of more than 7,000 fans at University Stadium.
In 2002, Weber pulled off the biggest feat of his career, leading the eighth-seeded Lobos to the MPSF men’s soccer tournament title, upsetting top-seed Sacramento State University in the first round and winning three straight games in the eight-team tournament.
The tournament title earned UNM its first-ever appearance in the NCAA tournament.
The Lobos defeated Florida International University 1-0 in the first round, but fell to top-ranked host Southern Methodist University 2-0 in the second round.
UNM finished the 2002 season with a record of 7-12-2. The Lobos begin the 2003 season at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo., Aug 24.
