Calichman steps down to take MLS job; former Stag Ullman named interim head coach of CMS men’s soccer

CLAREMONT, Calif. – Dan Calichman, head coach of the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's soccer team since 2002, has accepted an assistant coaching position with Major League Soccer's (MLS) Toronto FC, CMS Director of Athletics Mike Sutton announced on Sept. 12. Stepping in as interim head coach, beginning on Monday, Sept. 15, is Claremont McKenna College graduate Sam Ullman '12. Ullman played four seasons for the CMS men's soccer team (2008-11) and served as an assistant coach in 2013 for CMS.

"Sam has five years of experience with CMS Soccer as player and coach, and was a very effective recruiter and assistant coach for the program last season," said Sutton, who is the William B. Arce Professor and George R. Roberts Fellow of CMS Athletics. "Sam understands what it takes to be successful as a student and athlete; he is well-respected by our players, and his knowledge of the game is excellent. We are fortunate to have him step in as the interim head coach to lead the team this season and help with the program's transition to its next head coach."

Before Ullman takes over, Calichman will coach the Stags in one final match, Saturday, Sept. 13, at CMC's Pritzlaff Field against Cal Lutheran at 4 p.m. Two days later, he will begin his coaching duties in Toronto.

"It has been a long-time goal for Dan to coach at the level at which he once played and I support his decision," said Sutton. "We will miss having him as a coach and as a wonderful contributor to our department. He has been a strong leader and mentor of the young men he coached and is an outstanding soccer coach."

Calichman was offered the opportunity to become an assistant coach with Toronto FC by current Toronto head coach Greg Vanney, a teammate of Calichman's for three seasons during his playing career with the Los Angeles Galaxy. 

In 13 seasons as head coach of the Stags, Calichman posted a 139-82-19 record overall and a 112-47-13 record in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play (through 2013). Both records are second all-time in CMS men's soccer coaching history. CMS won the SCIAC Postseason Tournament four times to earn bids to the NCAA Championships; in 2013, Calichman led CMS to the program's first SCIAC regular season championship since 2000.

"Right now I feel both happy and sad. I am happy personally because I have been offered a position to coach in Major League Soccer but the sad part is leaving CMS, a place that has served as a community and a family to me over the years." Calichman said. "I've had the most wonderful time and it has been such an honor to work with the young men I've coached at CMS. They would come in as boys and leave as men, and I've had the privilege of spending those years with them. The student-athletes here are one of a kind, and that makes this the best college coaching job there is."

Calichman joined the CMS program after a 12-year professional playing career. He was captain and central defender of the Los Angeles Galaxy from 1996 to 1998 and was voted best Major League Soccer defender by USA Today in 1996. He also played for two other MLS teams—the San Jose Earthquakes and the New England Revolution. He played for the United States National Team in 1997-1998 and was the first and only American player to play in the J-League, Japan's professional soccer league. Calichman graduated with a bachelor's degree in history from Williams College, where he was captain of the college's soccer and lacrosse teams. He is one of the few professional players to have advanced directly from Division III soccer to a successful professional career.