Josh Faga

Joshua Vincent Faga (born August 22, 1990) is an American soccer coach and former American professional soccer player who played as a defender for the Rochester Rhinos in the USL Pro and for the Rochester Lancers (2011–15) in the Major Arena Soccer League. He is currently the assistant coach for men's soccer at Marshall University. In 2020, he helped the program to capture the 2020 NCAA National Championship[1]

Josh Faga
Faga with Marshall University in 2019
Personal information
Full name Joshua Vincent Faga
Date of birth (1990-08-22) August 22, 1990
Place of birth Lexington, Kentucky, United States
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Defender
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2010 St. John's Red Storm
2010–2012 Marist Red Foxes
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011 Chicago Fire Premier 2 (0)
2011–2012 FC Buffalo 19 (3)
2012–2014 Rochester Rhinos 4 (0)
2012–2015 Rochester Lancers 32 (0)
Managerial career
2014–2019 Duquesne University (assistant coach)
2019– Marshall University (assistant coach)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Coaching career

Marshall University

In August 2019, Faga was named the assistant men's soccer coach at Marshall University.[2] During the 2019 NCAA College Soccer season, Faga helped lead the Thundering Herd to the 2019 Conference USA Men's Soccer Tournament Championship and Regular Season Championship.[3] 2019 also saw Marshall reach the 2019 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament "Sweet 16" as the #11 seed eventually losing to University of Washington.[4]

During the 2020 season, Faga and the Marshall Thundering Herd captured the 2020 NCAA National Championship. Days after winning the 2020 NCAA Tournament, Faga and the rest of the coaching staff, led by Head Coach Chris Grassie, were recognized as the United Soccer Coaches College Coach of the Year.[5]


Duquesne University

In August 2014, Faga was named the assistant men's soccer coach at Duquesne University.[6] Faga helped the Duquesne Dukes reach the Atlantic 10 Conference Championships on 3 separate occasions: 2014, 2015, & 2016.[7]

Faga and Marshall University winning the 2019 Conference USA Men's Soccer Tournament.

Honors

Coaching

Marshall University

Playing career

College

Born in Lexington, Kentucky, Faga began his collegiate career at St. John's University where he played for the St. John's Red Storm men's soccer team.[8] After two years at St. John's, Faga transferred to Marist College where he played for the Marist Red Foxes men's soccer team.[9] While with Marist Faga was part of the All-MAAC Second Team in 2010 and 2012.[9]

Rochester Rhinos
Josh Faga beats 2014 World Cup Veteran Jerry Bengston off the dribble

In December 2012 Faga attended a workout session with the Rochester Rhinos in the USL Pro and after the workout he was invited to the InfoSport's 13th annual Pro Soccer Combine in Florida.[9] After the camp Faga signed a professional deal with the Rhinos on March 25, 2013.[9] Faga then made his professional debut for the club on May 28, 2013 in the third round of the 2013 US Open Cup against the New England Revolution.[10]

Josh Faga playing in the US Open Cup 3rd Round against the New England Revolution

Rochester Lancers

In September 2013, Faga signed with the Rochester Lancers in the MASL. Faga went on to appear in 18 games during his first campaign with the club as a defender.

Career statistics
As of May 28, 2014
Club Season League US Open Cup Other CONCACAF Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Rochester Lancers 2012 150000000150
Rochester Rhinos 2012 50104000100
Rochester Rhinos 2013 50104000100
Rochester Lancers 2013 150000000150
Rochester Lancers 2014 2000000020
Career total 420208000520


Podcast

Just Kickin' It Podcast

Since 2015, Faga has hosted the very popular coaching education podcast, The Just Kickin' It Podcast.[7] To date, the show has over 150 episodes featuring some of the top coaches from around the world including Rene Meulensteen, Anson Dorrance, and Raymond Verheijen.

Books
  • The Real Giants of Soccer Coaching. Meyer and Meyer Sports. 2018. ISBN 978-1782551300[11]

In 2018, Faga wrote his first book titled, "The Real Giants of Soccer Coaching: Insights and Wisdom from the Game's Greatest Coaches" which is a collection of the curated thoughts of nearly 30 top soccer coaches around the globe collected during interviews spanning a 3-year time period. The book was ranked as high as the Top 20 "Coaching" books on Amazon.[11]

References
  1. "History! No. 10 Men's Soccer Captures National Championship". Herd Zone. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  2. "Josh Faga Named Assistant Men's Soccer". Herd Zone. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  3. "Marshall Wins First Ever C-USA Championship". Conference USA. November 17, 2019. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  4. "Marshall men's soccer closes out historical season in NCAA Sweet 16". Marshall Parthenon. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  5. "United Soccer Coaches Announces 2020-21 National College Staffs of the Year". United Soccer Coaches. May 21, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  6. "Josh Faga Named Assistant Men's Soccer Coach". Duquesne University Athletics. August 5, 2014. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  7. "Josh Faga - Men's Soccer Coach". Duquesne University Athletics. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  8. "Josh Faga". St. John's Red Storm. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
  9. "Josh Faga Signs Professional Contract With Rochester Rhinos". Marist Red Foxes. March 25, 2013. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
  10. "Rochester Rhinos – New England Revolution". Major League Soccer. Archived from the original on August 28, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
  11. Josh, Faga (March 22, 2018). The real giants of soccer coaching : insights and wisdom from the game's greatest coaches. Maidenhead. ISBN 978-1782551300. OCLC 1004919795.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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