Daniels, First CU Soccer Coach, Passes Away

BOULDER—Austin Daniels, Colorado soccer's first-ever head coach and the university's second African American head coach, passed away this past Monday (July 15) after a 13-year battle with cancer. He was 64 years old.

Daniels was hired to lead the Buffs by then-CU Athletic Director Bill Marlot on Feb. 16, 1996.

The inaugural season began with a two-game swing in California, opening with a 1-1 overtime draw at Cal State Bakersfield and a 2-0 loss at California. The Buffs' first home match on Sept. 8, 1996, drew a crowd of 1,500 to Pleasant View Soccer Complex as CU picked up its first win in program history with a 2-1 result over LSU.

He spent five seasons leading the Buffaloes on the pitch from 1996 to 2000. He compiled a 36-53-5 record. His best season with the Buffs came in 1999, guiding CU to its first 10-win season, finishing 11-8-1. In the program's second season, Daniels had the Buffs in the Big 12 Tournament, posting a 5-5-0 Big 12 record. Daniels also had the Buffs in the conference tournament in 1999 and 2000.

Daniels came to Colorado from the University of Hartford, where he compiled an impressive 103-35-6 record in seven seasons as head coach. During his tenure at Hartford, Daniels guided the Hawks to six NCAA tournament appearances in his seven years, including a berth in the national semifinals in 1992, when the team was ranked No. 2 in the country and finished the year 19-2. Hartford claimed the North Atlantic Conference title each of Daniels' last five years with the school.

"Playing for Austin was a privilege," former CU goalkeeper Sloane Cox expressed. "I went to the University of Hartford from Canada in part because of Austin and followed him to Colorado to continue that legacy. Those of us who were lucky enough to spend the entirety of our college careers under his leadership are better because of him. Austin believed in people when they didn't believe in themselves. He pushed you to be the very best version of yourself - every day. He taught you how to be a great player on the field and a great person outside the lines. He gave his life to this sport. Watching the players he recruited flourish as college athletes and later in life as wives, mothers and leaders brought him the greatest joy. There will never be another Austin Daniels. 'You'll never walk alone.'"

Daniels began his coaching career in 1981 at the high school level, leading E.O. Smith High (Storrs, Conn.) to the state title in his first season. In 1984, he left Smith for South Catholic High School, where he served as boys' varsity coach.

From there, he moved on to Colorado College, where he served as an assistant coach from 1986-88. He took over head coaching duties at Hartford in 1989 and was named the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's (NSCAA) Coach of the Year following his first season at the helm. The NSCAA also honored him as the 1992 Regional Coach of the Year and he was a two-time selection as North Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year.

After CU, Daniels served as the Technical Director of Connecticut Academica FC before a three-year stint as the head coach for the New England Mutiny of the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL), where he was named the WPSL Coach of the Year in 2004. From there, he became the Director of Coaching for Connecticut Academica FC before joining Central Connecticut State's men's coaching staff as an assistant in 2009. In addition, Daniels was the Technical Director for the Northern Kentucky United Soccer Club (2004-06) and the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association (CJSA) State Director of Coaching from 2006-10.

Daniels also worked as the Technical Director of the Arizona Youth Soccer Association and was an assistant coach with Arizona United.

Most recently, Daniels served as the Director of Coaching in the Competitive Division for Ballistic United Soccer Club. He moved to Ballistic after serving as the Technical Director/Club Development Manager for U.S. Soccer. Daniels was an assistant at the U16 Girls National Team Camp in January 2018. He also spent time in 2012 as a U.S. Soccer scout for the U20 women's national team.

Daniels's storied career earned him multiple Hall of Fame inductions, including the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame, the Hartford Alumni Athletics Hall of Fame, the Connecticut Girls' Soccer HOF, the Women's Premier Soccer League Hall of Fame and the Black Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame.

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