WEST HARTFORD, CT - Dan Gaspar, formerly a goalkeeper coach for the world-renowned Portuguese club team FC Porto, has been named head men's soccer coach at the University of Hartford in an announcement made today by Director of Athletics Pat Meiser-McKnett.

Gaspar brings a wealth of international soccer experience to the Hartford program. He has served as the goalkeeper coach for European Champions FC Porto during the past season where he helped lead the team to a World Intercontinental Championship in Japan. Regarded as one of the top goalkeeper coaches in the world, Gaspar trained FC Porto's Vitor Baia, who was selected as the UEFA's Best European Goalkeeper in 2004.

A native of South Glastonbury, CT, Gaspar made history in 1993 when he became the first American born soccer coach to accept a full-time coaching position in Europe with Sporting Lisbon of the Portuguese First Division. As goalkeeper coach, he helped lead Sporting Lisbon to the Portuguese National Cup title in 1995.

In 2003, Gaspar returned to Portugal to serve as goalkeeper coach for SL Benfica where he helped lead the team to the Portuguese Cup Championship under head coach Antonio Camacho, the former coach of the Spanish national team.

From 2000-02, Gaspar served as head coach of the Connecticut Wolves in the USL Pro League. In 2002, he led the Wolves to a New England Cup Championship as well as the D3 semifinals. Gaspar has also held coaching positions with both the Portuguese and South African national teams as well as an assistant coaching position with the New York/New Jersey MetroStars of Major League Soccer. In 1999, he served as the associate head men's soccer coach at Central Connecticut State University.

During his two stints with the Portuguese national team he coached alongside Carlos Queiroz, the former coach of Real Madrid and current assistant coach of the English Premier League's Manchester United as well as Felipe Scolari, the former head coach of the Brazilian national team that won the World Cup in 2002.

Gaspar is a technical consultant to Project 2010, a plan commissioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation to win the World Cup in 2010. He is the founder and president of the highly respected Star Goalkeeper Academy as well as the owner and director of the Connecticut Soccer School.

He holds a USSF A License as well as an NSCAA Advanced National Diploma. Gaspar's field coaching experience also includes an assistant position with the Japan League Grampus Eight in 1996.

He has trained the goalkeepers of the 1996 U.S. Men's Olympic Team, the 1991 U.S. Women's National Team, and the U.S. Men's Under 18 and Under 17 National Teams in 1998 and 1996.

"Dan Gaspar brings an immense background in the highest levels of international soccer to our program," said Meiser-McKnett. "He has coached some of the world's best players and we are excited and pleased to add someone with his level of experience to our staff."

The hiring serves as a homecoming for Gaspar, who played in goal for the Hawks from 1974-77. He posted a career goals against average of 1.52 and averaged 87 saves and 930 minutes per season. He helped lead Hartford to NCAA Tournament appearances in 1976 and 1977, and an ECAC tournament appearance in 1974. Gaspar was named All-New England and participated in the Senior Bowl in 1977. He was inducted into Hartford's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002.

"Very few times does an opportunity come along that feels as right as this one. It is a dream come true for me to return back home and coach the men's soccer team at my alma mater, the University of Hartford," said Gaspar. "I am grateful to the Department of Athletics, the search committee and the Hartford student-athletes for having the confidence in me to lead the men's soccer program. Hartford has a rich soccer history and my goal is to continue to build upon that tradition by honoring the past along with the present to establish a new generation of success."

Gaspar's hiring signifies a new beginning for Hartford soccer as it coincides with the launching of Phase I of the University's Home Field Advantage Project. The project will include the renovation of Al-Marzook Field (existing soccer field), which will be completed in early August, in time for fall 2005 competition.

What People are Saying about Dan Gaspar...

"I have witnessed firsthand Danny's development and it has been very impressive. He has without a doubt become the most experienced soccer professional of any American coach. He is simply a great person. The best compliment I can make is that I trust Danny Gaspar with my own children. He is honest, respectful, trustworthy and above all loyal."

-Professor Carlos Queiroz, Assistant Manager, Manchester United

"Dan Gaspar is dynamic and his training methods are state of the art. He is a great professional with a special ability to obtain the best from our professional athletes. Dan has earned the respect from all our staff and players."

-Antonio Camacho, Head Coach, SL Benfica

"I would first point out that Dan Gaspar is a natural teacher. He enjoys imparting knowledge to young soccer players. He is always very well prepared and this together with his knowledge and his communication skills make him a very powerful teacher."

-Bobby Clark, Head Men's Soccer Coach, University of Notre Dame

"His work ethic and professional development over time are both noteworthy. His technical proficiency as an instructor is excellent and his ability to motivate young players is a good example for all."

-Sunil Gulati, Executive Vice President, U.S. Soccer Federation and President, Kraft Soccer LLC (New England Revolution)

"Coach Gaspar's international experience is very rare for an American coach. It would be like having an NBA team hiring a foreign basketball coach. It just does not happen. His success overseas is a tribute to his dedication, discipline and talent."

-Jeff Tipping, NSCAA Director of Coaching

"Besides his obvious first-class credentials, Dan has forged a reputation as a respected and knowledgeable coach, home and abroad. Hiring Dan certainly would be a major coup for the University of Hartford."

-Michael Lewis, New York Daily News soccer columnist

"What separates Dan from others is his pure enthusiasm. No one will work harder in the community; no one has a greater love of the game and its challenges. Also, Dan does not quit in the face of daunting odds. That is how he has managed to create a remarkable career at the highest level in a sport which still remains secondary in most of America."

-Jerry Trecker, former staff writer and soccer columnist, Hartford Courant

"Working with Dan Gaspar was one of the highlights of my first MLS season. Dan was able to keep my game sharp with a unique mixture of hard work and competitive enthusiasm. The knowledge he's received from his work overseas can help any goalkeeper in the world. "

-Tony Meola, former U.S. World Cup Team Captain and MLS goalkeeper

"Dan Gaspar prepared and helped me face any challenge during the World Cup competition.

-Vitor Baia, 2004 UEFA Best European Goalkeeper, FC Porto