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Danny Kirkland
Danny Kirkland began as an head coach with Academy of Art University men's soccer in August 2022 after starting as an assistant coach in March 2019 and debuting as the program's operations assistant in October 2018.
In Kirkland’s debut season as head coach, Academy of Art’s highlights included a three-match win streak, new program records from Gilly Miller, the conclusion of seven seniors’ careers, and academic success in 2022. The Urban Knights’ three consecutive wins were all shutouts led by PacWest Defender of the Week Davis King as ART U topped Cal State East Bay (Sept. 10), Cal Poly Humboldt (Sept. 12), and William Jessup (Sept. 15) in a matter of five days during the non-conference season. En route to being named both D2CCA All-West Region Second Team and All-PacWest Second Team, Miller broke the program’s single-season goals (10, second in PacWest) and points (26, third in PacWest) records after registering at least one point in 12 of 18 matches. The septet of King, Gilli Kristjansson, Jose "JJ" Cortez, Christian Schaffner, Breki Einarsson, Fannar Omarsson, and Logi Saemundsson closed out a combined 325 matches played. Men's soccer ended the year with 11 honorees on the Academic All-PacWest Team.
The Urban Knights' return to a full schedule in the fall of 2021 was highlighted by new program records from Adrian Cekala as well as emotional wins over Chaminade on Senior Day and Dominican in the season finale. En route to being named All-PacWest Second Team, Cekala tied for second in the Pacific West Conference in goals (7) and was tied for third with two of those being of the game-winning variety. Cekala became Academy of Art's new leader in both career goals (21, only 20-goal scorer in ART U history) and points (47, only 40+ point scorer in ART U history) while this last five game-winning goals put him third in program history. Bilal Mihoubi would earn All-PacWest Third Team honors after he appeared and started in 14 matches, playing every minute of those contests to wind up with the fifth-most minutes on the Knights (1,290) and truly be known as a shutdown defender on the ART U back line. The trio of Cekala, Mihoubi, and Omer Tal accounted for Academy of Art's three PacWest Player of the Week honors and ART U men's soccer finished the year with 10 Academic All-PacWest Team honorees.
It was a total of four victories that accompanied numerous individual accolades for ART U in the COVID-19 shortened 2020-21 season, winning consecutive games to open and close the season, ultimately finishing the year in second place in the PacWest NorCal pod. Collecting at least one win against every NorCal pod team, the Knights opened the year with a thrilling 4-3 overtime win over eventual NorCal pod champion Fresno Pacific. Thanks to a three-goal week after twice against FPU and once in ART U's 2-1 win over Dominican on Feb. 6, Adrian Cekala was the first Urban Knight to be announced as the first PacWest NorCal Player of the Week. The Knights also pitched a pair of shutouts in the final two games of the season, starting with a 2-0 win over Dominican on Feb. 21 before dominating HNU on senior day by a final of 5-0, resulting in Cekala being named the PacWest NorCal Player of the Week for the second time in 2020-21 after totaling three goals and two assists. After the conclusion of the season, three Urban Knights were selected to the 2020-21 All-PacWest Northern California Team including Cekala, Gilly Miller, Bilal Mihoubi. Miller earned extra recognition, being named the 2020 PacWest Newcomer of the Year. It is the second time in history that ART U has had at least three All-PacWest selections (most: 2015), while it is the first time ever an Urban Knight has received the Newcomer of the Year award. Additionally, men's soccer was represented by nine 2020-21 Academic All-PacWest honorees.
ART U's 2019 campaign, Kirkland's first as assistant coach with the program, was marked by hard work, perseverance, and relentless positivity. A late goal by senior Andrew Deans pushed the Urban Knights to a victory over Saint Katherine's highlighted the regular season and eight were bestowed Academic All-PacWest honors at the conclusion of the academic year.
In his first season with ART U in 2018, Kirkland helped the Urban Knights to a campaign highlighted by a thrilling overtime win over Cal State Monterey Bay (Sept. 1), three overtime battles thereafter, and later a 4-0 breakout victory at Holy Names (Oct. 16). The team had sophomore goalkeeper Kris Jensson who ranked second in the Pacific West Conference in total saves, featured as PacWest Defender of the Week along the way as well. At the end of the academic year, 11 men's soccer student-athletes were awarded Academic All-PacWest honors.
Kirkland, who carries more than 10 years of experience in competitive soccer, joined Academy of Art after serving as a coach for the San Francisco Glens SC where he was responsible for elite player development at the U17-19 level. Kirkland has also spent time captaining San Francisco City FC, a local soccer club that competes in the USL PDL league.
During his college years, Kirkland played at the University of San Francisco, appearing in more than 60 matches and scoring 12 goals throughout his four years on the hilltop. Kirkland captained the Dons during his senior season and scored the game-winner against No. 21 Wisconsin and No. 24 Florida Gulf Coast, tallying a total of five game-winning goals (12th in the nation). He scored a team-high six goals that season, tied for sixth in the conference, and was named to the All-WCC First Team and NSCAA All-Far West Region Team.
Prior to joining USF, Kirkland was born in Sheffield, England and spent his formative years in the academy team of Sheffield Wednesday FC before joining their first team on a full-time contract. During his time at Wednesday, he competed in the English Premier League Academy and Reserve leagues against teams such as Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool. Kirkland earned his bachelor’s degree in Communications from USF in 2016 and added his master's degree in Sport Management from USF in 2019.
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