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Adrian Munteanu
Adrian Munteanu completed his 15th year as the head women's soccer coach and 11th as the head men's coach in the 2023 season. Munteanu is the all-time winningest coach for both the women's and men's programs.
On the women's side, Munteanu has a 19696-17 overall record and 133-15-7 in conference play. He guided the women's team to nine conference championship titles and nine trips to the NCAA Tournament since 2013. Munteanu has been named the conference Coach of the Year on the women's side eight times (2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023). The men's team has an overall record of 58-126-14 and 40-59-6 in the conference during Munteanu's seven seasons as head coach.
Munteanu and the Nittany Lions finished 8-9-2 overall and 6-2 in the United East in 2021. After finishing third in the regular season standings, Berks defeated St. Mary's College, 1-0, in the semifinal round. The Nittany Lions reached the championship game for the ninth consecutive season, but fell 2-1 to tournament host Penn State Harrisburg. Under Munteanu's guidance, Berks had three United East First Team selections (Sarah Hathaway, Emily Clapper, Lydia Cacciola) and the Offensive Player of the Year (Hathaway).
The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
In 2019, the women's squad went 15-7 overall and were 11-0 in conference play. Berks won its seventh straight NEAC Championship after topping Penn State Harrisburg 5-0 in the title game. The Nittany Lions then fell, 2-0, to No. 12 ranked Johns Hopkins University in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Berks cleaned up in the NEAC awards, winning Player of the Year (Alexis Schoener), Defensive Player of the Year (Karina Raykova), Rookie of the Year (Sara Hathaway), and Coach of the Year (Munteanu). In addition, Berks had five members named to the All-NEAC First Team and two on the second team.
In 2018, the women's team finished 15-4-2 overall and were 10-0-1 in NEAC play. The Nittany Lions won their sixth straight NEAC Championship Title and made their sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. At the NCAA Regional, Berks was edged 1-0 in overtime by No. 22 ranked Emory University. Munteanu had one student-athlete earn United Soccer Coaches Mid-Atlantic Region Third Team honors (Caitlin Golden). He also coached the NEAC Player of the Year (Golden), four All-NEAC First Team members and three All-NEAC Second Team recipients.
The 2017 women's soccer team finished 15-6-1 overall and went 10-0 in NEAC action. They won its fifth straight NEAC Tournament title and went to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth consecutive year. At the national tournament, the Nittany Lions fell 2-1 in overtime to No. 12 ranked SUNY Geneseo. The team swept the conference individual awards, which included Coach of the Year (Munteanu), Player of the Year (Caitlin Golden), Defensive Player of the Year (Megan Jardine), and Rookie of the Year (Melissa Martin). They had five All-NEAC First Team recipients and two members on the All-NEAC Second Team.
Munteanu guided the 2016 women's soccer team to not only the greatest run in program-history, but the best of any team in Penn State Berks history. The team went 19-4-1 overall and 13-0 in the conference and won its fourth consecutive NEAC Championship title. The team then took down No. 17 ranked Carnegie Mellon, 3-1, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. They followed it up with a 1-0 victory over Nazareth College, before falling 2-0 to No. 2 ranked Trinity (Texas) University in the round of 16. The 2016 team became the first ever Berks program to earn a national ranking, as they finished the year No. 19 in the country. Munteanu was named NEAC Coach of the Year, and also had the NEAC Player of the Year (Dana Sarcinello) and NEAC Defensive Player of the Year (Brennan Moyer). In addition, the team had five members earn All-NEAC First team, one second team, and one third team. The team led the nation in scoring (4.79 goals per game), while ranking 28th in the country with a 0.57 goals against average and 15th in Division III with 15 shutouts.
The Nittany Lions reached double-digit wins for the sixth time in his eight year's at the helm after going 16-3-2 in the 2015 season. The team went 12-0 in conference play to win the NEAC Regular Season Title for the fourth year in a row and were the postseason tournament champions for the third consecutive season. The Nittany Lions fell by a score of 3-0 to William Smith College in the NCAA Regional Tournament. The offense ranked first in the nation in scoring offense, assists per game, and points per game. The team recorded 13 shutouts for a .619 shutout percentage, which ranked 25th in the country. The team also ranked 25th in all of Division III with their .810 winning percentage. The Nittany Lions had four players earn All-NEAC First Team honors, while two were named to the second team and one player to the third team. Berks had the NEAC Player of the Year (Dana Sarcinello) for the third straight time and for the fourth consecutive season had the NEAC Rookie of the Year as Caitlin Golden received the award.
The women's team continued its winning ways in the 2014 season by shattering the records set during the incredible 2013 campaign. The team finished 18-3 overall and for a third straight season went unbeaten in conference play during the regular season. They won the NEAC Regular Season Championship for the third straight year, conference tournament for the second year in a row, and thus earning their second trip to the NCAA Tournament. At the regional tournament, the Nittany Lions battled hard, but were ousted, 3-0, by No. 7 in the country Carnegie Mellon College. The Nittany Lions swept the postseason awards with Munteanu (Coach), Dana Sarcinello (Player), Savannah Cramer (Goalkeeper), and Chrissy Smith (Rookie) all earning the individual yearly awards. They had seven players named to the All-NEAC First Team, the first time that has happened in conference history. The 2014 squad established new program high's in points (321), goals (122), assists (77), wins (8), and shutouts (14). They finished second in the nation with a 5.81 goals per game average. That average ranks as the fourth highest all-time in Division III history, while the goals scored ranks fifth all-time.
The 2013 women's team saw many records break as they earned the first trip to the NCAA Tournament in program history. After a perfect 11-0 run through the conference the Nittany Lions edged out Keuka College 1-0 in overtime of the NEAC Semifinal. The team then captured its first NEAC Championship with a 4-0 win over Penn State Abington in the title game. At the NCAA Tournament, the Nittany Lions suffered a 2-0 setback to The College of New Jersey, which was ranked 15 in the nation at the time. Munteanu coached the 2013 squad to what at the time was a program-best 16-4-1 overall record and 11-0 in the conference. The team broke the previous school records in wins (16), goals (93), assists (48), and shutouts (11). The Nittany Lions had the NEAC Player of the Year (Dana Sarcinello), Rookie of the Year (Sarcinello), and Coach of the Year (Munteanu). The 2013 team also had three members on the all-conference first team, three on the second team, and one third team selection.
The 2012 women's squad finished 14-3-2 overall and claimed its first NEAC regular-season championship after finishing 11-0-1 in the conference. The Nittany Lions fell 2-0 to Lancaster Bible College in a hard fought NEAC title game. The Nittany Lions recorded 14 wins and had an .806 winning percentage. The team set school records in win streak (11), unbeaten streak (15), goals against (11), goals against average (0.60), save percentage (.876), and least losses in a season (3). Berks had seven members named to All-NEAC teams - including four on the first team - in 2012. In addition, the Nittany Lions had the NEAC Goalkeeper of the Year (Savannah Cramer), Rookie of the Year (Sara Conover), and Coach of the Year (Munteanu).
In the 2011 season, Munteanu guided the Nittany Lions to a third straight winning season (9-8-1 overall, 7-3-1 NEAC) and a third consecutive trip to the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) semifinals. He had one player finish on the All-NEAC First Team and one All-NEAC Second Team honoree.
Munteanu led the 2010 Nittany Lions to the NEAC semifinals, where they fell to eventual champion Keuka College. The Lions finished second in conference in the regular season with a 9-2 record. Berks went 11-9 overall to finish above .500 for the second straight year. Six student-athletes received conference awards, including two on the first team.
After a 3-15-2 season in 2008, Munteanu led the Nittany Lions to a program-best 14 wins in 2009 at the helm. With the first-full season of his own recruits, Munteanu guided his squad to the North East Athletic Conference (NEAC) semifinals. The Nittany Lions finished second in the NEAC regular season standings and five student-athletes earned conference awards.
In addition to coaching the women's team, Munteanu took control of the men's program in March of 2012.
The men's soccer team finished 4-13-1 overall and 4-4 in the United East during the 2021 season. The team finished fifth in the regular season standings, just missing out on a return trip to the conference postseason. Freshman Shane Gleason was rewarded for his strong play by being name to the United East Second Team.
The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
The 2019 men's soccer team made a late push for the playoffs, but came up just short. The squad finished 5-10-3 overall and went 4-5-2 in the conference. Over the final four contests, the Nittany Lions went 3-1 which included the programs first ever win over Wells College. Brenden Valverde was named to the All-NEAC First Team for the second time in his career.
On the men's side, the 2018 finished 5-10-2 overall and had a 3-7-1 mark in the NEAC. The Nittany Lions opened up the season with a 1-1 tie with Wilkes University and closed out the year with a 4-4 draw with Penn College, in which they erased a 4-0 halftime deficit. In the span of six days, Berks had thrilling one-goal victories over nearby Reading foes Albright College (3-2, OT) and Alvernia University (2-1). Munteanu had one player earn All-NEAC Second Team honors (Brenden Valverde) and one named to the All-NEAC Third Team (Trent Johnson).
The 2017 team tied the program record for wins for the third straight season after going 9-9-1 overall and 7-2-1 in the conference. They hosted a NEAC Quarterfinal round game for the second straight season, where they were defeated by Lancaster Bible College. Brenden Valverde was named the NEAC Player and Rookie of the Year. He was also an All-NEAC First Team selection and was joined by Jon Mercier, while Trent Johnson was a third team honoree.
The 2016 men's soccer team tied last year's squad with the most wins in a season after going 9-10 overall and 9-4 in the conference. The had its best finish in the conference standings after placing fourth and hosted their first ever NEAC Postseason contest. In that home playoff match, the Nittany Lions suffered a 2-0 heartbreaker to Wells College. The 2016 team set the school record for goals scored (44), points (122), assists (34), goals against average (1.83), and shutouts (6). Munteanu had two members named to the NEAC Second Team and two on the third team.
In 2015, Munteanu guided the men's soccer team to a program-best nine wins and reached the NEAC Playoffs for the first time since the 2009 season. The squad finished the year 9-9-1 overall and were 7-5-0 in the conference to earn the sixth season in the postseason tournament. The Nittany Lions fell by a score of 3-1 to Keuka College in the opening round of the conference tournament. In addition to breaking the program record for wins, the Nittany Lions offense established a school record in goals (41), points (110), assists (28), and goals against average (2.11). The team had one NEAC First Team selection and two players earned third team honors. For the first time in program history, the Nittany Lions had the men's soccer NEAC Rookie of the Year after the amazing freshman campaign by Omar Guzman.
In the 2014 season, Munteanu's hard work to turning around the men's program started to show. The team finished 4-13-1, but that in no way indicates the improvement made by the team. With a large group in newcomers, the team showed flashes of brilliance as they got a feel for playing together. Early in the season, Berks earned a tie with Penn State Abington, a team that reached the NEAC Title game. They picked up a solid 3-2 win over non-conference opponent Delaware Valley College. The men closed out the home portion of their schedule with a shutout over SUNY Cobleskill and a thrilling 3-2 double overtime win over SUNY Polytechnic, which dashed the Wildcats hopes for the postseason.
The 2013 men's team finished 3-14-1 overall and went 0-9-1 in the NEAC. They had one player selected to the All-NEAC Third Team.
Munteanu got his start in coaching with the Hempfield United U-14 boys team in 2000 and the Hempfield High School boys soccer team for two seasons. He coached the Lanco United soccer club until 2004 and was previously the head coach of the FC Revolution U-12 and U-17 boys teams.
As an athlete, Munteanu played for the Romania U-17 National team and played professionally in Romania with the Inter Sibiu from 1995-98. During the summer of 1999, Munteanu received a “UEFA” B License, the third highest certification in the world, along with a National Diploma from the Romanian Soccer Federation.
Born and raised in Romania, Munteanu got his start playing soccer at age eight and signed his first professional contract at age 18. He received a bachelor’s degree in Physical Training and Education from Lucian Blaga University, Romania in 1998. He currently resides in Wyomissing with his wife, Michelle and sons, Andrew and Fillip.
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