The George Washington men's soccer program has added former All-Big Ten Conference performer Danny Irizarry as an assistant coach under first-year head coach Craig Jones.

"As a young, innovative coach, Danny will be bringing some exciting new ideas to the program," said Coach Jones, who was promoted to head coach in November after helping the Colonials earn a share of the 2011 Atlantic 10 regular-season title and reach the league championship match. "You want a role model for your players and he knows what it takes to be successful at the next level having played in a national championship game and internationally in World Cup qualifiers."

Coach Irizarry is the second assistant coach hire for Coach Jones this month following 20-year coaching veteran Jim Felix's hire on Feb. 8.

Coach Irizarry joins the Colonials after serving as a graduate assistant coach at Georgia Southern University in 2011, helping the Eagles earn a No. 3 seed in the Southern Conference Tournament. He also served as a volunteer assistant coach for his alma mater, Ohio State University, aiding the Buckeyes to the 2009 Big Ten Championship. He's coached at the club level with the Columbus Crew Juniors and Concorde Fire Soccer Club near his hometown of Lawrenceville, Ga., and holds a National `C' License from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF).

Prior to coaching, Coach Irizarry compiled an impressive list of accolades on the pitch as a midfielder at Ohio State. He earned Big Ten and National All-Freshman Team honors in 2005, and was a two-time All-Big Ten selection in 2007 and 2008. As a junior, Irizarry helped the Buckeyes to a Big Ten Championship and an appearance in the NCAA College Cup final where they fell to Wake Forest, 2-1. He captained and led OSU in scoring with six goals and 13 points as a senior and was rated the third-best collegiate midfielder in the country by College Soccer News. Coach Irizarry gained international experience with the Puerto Rico National Team during qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, earning a cap in a 1-0 victory over the Dominican Republic.

 

"I am thrilled and very eager to join such a prestigious school as George Washington and to join a program that has achieved great success," said Coach Irizarry. "I must thank Coach Jones for the opportunity to be part of his staff. I have high aspirations and expectations for this soccer program, and look forward to achieving those while working with great coaches in Coach Jones and Coach Felix." Coach Irizarry earned his bachelor's degree in strategic sports communication from Ohio State in 2009, and is on track for a master's degree in kinesiology from Georgia Southern in 2012.