Michael Marchiano hired to helm Drexel men’s soccer team

Sasho Cirovski’s influence on the college game in Philadelphia will continue to grow in 2020 with the hiring of one of his former captains and volunteer assistants as the new head coach at Drexel.

Michael Marchiano was a two-time captain for the long-time University of Maryland head coach and worked as a volunteer assistant under Cirovski before making stops at Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Army West Point and Loyola, where he served as an assistant coach for the past six seasons.

“Mike’s clear vision to elevate the program was evident from the beginning of our process,” Drexel University Deputy Athletic Director Nick Gannon said in a news release announcing his hiring on Friday. “He has a contagious competitive fire and demands excellence while staying true to his relationship-driven values. He is an educator that challenges the student-athletes to grow as people, using soccer as his vehicle. We are incredibly eager to work with Mike to collectively reach our goals as a program.”

Gannon announced in December that Doug Hess would not be returning as head coach after completing his 10th season leading the Dragons. Drexel was coming off a disappointing 6-9-2 season after snapping a five-year winning season drought with a 9-5-3 record in 2018.

“Drexel Soccer has been home to many top players, coaches and teams over the past several decades and I am grateful to Dr. (Eric) Zillmer (Director of Athletics), Nick Gannon and the search committee for their belief in me to help move this program forward,” Marchiano said in the news release.

Marchiano joins Temple head coach Brian Rowland in the ranks of former Terps coaching at Philly Soccer Six schools. Rowland was an assistant and associate head coach under Cirovski from 2010-2018. One of his assistant coaches — Alex Shinsky — played for Cirovski at Maryland.