Minneapolis, MN -- North Central University (NCU) Athletics is thrilled to announce the hiring of Keith Bleyer as its new head coach for men's soccer. Bleyer will be leading the NCU Men's Soccer Program in all aspects. He began his new role with North Central on Monday, March 4th.
Bleyer joins the Rams after spending seven years in the Seattle area leading both college and club teams. Most recently he was a head coach at Green River College, where he relaunched the women's program after a two-year hiatus, recruiting over 20 players in a six-month period. Bleyer led the Gators to ten wins over two seasons and saw eight players on his squad selected for All-NWAC honors. Keith also served as a director and head coach of top teams at three large Seattle area clubs: Valor Soccer, Pacific Northwest, and ISC Gunners. He has also led squads and managed clubs in Oregon and Colorado. Bleyer holds the highest certifications offered to coaches, including a US Soccer National A Coaching License (earned on three separate occasions) and United Soccer Coaches National Premier and Director of Coaching Diplomas.
As a player, he was a member of the Under 16 USA Youth National Team pool and was named one of the nation's 'Top 50' prep recruits by Soccer America magazine. Bleyer went on to play NCAA DI soccer at Santa Clara (CA) University and graduated with a BA degree in Communications. He has also been a radio and TV broadcaster for Major League Soccer teams for nearly twenty years, most recently as a radio analyst for the Portland Timbers.
Bleyer had this to say about joining the NCU staff, "It's an honor and a blessing to be named as the new Men's Head Coach at North Central University and I'm looking forward to leading such a fantastic group of talented and humble Christian young men. I want to thank Interim President Dr. Doug Graham, Executive Director of Athletics Devin Lehnhoff, Assistant Athletic Director Lydia Carr Warner, Interim Vice President of Student Affairs Desiree Libengood, and the entire search committee for spending ample time with me during the hiring process and making me feel so welcome. It has been a personal goal of mine for some time to lead a NCAA program and I'm grateful that God and the fine people at NCU have provided me with this opportunity. NCU Soccer has amazing potential, and our goal will be to elevate the program the right way by developing players, playing attractive team soccer and producing scholars and gentlemen. The Rams are rising!"
Keith is thrilled to be returning to the Midwest, having previously lived in Iowa and Wisconsin, and to be bringing his wife Kelly back much closer to home. She is a Michigan native, and their daughter Lauren is currently a student a the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Bleyer will also be contributing to the club soccer scene in the Twin Cities as a coach for Manitou FC based in White Bear Lake.
Welcome Coach Bleyer!
