T.J. Kolba returns to CSU for his eighth season on the men’s soccer staff. This will be his second year as the Associate Head Coach, where he handles all administrative, travel and budgetary matters for the Vikings. He also assists with on-field coaching and recruiting. 

Kolba has been instrumental in the improvement and growth of the program during his time at Cleveland State working with Kazemaini. During the 2005 season, the year before Kolba joined the men’s soccer team with head coach Ali Kazemaini, the team was winless. During 2006, Kolba helped lead the Vikings to the largest turnaround among all NCAA Division I programs, with a 6-10-2 record. 

For the first two years of the Kazemaini and Kolba regime, CSU’s record was 9-22-5. Over the most recent five years of his involvement, however, Kolba has helped lead the team to 45 wins, including a victory over No. 1 Akron in 2010.

That five-year stretch for the Vikings included one of the best seasons in program history in 2012.  Last season the Vikings went 11-6-3 on the year, while also taking home the Horizon League tournament title. With the league crown, the Vikings qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1980.

Kolba and Kazemaini have been working together for eight seasons, seven at CSU and one at John Carroll University where Kolba also served as an assistant coach under Kazemaini. 

In his lone campaign at John Carroll, Kolba helped lead the Blue Streaks to a 13-7-1 overall mark, regular and postseason Ohio Athletic Conference crowns and a berth in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. 

A four-year letter winner and three-year captain for the Blue Streaks, Kolba was recognized as the Ohio Athletic Conference Defender of the Year as a senior in 2004. A three-time All-OAC selection, Kolba finished his career with 24 points (eight goals and eight assists) in 73 matches. His defensive efforts helped lead the Blue Streaks to three consecutive OAC Championship matches. As a freshman, he netted John Carroll’s first-ever postseason goal when he scored against Wilmington in the 2000 NCAA Tournament. 

In addition to his duties at CSU, Kolba serves as a staff coach with the Cleveland Soccer Academy and is also a member of the State Olympic Development coaching staff. Kolba graduated from John Carroll in the fall of 2004 with a degree in marketing and logistics.