Dec. 15, 2009
WEST POINT, N.Y. -
University of Maryland assistant men's soccer coach Russell Payne has been named head coach of Army's men's soccer program, the institution announced Tuesday.
Payne, who spent a total of six seasons as an assistant for Maryland head coach Sasho Cirovski, replaces Kurt Swanbeck at West Point following Swanbeck's departure in November.
"This is an emotional day for me as I say goodbye to Maryland and reflect on past memories as a player and as a coach," Payne said. "This is truly a special place and the relationships I have developed and experiences I`ve had here will stay with me for the rest of my life.
"Sasho has built the best soccer program in the country and on a personal note he has been a great friend and mentor. It has been an absolute pleasure serving my alma mater and I wish the University, the Athletic Department, Sasho and the players continued success."
In his six seasons on the sideline with the Terps, Payne has helped lead Maryland to an incredible 99-30-12 record, two national championships in 2005 and 2008, and a pair of ACC titles. In 2008, Maryland, under the tutelage of Payne, became the winningest team in Maryland men's soccer history with 23 victories while also securing a program-best 15 shutouts and 16-game winning streak. That same season he also became the first person in Maryland soccer history to win an ACC Tournament championship as a player and as a coach.
During his six years in College Park, Payne has coached the Terps to an NCAA Sweet Sixteen berth five consecutive seasons, including one Elite Eight and three Final Four appearances. He has mentored a total of 26 All-ACC selections and 11 MLS SuperDraft picks, including No. 1 overall selections Leo Cullen and Maurice Edu.
A standout player at Maryland from 1993-1996, Payne was Cirovski's first blue-chip recruit and was a four-year starter in goal for the Terrapins. Payne was an All-ACC selection as a sophomore and led the Atlantic Coast Conference in goals-against average as a senior with a 0.88 mark. He recorded 22.5 shutouts during his four seasons and recorded 340 saves in his career in helping Maryland to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances. He also helped Maryland to its' first-ever ACC Tournament championship in 1996. His ten saves against Duke in 1996 still stands as the highest single-game total in Maryland men's soccer history.
"I have such mixed emotions at the moment because I am very sad to see him go but I am truly delighted that he is embarking on a terrific new opportunity to be the head coach at Army," Cirovski said. "Russell Payne embodies Maryland soccer. He was one of my first recruits that took on the challenge of helping me build our program. In his senior year, as one of the captains, he hoisted our first ACC Championship trophy and played in three Sweet Sixteens. As a coach, he won two National Titles, so needless to say, he will be missed.
"Both personally and on behalf of the entire Maryland Soccer family, I want to thank Russell for all of his years of service and wish him the best at West Point. The soccer players at Army are getting a great person and a great coach."
A native of Columbia, Md., Payne earned a Biology degree from Maryland in 1998 and was one of the last Benjamin Banneker Academic Scholarship awardees at the University of Maryland.
