Maryland Athletics 2021 Hall of Fame Spotlight: Sasho Cirovski

The word excellence is defined as “the quality of being outstanding or extremely good.” An apt description for anyone entering a hall of fame.

For Sasho Cirovski, that 10 letter word has meant everything. It describes his program’s success, it defines the players he has produced, and upholding its standard has put him in the University of Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame. 

“This means a tremendous amount to me,” Cirovski said. “This type of honor means you’ve made a huge impact at this university and created a legacy to be proud of. I’m humbled and honored to join this incredible group of individuals.”

The Cirovski resume is long and illustrious. He has built Maryland into arguably the best program in men’s soccer over the past 30 years, winning three national championships (2005, 2008, 2018), notching countless conference crowns and producing a standout list of players that would match any in the nation. 

That success was anything but a guarantee upon Cirovski’s arrival in College Park for the 1993 season. After a tremendous spell of success in the 60s and 70s, the Terps program had fallen into the doldrums with just one NCAA Tournament appearance between 1977 and 1992. 

Cirovski entered the situation with eyes not just on taking the Terps back to tournaments, but on winning trophies. The young head coach had taken Hartford to a pair of postseason trips prior to becoming a Terp and wanted to put Maryland back on the national stage. 

“When I got to Maryland, I wanted to create an elite, perennial top-10 program and I made that very clear in my first interview and my first meeting with the players. I came in with my vision and my energy and got the job. Looking back now, I think we’ve succeeded.”

For Cirovski, his time at Maryland has felt somewhat like a destiny fulfilled. Born in Macedonia to mother Ljubica and father Trpemir, his family came to Canada when he was seven years old. His love of the game was born in Macedonia and honed in Canada.

His father’s nickname was “Terp.” 

Cirovski starred as a youth player and after turning down pro opportunities, flourished as a college player at Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He started his coaching career as an assistant at his alma mater.

The school has two main cross streets, Hartford Street and Maryland Street. 

“I’ve always felt like this was my calling. Whenever I’ve had other opportunities to go different places I’ve always come back to the fact that this is where I belong. For me, the grass wasn’t always going to be greener, even if that meant turning down more money or whatever it was. This was home.”

His success has made his love affair with his adopted home a mutual one with Maryland fans. Since a 3-14-1 debut season, Cirovski has won 10+ games in 27 straight fall seasons and has missed the NCAA Tournament just once. He’s won 15 conference titles, made nine College Cups and produced 34 All-Americans. 

The climb up the college soccer ladder culminated in the 2005 national championship, won after four straight trips to the College Cup.

A member of that 2005 outfit? Maurice Edu, who will join Cirovski in this year’s Hall of Fame class. Sharing the stage with one of his players makes the honor even more meaningful for Cirovski. 

“It’s incredibly special. Maurice was an undeniable great talent on the field, but he always had so much more to give outside of that. It took Mo a few years to understand how great he could be, but he became the best player in college soccer and had a wonderful career. Now he’s flourishing professionally and personally post retirement and I couldn’t be more proud of him.”

Edu is just one of the lasting relationships that Cirovski has built with his Maryland athletes over 29 years. The success of those players is lasting; 17 full national team players, five FIFA World Cup veterans, four Olympians and countless MLS and international club standouts.

Those on-field successes leave out what Cirovski is most proud of, watching his young men grow into successful husbands and fathers. Those lifetime bonds he has built with them mean everything. 

“It’s incredible. You have these moments when players thank you for the role you played in their lives. When they explain to you that the lessons they’ve learned have applied to them in their personal and professional life, those are the moments that hit the hardest. You realize the impact you’ve made in people’s lives. My players make me grow with pride. ”

The closeness Cirovski feels with his players may only be rivalred by how he feels towards the Maryland fanbase. During his tenure, Maryland has grown into the best in-game atmosphere in all of college soccer, consistently ranking at the top of the attendance charts. The notorious student section “The Crew” is something Cirovski sees as a significant part of his legacy. 

“I always felt that we wanted to become a team that students could emotionally connect with. I wanted to be the team that you could feel, touch and relate to. We’ve created that with The Crew. They are a major part of our team. It’s a unique relationship and one I’m so proud of.”

Cirovski isn’t anywhere close to done. As one of college soccer’s most influential figures, he wants his legacy to include the implementation of a new two semester scheduling model and the building of college soccer’s crown jewel stadium in College Park.

But beyond providing sea change in his sport, building new facilities or winning trophies, Cirovski’s motivation lies in how he feels about his players and the trust they have placed in him. 

“I have young men who have entrusted me with their future. That’s a massive responsibility and my commitment to them is the same as it was in 1993. I still have the same energy, the same competitiveness and the same passion that I always had.”

The Sasho Cirovski/Maryland union wouldn’t have happened without Cirovski’s other marriage. He wasn’t even looking for a job until his wife Shannon, coaching in Washington D.C. at the time, sent him a note about the position. The Cirovskis eventually coached together at Maryland, with Shannon, a hall of fame player herself for the U.S. Women’s National team, finding success as the head coach of the Terps’ women’s soccer team. 

The pair realized that Maryland was the best possible place to raise their three kids: Hailey, Karli, and Ellie. Sasho made sure to emphasize that his success starts with his family.

“I have a hall of fame wife, that’s where it all starts,” he said. “She is the most incredible person I’ve ever known. My daughters all went to different schools, but they wear Maryland stuff everywhere. They have Maryland pride. I couldn’t have done any of this without them.”

As Maryland Hall of Fame stories go, Sasho Cirovski is one of the most unlikely. Born in a village in southeastern Europe, he made his way to College Park after being molded by the Great White North and the American midwest. 

He has created a college soccer power. A program that has put the University of Maryland in the hearts and minds of soccer fans around the world. A program that has no signs of slowing down. 

“We have a seat at the table among the greatest college soccer programs,” Cirovski said. “That’s what I hoped would happen and that’s what happened. Excellence is the standard and that’s what we continue to strive towards.”