Head Coach Sasho Cirovski's Statement On Two-Semester Playing Season
10/7/2026 5:45:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Today, October 7th, 2026, is a transformational day for NCAA Men's D1 College Soccer. The change to our Playing and Practice season has been officially approved by the NCAA D1 Cabinet and starting with the 2027-28 Academic Year, our season will begin in mid-August 2027 and culminate with our College Cup Championship in mid-May 2028. In true soccer spirit, I want to share my "Starting 11" points outlining the history and process that led to today's positive outcome from my perspective.
1. As the Division I Men's Soccer Chair from 2002-2017, I had the unique opportunity to be an "architect" and leader of the process to elevate college soccer for the benefit of over 5,500 student athletes and to allow our game to grow. Today's approval is one of my proudest moments, having been involved in college soccer for over 40 years. Our slogan was always " For the Players and For the Game". Today is a great victory for Men's D1 College Soccer.
2. First a shoutout to all our former and current D1 Coaches and Players. This was indeed a collaborative effort by our Coaching Community, Conference Representative leaders and our student athletes. I was driven every day to stay the course after so many setbacks and challenges over the past 13 years because we consistently had over 92% of our coaches and over 86% of our student athletes that wanted a decompressed season and a spring championship experience. I made a promise that we would get this done and wanted to deliver on that promise.
3. Of course, as I said, it took a "soccer village of support" to get this done. I want to publicly acknowledge and thank some of the most invested and influential leaders that led to this historic outcome. There are too many people to mention as hundreds of coaches and thousands of players did their part, but I want to mention a few for special recognition as I further outline key moments in the historical journey of this process.
4. In December of 2013, I wrote the first white paper introducing a change to our Playing and Practice Season. We originally called this the Academic Year Soccer Model (AYSM). Since our season was to be played from August until May, it was a good name. From 2013-2016, when this concept was socialized, Rob Kehoe, College Programs Director of United Soccer Coaches, Todd Leyden, NCAA Cabinet, Kevin Payne, US Soccer and MLS Board member and Oliver Luck, former Houston Dynamo president and WVU Athletic Director were pivotal to lead the way. Relationships were created and the concept was socialized to key stakeholders to secure "buy-in". As a result of our work, in February of 2015, the first ever NCAA Sports Science Summit was created to discuss the college soccer playing and practice season. It was amazing. We knew we were on the right path, but also realized that our initiative faced opposition hurdles, as for some, considering a change for men's soccer was perceived as a bold and radical move that confronted NCAA traditions and sport hierarchy.
5. In 2015, NCAA granted the P5 conferences more autonomy and more weight in the voting structure for legislation. We immediately began the work to enlist support from the powerful Big Ten, ACC and the Pac 12, which for me was perfect timing for building a communication bridge as Maryland moved from the ACC to the Big 10. From 2015-2019, Chad Hawley, Deputy Commissioner of the Big Ten and Brad Hostetter, Deputy Commissioner of the ACC were the two main P5 conference leaders. We also had our National Conference Representatives that were critical to get our first split season proposal in the pipeline for a vote. Current DI Chair, Carlos Somoano (UNC) and Mike Noonan (Clemson) from the ACC, Jermey Gunn (Stanford) and Kevin Grimes (California) from the old Pac 12, and myself (Maryland) and Todd Yeagley (Indiana) from the Big Ten all played pivotal roles in advancing this forward. In 2019, We had a formal proposal in the NCAA legislative system.
6. Things were looking great! After six years of hard work, we thought we had the votes to pass our split season now known as the "21st Century model" in May of 2020. Unfortunately, when Covid arrived in early March of 2020, our proposal was put on pause and eventually suspended in the legislative process. This was a massive blow. Of course, we understood the situation. We waited patiently for our restart.
7. Then, the opportunity presented itself. As we began the rebound from Covid in the Spring of 2021, in a shortened Spring season we had a wonderful sold out College Cup Final, Marshall v. Indiana, in Cary, NC. This was clear and very visible proof that a Spring College Cup is where we must be. We refocused and restarted again in pushing for a split season. However, the college sports landscape began to unravel and college sports was shaken again. There was conference realignment, NIL introduction and many major lawsuits including the House vs NCAA case. This uneasiness led to a moratorium on any legislation being introduced. This would last for the next two + years.
8. In June of 2024, after a failed attempt to reintroduce our proposal once again, we enlisted the help of US Soccer. JT Batson, CEO of US Soccer offered his and US Soccer's unconditional support. Whatever we needed he authorized US Soccer's support. This was massive. Eventually, in Spring of 2025, he appointed Dan Helfrich, current COO of US Soccer and former Deloitte CEO to get involved. Dan led a Next Gen Committee of collegiate and soccer stakeholders to weigh in. University of Maryland President Darryll Pines was one of the key Committee members.
9. The Next Gen committee published a paper in Fall of 2025 that got national attention as it highlighted the absolute need for reform of the D1 Men's College soccer playing and practice season. Parallel to this timeframe, the NCAA approved the formation of Oversight Committees for every sport. The Men's Oversight Committee was formed in August of 2025. With strong leadership from coaches Carlos Somoano (UNC), Russell Payne (Northwestern), and Rob Kehoe (USC D1 Coaches Rep), the first order of business for the MSOC was to refine and reintroduce the split season concept.
10. The Men's Soccer Committee referenced the 2019 proposal and Next Gen Committee recommendations and introduced maximum flexibility into their proposal that was approved in March 2026 by a supermajority. This committee was made up of reps from five Successful Conferences (Big Ten/ACC/BigEast/SunBelt and the AAC), three student athletes and reps from three other at large conferences. On October 7th, 2026, it was approved by the D1 Cabinet. IT IS NOW OFFICIAL and a new era of college soccer is soon to begin. This Fall will be the last College Cup Final in the outdated season schedule that was formed in 1959. Starting in August 2027-28 Academic Year, College Soccer will enter into a split season over the full academic year with maximum flexibility for scheduling games and incorporate a true Spring College Cup Championship experience. This new men's soccer collegiate program will provide the world's best and most comprehensive platform for student-athletes ages 19–24, combining elite player development with the pursuit of college academic degrees. Though I've mentioned him before, our current D1 Chair, Carlos Somoano (UNC) deserves special mention as he has been a major driving force and my #1 coach partner in this successful moment!
11. Finally, I am now going to celebrate tonight and toast our victory with a "superb" fine wine, and perhaps with some tears of joy while reflecting on over 13 years of challenges, persistence, and, most importantly, the joy of working with the many wonderful colleagues and supporters that have helped make our long sought vision into reality. As the University of Maryland coach with a turtle as our mascot, I understood the persistence of a slow, but forward moving turtle, that eventually gets to the finish line! Today we crossed the finish line. May all current and future soccer players that get the special and unique opportunity to play or coach in D1 Men's College Soccer rejoice! Go Terps and Go College Soccer! Cheers!
1. As the Division I Men's Soccer Chair from 2002-2017, I had the unique opportunity to be an "architect" and leader of the process to elevate college soccer for the benefit of over 5,500 student athletes and to allow our game to grow. Today's approval is one of my proudest moments, having been involved in college soccer for over 40 years. Our slogan was always " For the Players and For the Game". Today is a great victory for Men's D1 College Soccer.
2. First a shoutout to all our former and current D1 Coaches and Players. This was indeed a collaborative effort by our Coaching Community, Conference Representative leaders and our student athletes. I was driven every day to stay the course after so many setbacks and challenges over the past 13 years because we consistently had over 92% of our coaches and over 86% of our student athletes that wanted a decompressed season and a spring championship experience. I made a promise that we would get this done and wanted to deliver on that promise.
3. Of course, as I said, it took a "soccer village of support" to get this done. I want to publicly acknowledge and thank some of the most invested and influential leaders that led to this historic outcome. There are too many people to mention as hundreds of coaches and thousands of players did their part, but I want to mention a few for special recognition as I further outline key moments in the historical journey of this process.
4. In December of 2013, I wrote the first white paper introducing a change to our Playing and Practice Season. We originally called this the Academic Year Soccer Model (AYSM). Since our season was to be played from August until May, it was a good name. From 2013-2016, when this concept was socialized, Rob Kehoe, College Programs Director of United Soccer Coaches, Todd Leyden, NCAA Cabinet, Kevin Payne, US Soccer and MLS Board member and Oliver Luck, former Houston Dynamo president and WVU Athletic Director were pivotal to lead the way. Relationships were created and the concept was socialized to key stakeholders to secure "buy-in". As a result of our work, in February of 2015, the first ever NCAA Sports Science Summit was created to discuss the college soccer playing and practice season. It was amazing. We knew we were on the right path, but also realized that our initiative faced opposition hurdles, as for some, considering a change for men's soccer was perceived as a bold and radical move that confronted NCAA traditions and sport hierarchy.
5. In 2015, NCAA granted the P5 conferences more autonomy and more weight in the voting structure for legislation. We immediately began the work to enlist support from the powerful Big Ten, ACC and the Pac 12, which for me was perfect timing for building a communication bridge as Maryland moved from the ACC to the Big 10. From 2015-2019, Chad Hawley, Deputy Commissioner of the Big Ten and Brad Hostetter, Deputy Commissioner of the ACC were the two main P5 conference leaders. We also had our National Conference Representatives that were critical to get our first split season proposal in the pipeline for a vote. Current DI Chair, Carlos Somoano (UNC) and Mike Noonan (Clemson) from the ACC, Jermey Gunn (Stanford) and Kevin Grimes (California) from the old Pac 12, and myself (Maryland) and Todd Yeagley (Indiana) from the Big Ten all played pivotal roles in advancing this forward. In 2019, We had a formal proposal in the NCAA legislative system.
6. Things were looking great! After six years of hard work, we thought we had the votes to pass our split season now known as the "21st Century model" in May of 2020. Unfortunately, when Covid arrived in early March of 2020, our proposal was put on pause and eventually suspended in the legislative process. This was a massive blow. Of course, we understood the situation. We waited patiently for our restart.
7. Then, the opportunity presented itself. As we began the rebound from Covid in the Spring of 2021, in a shortened Spring season we had a wonderful sold out College Cup Final, Marshall v. Indiana, in Cary, NC. This was clear and very visible proof that a Spring College Cup is where we must be. We refocused and restarted again in pushing for a split season. However, the college sports landscape began to unravel and college sports was shaken again. There was conference realignment, NIL introduction and many major lawsuits including the House vs NCAA case. This uneasiness led to a moratorium on any legislation being introduced. This would last for the next two + years.
8. In June of 2024, after a failed attempt to reintroduce our proposal once again, we enlisted the help of US Soccer. JT Batson, CEO of US Soccer offered his and US Soccer's unconditional support. Whatever we needed he authorized US Soccer's support. This was massive. Eventually, in Spring of 2025, he appointed Dan Helfrich, current COO of US Soccer and former Deloitte CEO to get involved. Dan led a Next Gen Committee of collegiate and soccer stakeholders to weigh in. University of Maryland President Darryll Pines was one of the key Committee members.
9. The Next Gen committee published a paper in Fall of 2025 that got national attention as it highlighted the absolute need for reform of the D1 Men's College soccer playing and practice season. Parallel to this timeframe, the NCAA approved the formation of Oversight Committees for every sport. The Men's Oversight Committee was formed in August of 2025. With strong leadership from coaches Carlos Somoano (UNC), Russell Payne (Northwestern), and Rob Kehoe (USC D1 Coaches Rep), the first order of business for the MSOC was to refine and reintroduce the split season concept.
10. The Men's Soccer Committee referenced the 2019 proposal and Next Gen Committee recommendations and introduced maximum flexibility into their proposal that was approved in March 2026 by a supermajority. This committee was made up of reps from five Successful Conferences (Big Ten/ACC/BigEast/SunBelt and the AAC), three student athletes and reps from three other at large conferences. On October 7th, 2026, it was approved by the D1 Cabinet. IT IS NOW OFFICIAL and a new era of college soccer is soon to begin. This Fall will be the last College Cup Final in the outdated season schedule that was formed in 1959. Starting in August 2027-28 Academic Year, College Soccer will enter into a split season over the full academic year with maximum flexibility for scheduling games and incorporate a true Spring College Cup Championship experience. This new men's soccer collegiate program will provide the world's best and most comprehensive platform for student-athletes ages 19–24, combining elite player development with the pursuit of college academic degrees. Though I've mentioned him before, our current D1 Chair, Carlos Somoano (UNC) deserves special mention as he has been a major driving force and my #1 coach partner in this successful moment!
11. Finally, I am now going to celebrate tonight and toast our victory with a "superb" fine wine, and perhaps with some tears of joy while reflecting on over 13 years of challenges, persistence, and, most importantly, the joy of working with the many wonderful colleagues and supporters that have helped make our long sought vision into reality. As the University of Maryland coach with a turtle as our mascot, I understood the persistence of a slow, but forward moving turtle, that eventually gets to the finish line! Today we crossed the finish line. May all current and future soccer players that get the special and unique opportunity to play or coach in D1 Men's College Soccer rejoice! Go Terps and Go College Soccer! Cheers!
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