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Cameron Rast recently completed his sixth year as head coach, leading the Broncos to the NCAA tournament for a fifth straight season and a second straight West Coast Conference title in 2007. Possessing a 83-29-17 career record at Santa Clara, Rast is now third on the all-time school wins list and has a .709 winning percentage. The Broncos finished 16-2-4 and 10-0-2 in the WCC in 2007 and put together an 18-game unbeaten streak from Sept. 9-Nov. 28 to earn a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament and a first round bye. Rast earned his third WCC Coach of the Year award and saw Peter Lowry receive the WCC Player of the Year award. SCU also had a 12-game unbeaten run at home this season under Rast that ended with the Broncos' 2-0 loss to Notre Dame in the third round of the NCAA Tournament. Santa Clara set a school record with 10 conference wins and became the first team in league history to complete the double round robin format unbeaten. Santa Clara is 18-2-4 over the past two seasons in conference play. The Broncos finished 2006 13-5-5 and with an 8-2-2 conference record, SCU captured the West Coast Conference championship in 2006 and Rast was named WCC Coach of the Year for a second time. After a successful 2006 regular season, the Broncos earned the No. 10 seed in the NCAA tournament and a bye in the first round. SCU then defeated Washington 3-2 in overtime in the second round before eliminating Indiana on the road on penalty kicks. The Broncos run to the College Cup was halted by Wake Forest in the quarterfinals as the Demon Deacons defeated Santa Clara 3-1. Prior to becoming head coach, Rast spent eight seasons as an assistant in the program, including serving as the Associate Head Coach in 2001. Rast has contributed greatly to the incredible amount of success that Santa Clara has achieved throughout the years, putting his unique stamp on the Santa Clara program.
In 2005 under Rast, the Broncos had another strong season, placing second in the West Coast Conference and earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the 16th time in program history. The team ultimately lost on penalty kicks in the second round of the tournament, but eight players earned All-WCC honors, including Mehdi Ballouchy, the WCC Player of the Year, who was the program's first First Team All-American since 1999 (Eric Denton). Overall, during his five-year tenure as head coach, Rast has seen his players earn 36 All-West Coast Conference picks, one WCC Player of the Year award and four All-American selections. In 2006, Stephen McCarthy was named the WCC Co-Freshman of the Year, while Peter Lowry, Keith DeVey and Jamil Roberts all earned All-Far West honors. In 2003, he was named the WCC Coach of the Year for the first time, as he led the Broncos to the WCC Championship and an appearance in the NCAA College Cup. Prior to becoming head coach in 2002, Rast helped produce 67 All-West Coast Conference selections, seven All-Americans, five WCC Defenders of the Year, one WCC Player of the Year and numerous athletes that went on to a career in professional soccer as an assistant coach. The Broncos amassed a record of 101-42-14 with five WCC titles and seven NCAA Tournament appearances. A former player and two-time All-American sweeper at Santa Clara, Rast earned a piece of Santa Clara's 1989 national championship and played a key role in leading the Broncos to the 1991 NCAA championship game. During his four-year career, the Broncos compiled a 57-4-11 record. As a sophomore in 1989, he earned his first All-America selection, scoring a career-high 30 points on 11 goals, as Santa Clara finished with a 20-0-3 record, the nation's top ranking and a share of the NCAA title. A knee injury forced Rast to sit out much of his junior season in 1990, but he returned to form his senior year in 1991. He and the Broncos returned to the national championship game, this time claiming the second-place trophy. Rast earned his second All-America honor, as did his twin brother and fellow Bronco defender, Matt. In 1991, Rast was a finalist for both the Hermann Trophy and the Missouri Athletic Club Award, both given to the nation's top collegiate men's player. Following his graduation from Santa Clara, Rast made an impact on the international scene, as well. He helped the United States team to a gold medal at the 1991 Pan-American Games in Havana, Cuba, and served as the captain of the 1992 U.S. Olympic Team in Barcelona, Spain. He also played in the 1993 World University Games in Buffalo, N.Y., and was a member of the U.S. Under-20 team that reached the semifinals of the 1989 Youth World Cup in Saudi Arabia. In the spring of 1997, Rast was named an assistant coach with the U.S. Under-17 National team, helping guide the squad to a fourth-place finish in the 1999 U-17 World Cup in New Zealand. He currently serves the sport with his participation as an executive member of U.S. Soccer's Board of Directors. Additionally he sits on the Athlete Advisory Council representing soccer to the U.S. Olympic Committee. Rast and his wife, Mindy, live in San Jose with their sons Jake and Timothy. Broncos Accomplishments Under Rast |
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