Seth Roland Signs new contract as Fairleigh Dickinson Men’s Soccer Coach
Fifth year head coach rewarded after leading Knights to Elite Eight.

TEANECK, N.J. – Fairleigh Dickinson University Director of Athletics, Steve Hurlbut, announced today that Head Men’s Soccer Coach Seth Roland has signed a new multi-year contract that will keep him at the Teaneck-Hackensack campus.
                “The tremendous commitment that the university is making to the men's soccer program in view of our magical 2001 season makes me both excited and proud to sign this new contract,” said Roland. “I consider it a privilege to have the opportunity to continue to work at Fairleigh Dickinson with such a spirited and highly motivated group of student-athletes and colleagues.”
                Roland, in his fifth year at the helm of the Knights, led his team to a second straight Northeast Conference (NEC) regular season title (sharing it with Robert Morris), a second straight NEC Tournament crown and the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1989.  Roland and the Knights made the most of that bid as they advanced to the quarterfinals for only the third time in program history and first time since 1984, and took eventual national champion North Carolina into triple-overtime before falling 3-2.  They were rewarded by finishing ranked 11^th in the final NSCAA national poll, the program’s first national ranking since 1989 and highest since 1984 when they finished third in the country.
               “I am very pleased that we were able to keep one of the nation’s finest coaches,” said Hurlbut.  “Seth’s proven record of success made him a hot commodity during this off-season.  I’m honored that he chose to remain at Fairleigh Dickinson.”
               In five years Roland has posted a 57-39-9 (.586 win pct.) record, including a 33-8-5 (.772 win pct.) mark in NEC play.  This year he guided the Knights to a 17-7 overall record and an 8-2 regular season NEC record as he was on his way to being named NSCAA/adidas Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year after earning NEC Coach of the Year honors in 2000.
               This year Roland became only the second coach in NCAA men’s soccer history to lead teams to the NCAA Tournament at the Division I, II and III levels.  He is the first ever to have achieved that feat with three different institutions (Div. II Bridgeport, Div. III Christopher Newport.)  Roland has now compiled a 15-year head coaching mark of 177-103-21 (.623 win pct.)
               “With Seth’s leadership and several program enhancements, I expect us to remain among the nation’s top squads,” Hurlbut concluded.

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