KANSAS CITY, Kan. (Jan. 5) – After guiding the California University of Pennsylvania women's soccer team to a historic 2009 season, head coach Al Alvine was selected the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas® NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Coach of the Year, announced the organization recently.

In only his third season with the program, Alvine helped lead the Vulcans to a school-best 19 victories en route to winning their first-ever Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West title with appearances in both the PSAC and NCAA Tournament. In the national tournament, Cal U captured the NCAA Atlantic Regional championship and advanced to the quarterfinals.

Alvine inherited a program three years ago that had only five all-time winning seasons and none since 2003. After a tough four-win season in 2007, the New Jersey native retooled the Vulcan roster with 19 newcomers last year en route to a 12-5-3 overall record before the banner 19-win season of 2009.

In eight years as a college head coach, Alvine has demonstrated a tremendous ability in turning subpar programs into winners quickly. Like at Cal U, he guided Castleton (Vt.) to 31 wins in a two-year stretch after a six-win campaign in his first year with the program.

A graduate of Robert Morris, Alvine holds a record of 35-26-5 (.568) with the Vulcans and a career coaching record of 92-61-12 (.594). In addition to the NSCAA honor, he was selected the PSAC West Coach of the Year in November.