Jeffrey “Ziggy” Korytoski has been selected by University of Hawaii at Hilo Athletic Director Dexter Irvin as the Vulcans’ men’s soccer coach effective June 6, 2012.
Korytoski brings a combination of professional and collegiate coaching experience to the six-year-old program – two years as the Antigua GFC Director Tecnico/Manager, two years at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Wright State as an assistant coach, a season as a St. Leo University assistant and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Men's and Women's National Team head coach/technical director. In 2001, Korytoski was the Penn State women’s Club Soccer’s National Championship head coach and an assistant coach on the men’s team.
On the youth level, Korytoski was a Region IV US Soccer Olympic Development Program staff coach and the U-16 ODP Cal North head coach.
Korytoski competed collegiately at Santa Rosa Junior College (Calif.) and the University of North Carolina-Wilmington before graduating from St. Leo University (Fla.) in 2008.
“I want to develop a culture of execution, consistency and winning where guys enjoy being a part of the program,” said Korytoski. “People are going to see the integrity in which we will play.
“Integrity was defined to me a long time ago as what you do when nobody else is watching. Whether it’s the small details on the field, being a good student or being an honest citizen, all these things are very important to me.”
The Northhampton, Mass. native earned various soccer certifications including his UEFA “B”; USSF “A”; NSCAA Premier Diploma and KNVB Coaching Certificate.
As a head coach on the professional level, Korytoski fashioned a 38-win, 10-loss and 13-draw record leading Antigua GFO to three cups and promotion in the the First Division Professional Soccer League.
“Being a head coach at the professional level your jjob is on the line every week so from a preparation standpoint there is no time to waste and not much room for error,” explained Korytoski. “You see so many variatons and systems of styles of play, new teams, new players, coaches being hired and fired every other week … you’re always seeing something new and have got to be able to make adjustments very quickly.
“You don’t have to have all the money in the world to win ... you just have to do things the right way and that’s what I hope to bring to Hilo.”
The Vulcans finished the 2011 season 2-13-2 overall and ninth in the Pacific West Conference at 1-10-1 with a roster that included three seniors, nine juniors, five sophomores and 10 freshmen.
“I feel pretty confident that we’re going to be able to have a very exciting group and we’re going to go after championships,” said Korytoski. “How soon I don’t know but there’s no secret in that I want to win.
“We play for each other, we play for Hilo and we play to be Champions.”
Korytoski becomes the program’s fourth head coach since its start in 2006.
“This is a significant hire for our department and the soccer community,” said Irvin. “I am anticipating a rise in our skill level and overall quality of play and am very confident and excited to have a soccer coach of Ziggy’s caliber.”
