Former Franciscan men's soccer standout and recent assistant coach, Christian Bobak, has been named the new Baron head men's soccer coach, as announced by the athletic department Friday morning.
Bobak served as an assistant coach under Ward Rogers last season and will take the reigns as the head coach beginning with the 2016 season. Rogers will remain with the team and serve the program in an advisory capacity.
Last season, the Barons set a program record in total goals (37), assists (24), and points (98) in a season as a team. Three players were named to the All-AMCC teams, including Leo Herrmann who was named Offensive Player of the Year. Joseph Duran and John Imbimbo each earned their third-straight all-conference selections as well.
Bobak played for Franciscan from 2007-2010 while serving as team captain in the Barons first years of NCAA competition. During his time on the pitch, Bobak was named the team MVP, was the recipient of men's soccer St. Sebastian Award (2009 season) and was named to the All-AMCC second team (2009 season).
In high school, Bobak won two state championships in soccer in New York and played, and trained, with the Olympic Soccer Program.
While a student at Franciscan, Bobak served on the Baron Athlete Advisory Committee (now called Student Athlete Advisory Committee) and served on several university-sponsored mission trips, including lead SonLife his senior year.
Bobak developed and implemented the first Catholic soccer camp held at Franciscan in 2009. He helped to manage and train coaches and volunteers who minister to youth ages 15-18 through daily liturgy, music ministry, and athletics.
Prior to returning to the Barons, Bobak was the head soccer coach for the Louisiana Fire soccer club in New Orleans, Louisiana from 2012-2014. Bobak also taught theology and was the head soccer coach at St. Paul's High School in Covington until 2015. During his tenure, St. Paul's won three state championships and ranked number one in the nation for the 2014-15 season in the national coaches' poll.
Alongside coaching, Bobak continued his playing career as a member of the prestigious ISLANO—International Soccer League of New Orleans—playing for Montogua Club. His team consisted of professional and semi-professional soccer players and won a league championship in 2013.
Bobak returned to Franciscan University in the fall of 2015 as the Assistant Director of Student Success and Austrian Enrollment while volunteering as an assistant coach for the Barons.
Bobak graduated from Franciscan with Bachelor of Arts in theology with a minor on communication arts in 2011 and is currently pursuing his master's in business administration from Franciscan.
"Franciscan soccer is incomparable. It goes well beyond the lines of the soccer pitch. I look forward to continuing the tradition of fostering a competitive program in which men can grow to become great leaders and better soccer players. Our team's goal is to positively and professionally represent Franciscan University of Steubenville. Our vision is to create and maintain a well-known professional environment where student athletes are challenged to seek excellence on and off the field. And… to win!"