George Kuntz, an over 30-year head coaching veteran, became the eighth head coach in Cal State Fullerton history on Dec. 16, 2013. Kuntz led the Titans to back-to-back Big West Tournament titles in his first two seasons while also earning their first South Division title in history during the 2015 campaign. Kuntz once again took to the team to this conference tournament finals in 2016 and 2017, winning the championship and heading to the NCAA Tournament in 2017. Kuntz has led the Titans to the Big West Tournament Championship match in all six years he has been with the program, while winning three of them to punch a ticket to the NCAA Tournament. The 2024season markshis 10that the helm of the program.
Kuntz has recorded double-digit wins in sixof his nineyears at Cal State Fullerton with an overall record of 85-68-35. During these nineyears, 49players have received All-Big West Honors while sixplayers (Erick Serrano, Roberto Ordonez, Sebastian Cruz, Samuel Goni, Ross McPhie and Alex Heilmann) have been named to the All-Far West Region Teams. Kuntz also keeps his players focused in the classroom, Nicolo D'Amato was the first Student-Athlete to receive the Scholar Athlete of the Year Award in back-to-back years (2016 and 2017). Cruz became the first Titan in the history of the program to be named to the All-Far West Region First Team and the first to be named Big West Midfielder of the Year outright.
In 2023, Kuntz led the Titans to the Big West regular season Championship with a 12-5-3 overall record and a 6-2-1 record in conference play. Following the seasonRoberto Ordonez was named Big West Offensive Player of the Year, Giovanni Calderon earned Big West Defensive Player of the Year, and Tetsuya Kadono was named Big West Goalkeeper of the year. All of which became the first Titans in program history to win the award. Erick Serrano became the third Titan in program history to be named Big West Midfielder of the year while Kuntz racked up his fourth Big West Coach of the Year honor.
Kuntz came to Fullerton after serving 19 years as the men's head soccer coach at UC Irvine, turning the Anteaters into a perennial soccer power that have made four NCAA Tournament appearances in the last six years, winning four Big West Tournament championships (2008, 2009,2011, 2013) and three regular season titles (2008, 2010, 2011). Kuntz, a collegiate head coach for 28 years, was named the NSCAA/Adidas Far West Region Coach of the Year in (2006 and 2008) and has seen a number of players jump to the next level including 12 in Major League Soccer (MLS) and three on various U.S. National Teams.
After leading the Titans to their first Big West Tournament Championship in 2014, Kuntz led his 2015 squad to not only another Tournament title but to their first ever South Division regular season title. Kuntz led his team to the best overall and conference records since 2000 with an overall record of 13-8-1 while posting a 6-3-1 record in Big West play.The Titans opened up the 2015 season with their best non-conference record since 2011, posting five wins while taking on three NCAA Tournament teams in their nine game non-conference schedule. After winning the South Division title, Kuntz led the Titans back to a familiar place, the Big West Tournament Championship. After a heartbreaking 2-1 loss in double overtime to UC Santa Barbara earlier in the season, the Titans went back to Gaucho Stadium and left with the title in a 1-0 victory over the North Division Champs. Not only did the title lead the Titans to their second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance, the Titans hosted Santa Clara for their first hosting bid since 1996. Fullerton closed out the 2015 season shattering the school shutout record and placing seven Titans on the All-Conference squads.
With 10 wins in his first season at the helm of the Titans, Kuntz compiled the most wins in an inaugural season as Titan head coach since Al Mistri won 13 games in his opening season in 1981. In his first win as the head coach of Cal State Fullerton, Kuntz led the Titans to a 4-3, double overtime comeback victory over 14th-ranked University of Maryland, Baltimore County on Sep. 14. He later led Cal State Fullerton over his old team, UC Irvine, in championship game of the Big West Championship Tournament on Nov. 15 in a penalty-kick shootout victory, 4-3, giving the Titans their first ever Big West Conference Tournament Championship and automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
His career record is 388-269-96, ranking second in Big West history with 196 victories as a member of the Big West Conference. In addition, his 86 Big West wins ranks third all-time. The Anteaters earned seven All-American honors under Kuntz, and in addition, the soccer program earned 15 conference players of the year, 115 all-conference honors, and 15 All-West Region honors.
Prior to 2013, UCI entered the postseason in 2011 after winning the Big West Tournament for a third time earning a No. 8 national seed and finishing the season ranked 13th with a school record 16 wins while going 16-6-1. The 2011 season was another giant leap in the college soccer world being ranked as high as fifth. In 2010, Kuntz led the Anteaters to a 14-3-3 record and a Big West regular season title. In 2009, UCI won the Big West Tournament and received an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and a first round bye by virtue of a 4-1 win on the road against UC Santa Barbara. UC Irvine was rewarded for a historic 15-win season by receiving the 16th seed for the NCAA Division I Tournament and played host to Stanford in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in front of 2,000 fans. The team finished No. 3 in the West region and No. 25 in the nation.
Kuntz led the 2008 Anteaters to their first-ever Big West championship with a 5-1-4 league record, their first Big West Tournament title and first trip to the NCAA Tournament. In the NCAA tournament, he guided the team to the Round of 16 after earning the No. 14 national seed to start the tourney. Kuntz earned his second Big West Conference Coach of the Year honor that season. Four players earn All-American honors, and the Anteaters were ranked as high as seventh nationally.
Kuntz came to UCI from Pepperdine where he was the first women's soccer head coach; recording a 23-11-2 record in the first two seasons (1993 & 1994) of the program's existence including historic wins over UCLA and USC. Kuntz began his collegiate coaching career at California Lutheran University in 1988 and compiled a five-year record of 60-27-10 (.670). The Kingsmen won the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) titles in 1991 and 1992 and advanced to the NCAA Far West Regional title game.
In 1989, Kuntz founded the women's soccer program at California Lutheran University and recorded a 51-24-1 (.678) record from 1989-1992. California Lutheran's women's team was ranked No. 1 in the Far West region and No. 3 in the nation in 1992 with a 17-4 record. Kuntz led the team to SCIAC championships in 1991 and 1992. The team went to the NCAA Far West final in 1992.
Kuntz coached four National Championship teams in the Donnelly Cup (Amateur Adult Division National Championships) as the California Soccer Association Head Coach for both the men and women. The California State Select Men's Team won National Championships in 2003, 2004 and 2005. His women's California State Select won the national title in 2006, the regional title in 2004 and, participated in the National Final Four in 2005.
Kuntz is a 1989 graduate of Arizona State University and holds a bachelor's degree in communication arts. He graduated with a master's degree in education with an emphasis in curriculum and instruction from California Lutheran University. He holds a United States Soccer Federation "A" license, National Youth License, and the National Soccer Coaches Association Advanced National Diploma.
Kuntz spent a large part of his coaching career studying the development of the youth soccer player and is nationally recognized as the one of the longest serving United States State Association (USYSA) Directors of Coaching in the United States. Kuntz has been the Technical Director and Director of Coaches Education for the Hawaii Youth Soccer Association for 10 years. He served as the Director of Coaching for the California Youth Soccer Association - South for eight years and was the catalyst for mandatory licensing for youth soccer coaches in the United States. He was named 1995 CYSA - South Boy's Coach of the Year. Kuntz was also director of the Olympic Development Program from 1992 - 1996.
In May of 2011, he was appointed the AYSO National Director of Player Development –Technical Advisor. In 1994 Kuntz worked at the Federation International Football Association (FIFA) World Cup in Pasadena, California as an (FIFA) Assistant Technical Advisor.
Kuntz founded the Team Soccer Direct camp program in 1977, which has evolved into one of the nation's best summer camp programs and has been involved in the Olympic Development Program (ODP) as a player, coach, and administrator for 34 years. Kuntz played at Westmont College, San Diego Mesa College, and Scottsdale College during his collegiate years and was drafted by the Phoenix Fire of the American Professional Soccer League. Kuntz has two children; a son Jordan and daughter Sevilla.
Big West Tournament Championships
2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017
Big West Regular Season Titles
2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2023
Coach of the Year Honors
2001, 2006, 2008, 2023
NCAA Tournament Appearances
2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017
The Kuntz File
2008 - National Soccer Coaches Association of America Far West Coach of the Year (NCAA DI Men)
2008 - Big West Conference - Coach of the Year - (NCAA DI Men)
2006 - National Soccer Coaches Association of America Far West Coach of the Year (NCAA DI Men)
2006 - Big West Conference - Coach of the Year - (NCAA DI Men)
2006 - Inducted into the California Lutheran University - Hall of Fame (Men's and Women's Soccer)
2005, 2004, 2003 - Big West Conference (UC Irvine) Sportsmanship Award (team)
2004 - The Outstanding Supporter of Prevention Award, Irvine Prevention Coalition - Community Service
2001 - Big West Conference - Coach of the Year - (NCAA DI Men)
2000 - Mountain Pacific Sports Federation - Pacific Division Coach of the Year - (NCAA DI Men)
1995 - California Youth Soccer Association - South - Coach of the Year (Boy's)
1992 - National Soccer Coaches Association Far West Coach of the Year, (NCAA Women)
1991 - National Soccer Coaches Association Far West Coach of the Year, (NCAA Men)
1988 - NAIA District III Coach of the Year, (Men)
2014 - 2023California State Fullerton Accomplishments
- 2023 Big West Coach of the Year
- 2023 Big West regular season champions
- 2019 Record 12W-7L-1T, Best start in school history at 8-0-1 and ranked as high as No. 12 in the nation, Advanced to Big West Tournament Semifinal, fifth 10-win season in six seasons
- 2018 Record 7W-6L-8T, Sixth in Big West standings, Advanced to Big West Tournament Semifinal
- 2017 Record 10W-8L-3T Big West Champions, Big West Tournament Champions, NCAA Tourn. 1stRound (4thconsecutive 10 win season)
- 2017 Big West MVP – Paul Guerin
- 201610-9-4 (3rd10+ season and 3rdconsecutive winning season)
- 2016 Big West Tournament Final lost in 2ndOT
(3rdConsecutive Final beat UC Davis and UCSB in tournament play)
-2015 NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament 1stRound
- Big West Conference South Champions (1stever at CSUF)
- 2015 Big West Tournament Champions (2ndever at CSUF beat UCSB)
- 2015 Set a CSUF record for 11 shutouts
- 2015 Record 13-8-1 Second consecutive 10 plus season / winning season
- 2015 David Elias Big West Tournament MVP (broke the shutout record at CSUF)
- 2014 Big West Conference Tournament Champions (first ever at CSUF beat UC Irvine)
- 2014 NCAA Tournament (first NCAA Tournament appearancein 14 years)
- 10-8-6 record first winning seasonin 8 years
-Big West Tournament MVP – Jeff Salt (2ndin CSUF history with GA average)
- 2015 MLS Combine invites – Marco Fenelus drafted by New England Revolution, Cameron Iwasa (UCI) drafted by the Montreal Impact
- New CSF record for goals scored in a season (34)
- Tied the CSF record for shutouts (9)
- Led the United States NCAA D-1 in shots
- First in the Big West Conference in shots with 361 and 15.04 shots per game
- Second in the Big West Conference in shutouts with nine. UC Irvine posted 10 shutouts in 2014.
- Second in the Big West Conference in total points with 102 and a 4.25 average per game.
- Second in the Big West Conference in assists (34) and assists per game (1.42)
Significant Achievements
- 123 wins over the last 10 years in the Big West Conference averaging more than 13 wins per season (most wins of any Big West school coach during the same period)
- 7NCAA Tournament appearances (four seeded)
- 7Big West Tournament Champion Titles(7 Big West Tournament Finals)
- 8 Big West Championships
- 9Big West Tournament Appearances
- (19-4) in Big West Tournament games since the inception of the tournament
- 7 times in the last10years to the NCAA Tournament
- In 2010, 2013, 2015,2017, 2023 the team won the Big West Regular Season title and was the first seed in the Big West Tournament
Kuntz Coaching Record
YEAR | SCHOOL | RECORD | POSTSEASON | CONF. FINISH | CONF. RECORD | OTHER | ||
| 2022 | Cal State | 8-6-5 | 7th | 3-3-3 | ||||
| 2021 | Cal State Fullerton | 3-11-3 | 10th | 1-7-1 | ||||
| 2019 | Cal State Fullerton | 12-7-1 | 5th | 3-4 | Best school start in school history at 8-0-1,ranked No. 12 in the nation at one point, advanced to Big West Tournament semfinal | |||
| 2018 | Cal State Fullerton | 7-6-8 | 6th | 2-3-2 | ||||
| 2017 | Cal State Fullerton | 10-8-4 | NCAA First Round | 1st (SD) | 4-4-2 | Big West Tourney Title; Big West South Div. Champs | ||
| 2016 | Cal State Fullerton | 10-9-4 | 2nd (SD) | 4-3-3 | ||||
| 2015 | Cal State Fullerton | 13-8-1 | Hosted NCAA First Round | 1st (SD) | 6-3-1 | Big West Tourney Title; Big West South Div. Champs | ||
| 2014 | Cal State Fullerton | 10-8-6 | NCAA First Round | 3rd | 3-4-3 | Big West Tourney Title | ||
2013 | UC Irvine | 15-5-3 | NCAA Round of 16 | 1st (SD) | 7-2-1 | Big West Tourney Title; Big West South Div. Champs | ||
| 2012 | UC Irvine | 5-14-1 | 4th (SD) | 2-8-0 | Big West Sportsmanship Award | |||
| 2011 | UC Irvine | 16-6-1 | NCAA 2nd Round | 1st | 6-3-1 | Big West Tourney Title; Big West Champions | ||
| 2010 | UC Irvine | 14-3-3 | 1st | 7-1-2 | Big West Champions | |||
| 2009 | UC Irvine | 15-7-0 | NCAA 2nd Round | 3rd | 6-4-0 | Big West Tourney Title | ||
| 2008 | UC Irvine | 15-2-6 | NCAA Round of 16 | 1st | 5-1-4 | Big West Tourney Title; Big West Champions;Big West Conference Coach of the Year;NSCAA Far West Coach of the Year | ||
| 2007 | UC Irvine | 6-9-5 | 7th | 1-8-3 | ||||
| 2006 | UC Irvine | 13-4-3 | 2nd | 6-3-1 | NSCAA Far West Coach of the Year;Big West Coach of the Year;Inducted into Cal Lutheran Hall of Fame | |||
| 2005 | UC Irvine | 11-6-3 | 3rd | 7-2-1 | ||||
| 2004 | UC Irvine | 7-13-0 | 6th | 3-7-0 | ||||
| 2003 | UC Irvine | 6-11-3 | 3rd | 3-4-3 | ||||
| 2002 | UC Irvine | 8-8-4 | 4th | 3-4-3 | ||||
| 2001 | UC Irvine | 10-4-6 | 2nd | 6-1-3 | Big West Coach of the Year | |||
| 2000 | UC Irvine | 12-8-1 | MPSF Pacific Div. Coach of the Year | |||||
| 1999 | UC Irvine | 8-11-1 | ||||||
| 1998 | UC Irvine | 8-12-0 | ||||||
| 1997 | UC Irvine | 6-10-4 | ||||||
| 1996 | UC Irvine | 7-7-5 | ||||||
| 1995 | UC Irvine | 3-15-2 | ||||||
| 1994 | Pepperdine (W) | 10-7-2 | 3rd | 4-2-1 | ||||
| 1993 | Pepperdine (W) | 13-4 | ||||||
| 1992 | Cal Lutheran (M) | 15-5-2 | NCAA Div. III | 2nd | 10-1 | |||
| 1992 | Cal Lutheran (W) | 17-4 | NCAA Div. III | 1st | 12-0 | NSCAA Far West Coach of the Year | ||
| 1991 | Cal Lutheran (M) | 14-5-1 | NCAA Div. III | 1st | 13-1 | NSCAA Far West Coach of the Year | ||
| 1991 | Cal Lutheran (W) | 17-4 | NCAA Div. III | 1st | 12-0 | |||
| 1990 | Cal Lutheran (M) | 14-4-3 | ||||||
| 1990 | Cal Lutheran (W) | 12-5 | ||||||
| 1989 | Cal Lutheran (M) | 11-7-1 | ||||||
| 1989 | Cal Lutheran (W) | 5-12-1 | ||||||
| 1988 | Cal Lutheran (M) | 6-6-3 | NAIA District Coach of the Year |
