In a fitting end to its best season ever, the UC Irvine men's soccer coaching staff claimed a pair of regional honors from the NSCAA it was announced.

Head coach George Kuntz was named the NSCAA/adidas Far West Region Coach of the Year, while Chris Volk was named NSCAA/adidas West Region Assistant Coach of the Year.

Kuntz and Volk helped guide the Anteaters to a 15-2-6 record overall and a trip to the NCAA Tournament Round of 16, the first ever trip to the NCAA tournament in program history. The 'Eaters were ranked as high as 7th nationally and first in the Far West region at the end of the regular season.

This is the second time in the past three seasons that Kuntz has won the award after earning it in 2006 after leading UCI to a 13-4-3 record that season.

Kuntz had previously been named Big West Coach of the Year this season. He is one of nine finalists for the National Coach of the Year Award to be given out January 16th at the annual NSCAA Awards Banquet in St. Louis.

Volk, who completed his 12th season with the 'Eaters, is the lead assistant and goalkeeping coach. This season, UCI's goalkeepers had six shutouts and freshman Andrew Fontein (Las Vegas, Nev./Sierra Vista HS) was named to three Freshman All-American teams under Volk's tutelage.

He will be one of five finalists for the National Assistant Coach of the Year Award to be given out January 16th at the annual NSCAA Awards Banquet in St. Louis.