American University Men’s Soccer nick
zack
STAMES
SOLOMON
Assistant Coach 14th Season George Mason ‘86
Senior, Student Assistant Oyster Bay, N.Y. Locust Valley Major: Broadcast Journalism
Nick Stames enters his 14th season as an assistant coach at American University and his 10th as a member of Todd West’s staff. Stames’ primary responsibility is the development of AU’s goalkeepers.
Zack Solomon begins his rst season as a student assistant for the American University men’s soccer program. Solomon, a senior at American University, was a three-year varsity letterwinner on the squad from 2006-08 as a goalkeeper.
Under Stames’ tutelage, American goalkeeper Michael Behonick developed into one of the nest in the nation and was selected in the sixth round of the Major League Soccer SuperDraft in 2003.
In addition to his responsibilities on the eld with the men’s soccer team, Solomon currently serves as the Patriot League Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representative. With that honor, he is one of 31 Division I National SAAC committee members, serving as a liaison between the Patriot League and the NCAA. The Division I SAAC speaks on the behalf of the entire Division I student-athlete body throughout the NCAA governance structure, and frequently attends events around the country to help drive this mission.
“Nick has a great deal of experience with goalkeepers at several different levels,” said Head Coach Todd West. “He is the rst exclusive goalkeepers’ coach we have had and his impact has been evident. With such a technical position, Nick gives our goalkeepers the instruction and technical support that will only bene t their development.” Stames has spent 22 years as a physical education teacher at Herndon Middle School in Herndon, Va. During that span, he developed his coaching skills, serving as goalkeeper coach for the Virginia Region I Olympic Development Program. Prior to that involvement, he coached at Marshall and Herndon High Schools and at his alma mater, George Mason University. Stames is a 1986 graduate of George Mason, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in physical education. A standout in goal, Stames helped lead the club to two NCAA Tournament appearances and one Colonial Athletic Association title. A 1981 graduate of Lake Braddock High School, Stames and his wife, Linda, reside in Bristow, Va. The couple has two daughters, Caitlin and Kylie, and a son, Nicholas.
Solomon also acts as the president of American University’s SAAC. Additionally, he has been appointed as the director of student athletics and recreation for AU’s student government under the Presidents Cabinet. “Zack has been a tremoundous leader for our team during his three years at American,” commented Head Coach Todd West. “We’re thrilled to have Zack on board again this season, and look forward to his valuable contributions to the program.” Solomon, a broadcast journalism major, is from Oyster Bay, N.Y. He attended Locust Valley High School, where he accumulated over 600 saves in his high school soccer career. A two-time captain of his high school squad, Solomon earned All-Nassau County selection in both 2004 and 2005. He also competed on the New York Olympic Development Program (ODP) team, and played in the Junior Maccabi Games in St. Paul, Minn., where his squad won the bronze medal in 2005. In 2006, Solomon was honored with the Long Island Leadership Award for Sports.
2009 Coaching Staff (pictured left-to-right): Assistant Coach Kris Hazard, Assistant Coach Jeff Kinney, Head Coach Todd West, Assistant Coach Nick Stames, Student Assistant Zack Solomon
8 NCAA Tournament Appearances
15