Caleb Porter

Caleb Porter

Porter as Portland Timbers head coach in November 2015
Personal information
Date of birth	(1975-02-18) February 18, 1975
Place of birth	Tacoma, Washington, United States
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Playing position	Midfielder
Youth career
1994–1997	Indiana Hoosiers
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1998–1999	San Jose Clash	4	(0)
1999	→ Sacramento Geckos (loan)	2	(0)
1999–2000	Tampa Bay Mutiny	7	(0)
Teams managed
2000–2005	Indiana University (assistant)
2006–2012	University of Akron
2011–2012	United States U23
2013–	Portland Timbers
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

Caleb Porter (born February 18, 1975) is an American soccer coach who is currently the head coach of the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer. He was previously head coach of the United States U-23 team, and the University of Akron men's team from 2006 to 2012.

A former midfielder, he played college soccer for Indiana University before his short professional career in Major League Soccer and the United Soccer League was ended by persistent knee injuries.

Player

Porter attended Indiana University where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1994 to 1997. He graduated in 1997 with a Bachelor's degree in sports management. In February 1998, the San Jose Clash selected Porter with the 3rd round (27th overall) in the 1998 MLS College Draft. He did not join the Clash until 1999 but his tenure there was short - he made just four appearances and, in his one start, was ejected in the 32nd minute.^[1] Following that performance, the Clash sent him on loan to the Sacramento Geckos of the A-League^[2] before waiving him in June. He quickly returned to MLS after being signed by the Tampa Bay Mutiny in July.^[3] He suffered from several knee injuries and had arthroscopic surgery on both knees during the off season before retiring on June 30, 2000.^[4] In 1997, Porter was a member of the U.S. soccer team which took the bronze medal at the 1997 World University Games.

College Coach

In 2000, Porter returned to Indiana University as an assistant soccer coach. After Ken Lolla left the University of Akron in December 2005, the Zips hired Porter as head soccer coach. After taking the Zips to two consecutive Mid-American Conference titles, and being named the 2007 MAC Coach of the Year, Porter signed a two-year contract extension in June 2008.

Following Akron's near-perfect season of 2009, Porter was rumored to be in talks with Major League Soccer club D.C. United about their vacant head coaching position.^[5] However, the University of Akron and Porter agreed on terms of a new contract, keeping him in Akron for the next five years.^[6]

Under Porter, the 2010 Akron squad captured the NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship, defeating the Louisville Cardinals 1–0.^[7]

National Team Coach

Porter was named the head coach of the U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team on October 20, 2011 while retaining his duties as coach of the Akron Zips.^[8] His first task was attempting to guide the U-23 team to a successful qualifying run in March 2012 for the 2012 Olympic Games in London; however, following a 2–0 loss to Canada and a 3–3 draw with El Salvador, the Americans were eliminated.

Professional Coach

On August 29, 2012, it was announced that he would become the head coach of MLS club Portland Timbers after the conclusion of the 2012 NCAA season.^[9]

Porter was named the 2013 MLS Coach of the Year after leading Portland to a 14-5-15 (57pts) record, finishing the regular season in first place in the Western Conference and with the third-best record in the league – just two points shy of MLS Supporters’ Shield-winners New York Red Bulls. In 2013, the Timbers set new single-season club marks in points, wins, goals (54), goal differential (+21), shutouts (15) and fewest goals allowed (33). Porter was awarded the 2013 Slats Gill Sportsperson of the Year Award from the Oregon Sports Awards.^[10]

In the 2014 MLS All-Star Game, Porter coached the MLS All-Star team to a 2–1 victory against Bayern Munich.^[11]

Helping guide the Timbers to the MLS Western Conference Championship in two of the last three seasons, Porter has compiled one of the league's top winning percentages among active MLS head coaches (41W-25L-36D, .578) since 2013. The 25 career losses in his first 100 career games as an MLS head coach ranks tied for the fewest losses with San Jose’s Dominic Kinnear among all MLS coaches who have reached 100 or more games in the league. Under Porter’s guidance, the Timbers have made Providence Park one of the toughest places to play in the league, registering an impressive regular-season mark of 24-7-20 at Providence Park over the last three seasons (2013-15).^[12]

In 2015, the Timbers once again reached the MLS Cup Playoffs, setting a new single-season club record in wins (15), while leading the league with 13 shutouts. Since 2013, Porter has helped guide the Timbers to the fourth-most points among all MLS clubs (159), behind only the New York Red Bulls (169), Seattle Sounders FC (167) and LA Galaxy (165).^[13] Porter led the Timbers to their first MLS Cup final, which they won 2-1 against Columbus Crew SC. ^[14]

On January 27, 2016, Porter signed a long term contract extension with the Timbers.^[15]

Honors

Portland Timbers

• MLS Cup (1): 2015^[16]
• Western Conference (playoffs): 2015^[17]
• Western Conference (regular season): 2013

Head coaching record

College

See also

• List of Major League Soccer coaches

References