Pasadena City College
Men's Soccer
Director of Soccer:
Cherif Zein (1998-present, 12th season in 2009)
Office: (626) 823-0973
E-mail: cherifsoccer@earthlink.net
A 32-year veteran soccer coach at the college, high school and club levels,
Cherif Zein is the only field general the Pasadena City College men's
soccer team has had since the program was resurrected in 1998. He (women's
program began in 1997). He just finished his 11th season coaching the program.
The men's soccer program has been a power in the South Coast Conference
with three consecutive East Division titles in 1999, 2000, and 2001. In
2004, Zein coached the Lancers to the Co-overall SCC championship with
Cerritos College. In 2008, the team held first place for most of the season, but a loss on the final day of the conference season cost PCC a fifth conference title.
PCC made the Southern California Regional Playoffs in six of his 11
seasons in charge of the program. In 2002, PCC had its highest finish
in school history, advancing to the State Final Four and finishing tied
for No. 3 in the state. The team advanced as far as the SoCal semifinals
(third round) three other seasons in 1999, 2004, and this past season.
Zein has a PCC career coaching record of
136–62–34. The program twice reached 17 wins in 2000 and 2002.
The Lancers have winning records against 75 percent of colleges they have
ever faced, including against conference rivals Compton, East Los Angeles, El Camino, Long Beach, and Mt.
San Antonio.
Zein coached current Real Salt Lake professional Yura Movsisyan in the 2005 season as the PCC alumnus became the highest drafted community college player in Major League Soccer history (fourth pick overall in 2006). Zein guided the play of PCC All-American Paolo Saenz (1999-2000), who
is the Lancers' all-time leading scorer with 25 goals and 15 assists.
In 2002, he also coached the single-season record performance of 24 goals
by Luis Hernandez.
In the 2007-2008, Zein coached defender/sweeper Malcolm Linton, who set new PCC records for most assists in a season (19) and career (25). Also in '08, freshman goalie Jorge Sainz set a PCC record for most saves in a season and career with 146.
Other Zein coaching/personal highlights
- Coached Glendale Community College to men's state soccer championships
in 1979 and 1983
- Also coached at USC, Cal State San Bernardino and Occidental College
- At the prep level, coached Pasadena High School as well as at Salesian,
Glendale, St. Francis and La Salle
- Played NCAA Division I soccer at UCLA, helping the Bruins to Final Four
appearances in 1972-1974. Earned a language degree in Spanish from UCLA
- Born in Cairo, Egypt and was raised in Morocco and Tunisia
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Cheif Zein
Director of Soccer |
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Warren Altounian
Associate Head Coach
In his ninth season at Pasadena City College, Warren Altounian coordinates off-season practices and works closely with Director of Soccer Cherif Zein to put together the Lancers' roster.
For 37 years, Altounian's regular job has been as a coach/teacher at Pasadena's John Muir High School. He started the soccer program there in 1972, and coached eight years of football.
Altounian has nine league boys soccer titles to his coaching credit. His greatest player coached was All-American Armando Luna (1986).
Altounian's son, Greg, played soccer at PCC and is currently a student assistant coach.
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