Popik joined the Furman staff in February 2011 after spendingthe past six seasons as an assistant coach at North Carolina StateUniversity under head coach George Tarantini, including the lasttwo years as associate head coach for the Wolfpack men's soccerprogram. He replaces Derek Marinatos who left Furman afterfive seasons to become head coach at the University of NorthFlorida.
"Dan is a tremendous addition to the Furman men's soccerprogram," said Allison. "He possesses outstanding knowledgeof the game and has extensive experience as a player on theprofessional level and as a coach."
Ranked among CollegeSoccerNews.com's "Top 20 Assistant CoachesIn 2011", Popik helped guide the Wolfpack to a 10-8-2 record thispast season. In 2009, he helped North Carolina State to theAtlantic Coast Conference championship match and an NCAA Tournamentsecond round appearance while garnering NSCAA South RegionAssistant Coach of the Year honors.
Popik was instrumental in helping the Wolfpack land a nationallyranked recruiting class in 2007 and 2010 and rank among the topthree ACC schools in APR (Academic Progress Rate) in both 2009 and2010.
In addition to his work with the Wolfpack, Popik has served asthe coach of the '92 Fuquay-Varina Athletic Association team. Previously, he coached the '90 Navy boys and served as goalkeepercoach for the Triangle Futbol Club. The '90 Navy Boys teamwas the NCYSA U-17 State Cup champion in the spring of 2008 and aUSYSA Region III semifinalist. He also has served as agoalkeeper staff coach with the North Carolina ODP program.
Popik played three seasons as a professional with the A-League'sMilwaukee Rampage posting a 40-22-6 all-time record and 15 shutoutsin goal. He was named 2002 team MVP after leading the Rampageto the A-League title. The keeper also spent 2003 and 2004with Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy before joining theColumbus Crew in 2006.
A three-year member of the United States U-20 National team,Popik began his collegiate career at the University of NorthCarolina in 1997 before transferring to St. John's where he helpedlead his squad to a Big East Championship in 1998.
Popik, who holds a United States Soccer Federation National "A"license and is a member of the NSCAA "Assistant Coach of the Year"Committee, earned his B.S. degree in sports management from N.C.State. He is married to the former Jodie Cemke, and thecouple had their first son, Gavin, in June of 2008.
