Jan. 26, 2011
WASHINGTON - Former Georgetown University men's soccer coach Keith Tabatznik was inducted into the Virginia-DC Soccer Hall of Fame this past weekend. He is one of the first people associated with the Georgetown program to earn a spot in the Hall of Fame. Tabatznik was one of three people inducted for Meritorious Sevice and eight 2011 inductees.
Tabatznik coached on the Hilltop for 22 seasons. His Hoyas teams compiled a record of 220-187-23 (.538) and a mark of 94-73-10 (.559) in conference play. He was named the BIG EAST Coach of the Year twice in 1994 and 1997.
Tabatznik earned his 200th career win as head coach during the 2004 season advancing to the semifinals of the BIG EAST Tournament. The Hoyas lost in overtime to Seton Hall and just narrowly missed a berth to the NCAA's. Tabatznik also saw two of his student-athletes drafted by Major Indoor Soccer League, with Dan Gargan playing for the Philadelphia KiXX and Trevor Goodrich selected by the St. Louis Steamers. Gargan and Jeff Curtin were also drafted by Major League Soccer.
The 1997 season saw Tabatznik and the Hoyas capture its first-ever NCAA Tournament victory with a 2-1 triumph over Virginia Commonwealth on November 23. The Hoyas finished 1997 with a 15-7 overall record and were second in the extremely competitive BIG EAST Conference with a 9-2 mark. For his efforts, Tabatznik was named the 1997 BIG EAST Coach of the Year.
In 1994, Tabatznik was named the South Atlantic Region and BIG EAST Coach of the Year after leading the Hoyas to an incredible 18-4 record and the school's first-ever berth in the NCAA Championship as well as its first BIG EAST regular season title. Tabatznik was the recipient of Georgetown's Outstanding Coaching Achievement Award for 1994-95.
Tabatznik led Georgetown to 14 berths in the BIG EAST Tournament. During his tenure, fourteen former Hoyas played for professional teams.
In 2005 Tabatznik was appointed as the Boy's Olympic Development Program Director for the Maryland State Youth Soccer Association. He was also the U.S. National Amateur Team Head Coach and in 1997 was selected as the Region I and National Coach of the Year. In 1997, as head coach for the East Team in the U.S. Soccer Festival, Tabatznik led the East to the Gold Medal. His team, which included former Hoyas Tyler Purtill, Tom Greaser and Chris Jones, went undefeated in the Festival, winning the Gold, 1-0, over the U.S. World University Team.
He served as Team Administrator for the United States Under-16 National Team that represented the U.S. in the Youth World Cup in Scotland in 1989. Also in 1989, Tabatznik was appointed Head Olympic Development Coach for the Maryland State Youth Soccer Association. Tabatznik also served on the Regional Olympic Development Youth staff from 1985 to 1989. In 1992, he led Maryland to an unprecedented three Region I Olympic Development Championships in six age groups.
Prior to coming to Georgetown, Tabatznik served as an assistant coach at George Washington University. A 1980 graduate of American University, he lettered three years for the Eagles. He played in two NCAA Tournaments as part of a defensive unit that set AU's shutout record.
Tabatznik was also a member of the Washington '94 World Cup Committee that was responsible for staging World Cup games in D.C., and has played an important role in developing soccer leagues in Washington's inner city.
