Tom Anagnost reunites with Kagan, Hamilton to complete coaching staff.
Soccer Staff Complete With Additions Of Kagan, Hamilton
December 20, 2016 | Soccer
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STARKVILLE, Miss. – Matt Kagan and Jason Hamilton, former assistants of Tom Anagnost at the University of Miami (Fla.), were named to the Mississippi State soccer staff on Tuesday as associate head coaches to complete the Bulldog coaching staff.
"I am very excited to announce the hiring of Matt Kagan and Jason Hamilton to help lead our Mississippi State soccer program," Anagnost said. "Both of them are dear friends of mine, and are great coaches. Matt and Jason are very hard working and will be exceedingly helpful to all current and future Bulldogs in every way. Both have made enormous impacts in their previous programs and I believe these are two big-time hires."
Kagan and Hamilton both come to MSU after spending the past three seasons with their respective clubs, Kagan was an assistant on the Loyola Marymount staff while Hamilton was the head coach of Troy.
Kagan and Hamilton had a very successful short stint with Miami on Anagnost's coaching staff after the trio earned back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths and the school's first and only second round appearance in 2011. While with the Hurricanes the staff earned two Top 15 recruiting classes and numerous academic awards on its way to the program's most successful two-year stretch.
For Kagan, the Newington, Conn., native comes to Starkville with a wealth of coaching experience after stops in LMU (2014-16), Providence College (2013), Miami (2011-12), Evansville (2008-10) and Assumption College (2004). Kagan also has had experience as a head coach with Division II Worcester State (2005-07). Matt Kagan coaching from the sidelines during a Loyola Marymount game (Photo Courtesy: Loyola Marymount)
"I would like to thank John Cohen, Scott Wetherbee, Jared Benko and Tom Anagnost for this extraordinary opportunity to join the Mississippi State family," Kagan said. "It was always going to take something special for me to leave a great program like Loyola Marymount. The people I met on my visit, along with the top-notch facilities make Mississippi State truly a remarkable place."
One of Kagan's trademarks has been his ability to recruit as he has landed three Top 20 recruiting classes during his time as a coach while also signing Canadian National Team Captain Vanessa Legault-Cordisco to Evansville in 2010 for the program's first national team signee in school history.
At his most recent stop with LMU, Kagan aided the Lions to a NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 berth in 2015, after the club turned in an impressive 15-6-1 record. All three seasons with the Lions were winning seasons as Kagan and LMU earned 35 wins during his tenure. Additionally, Kagan signed the No. 37 ranked recruiting class with the Lions in 2015.
"Matt is definitely one of the best recruiters in the country and one of the greatest people I've met in the game," Anagnost said. "He is a passionate coach who cares deeply about the team and all the players on it. I trust him in every way and I can't put into words how elated I am to be working with him again."
Hamilton has served as a collegiate assistant coach with Florida (2013) and Miami (2011-12) before his head coaching stint at Troy (2014-16). Hamilton also has experience in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) as an assistant coach with the Boston Breakers (2013). Former Troy head coach Jason Hamilton speaking with his team. (Photo Courtesy: Troy University)
"I am very excited to be joining the Mississippi State soccer program," Hamilton said. "From the second I arrived on campus I felt part of the Bulldog family. I look forward to working again with Tom Anagnost and Matt Kagan. I think we all bring different qualities that can take MSU to a very high level."
The former Trojan head coach compiled an impressive 37-19-5 mark with Troy in his three seasons with the club. In his first season with Troy, Hamilton set the record for most wins in program history, after earning a 16-6-0 ledger. Despite the program only cracking the RPI Top 200 just twice in school history, Hamilton's Trojans posted back-to-back seasons in the Top 100, finishing No. 73 and No. 61, respectively.
Hamilton prides himself on coaching excellent defensive squads, after showcasing his abilities with the Trojans in his three seasons leading the team. Defensively, Troy was one of the best clubs in the nation as Hamilton's squad raked in the Top 20 nationally in 2014 and 2015. As a team, the 2014 Trojans recorded 13 shutouts, the most in a single-season at Troy, while also posting a 0.76 goals against average to top the Sun Belt Conference and set the school record low.
Hamilton also has experience training numerous national team players as he coached Sydney Leroux, Heather O'Reilly and Alyssa Naeher of the United States National Team while with the Boston Breakers.
"Jason is a proven head coach who is extremely talented and versatile," Anagnost said. "I believe he is at an elite level when it comes to goalkeeping. Jason has exceptional natural abilities and will be able to help in all facets of the program. I have an enormous amount of respect for him and I am super excited that he is now a Bulldog."
Kagan hails from Newington, Conn., while Hamilton is a native of St. Clair Shores, Mi. Kagan is a 2003 graduate of Southern New Hampshire University where he led the squad to the NCAA Tournament Division II Championship game. Hamilton played soccer at Macomb College, where he led his team to a NJCAA Final Four appearance in 2000 before transferring to the University of Detroit Mercy where he played and was named a team captain.
Each earned degrees from their respective universities, with Kagan receiving a Bachelor of Science in sports management in 2003 before earning a Master of Business Administration from his alma mater in 2007, while Hamilton received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Detroit Mercy in 2005.
Kagan is married to wife Jessica, who is a native of Las Vegas, Nev., while Hamilton is married to wife Hannah Mason, who hails from Laurinburg, N.C.
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For more information on the Mississippi State soccer program, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at "HailStateSOC."
