Bio

2016 National Coach of the Year Sharif Saber recently completed his second season as the head women's soccer coach at Penn State Brandywine.

Saber, the first-ever Brandywine coach named USCAA Coach of the Year in any sport, led the Lions to new heights in 2016 as the team captured the PSUAC championship after an unbeaten run through the regular season. Following Brandywine's first trip to the USCAA Tournament, the Lions finished the year with a record of 14-3. Eight Lions were named to all-conference teams, including freshman Brianna Banks, who was selected as the league's player and newcomer of the year. Banks was also one-of-three players honored as all-Americans by the USCAA.

During Brandywine's first season at the varsity level, Saber guided the Lions to a 7-2-2 overall record, first-place finish and an appearance in the PSUAC Championship match. Four players were named all-conference, including Olivia Encarnacion, who became the Lions' first-ever women's soccer USCAA All-American.

Saber joined the coaching staff at Brandywine after serving as an assistant women’s soccer coach at nearby Immaculata University in 2014. With the Mighty Macs, Saber assisted Head Coach Lisa Parsons in planning and conducting training sessions, video analysis, scouting, gameday management and community relations.

Prior to arriving at Immaculata, Saber spent four seasons as the head varsity girls soccer coach at Kutztown High School, leading the team to four consecutive district playoff appearances for the first time. In addition to guiding the Cougars to district playoff victories in 2011 and 2013, the first two in program history, Saber served as the Kutztown Soccer Club’s technical director where he developed a new club youth training model and hosted coaching clinics.

Additionally, Saber holds his NSCAA Premier Diploma and has experience coaching at the club level where his teams have had numerous successes, including winning the 2008 EPYSA Indoor State Cup.  Currently, Saber serves as a staff coach for West Chester United Soccer Club.

Saber was also recognized recently by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s 30 Under 30 program as a member of its class of 2014-15. NSCAA 30 Under 30 is a mentorship program that annually recognizes the top 30 up-and-coming coaches under the age of 30 in the United States.

A 2009 cum laude graduate of Bloomsburg University, Saber received his Bachelor of Arts degree in history and later earned his master’s degree in education from Kutztown University in 2013.