The University of Akron Athletics
Men's Soccer
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- menssoccer@uakron.edu
- Phone:
- (330) 972-6895
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Leo Chappel, who brings nearly 20 years of collegiate coaching experience, is in his fifth season as assistant coach on the Zips staff.
During Chappel’s time at Akron, the Zips have posted the an overall record of 62-19-10 (.736), including a 15-3-3 (.786) mark in Mid-American Conference play, while securing four conference tournament titles, four trips to the NCAA Tournament and two appearances in the College Cup.
Due in large part to recruiting efforts of Embick and his of Chappel, Ger Coppinger and TJ Kolba, Akron has identified and secured some of the best prospects in the country – and around the world – with top-five recruiting classes. The Zips’ class of 2015 was ranked No. 1 in the country, while the class of 2016 received a No. 2 designation.
Nine Akron players have been selected in the MLS SuperDraft during Chappel’s tenure, including four players chosen in the first round. That list includes; Joao Moutinho (No. 1 - 2018), Jonathan Lewis (No. 3 - 2017), Richie Laryea (No. 7 - 2016) and Saad Abdul-Salaam (No. 12 - 2015).
Chappel, who was the head men’s coach at Columbia University from 2006-09 after playing a key role in transforming UC-Santa Barbara into a national powerhouse, most recently served as the Director of Scouting for Toronto FC of Major League Soccer.
Prior to his time at Columbia, Chappel served his first of two stints as an assistant coach at UCSB. From 2001-06, Chappel was instrumental in recruiting five Gauchos’ classes that ranked among the nation’s top 20 by Soccer America and College Soccer News, including several members of UCSB’s 2006 NCAA National Championship team.
In 2004, UCSB held the No. 1 ranking in the nation for much of the season and reached the national final where the Gauchos fell to Indiana by way of penalty kicks. Following that season, Chappel was named the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Assistant Coach of the Year.
Chappel returned to UCSB as an assistant coach in 2009 and maintained that position for two more seasons. In all, the Gauchos posted a record of 118-26-8, including a postseason mark of 12-4-2, during seven seasons with Chappel on staff. During that time, Chappel recruited and coached 16 All-Americans – all of whom went on to play professionally in MLS or abroad.
Chappel joined Toronto FC in January of 2011. One of his many roles as the Director of Scouting included identifying and analyzing the top prospects in college soccer as part of the organization’s SuperDraft preparation. Chappel also scouted future opponents, opposing MLS players and foreign prospects.
Prior to his first stint at UCSB, Chappel spent three seasons as an assistant at UNC-Charlotte – where he helped produce six All-Americans – and two years at his alma mater Ohio Wesleyan – where he recruited nine of the 11 starters who won the 1998 NCAA Div. III National Championship.
Chappel started his coaching career as an assistant at Wake Forest from 1995-96.
