Matt Chulis
Encyclopedia
Matt Chulis is a retired U.S. soccer defender
who is currently Associate Head Coach with the University of Virginia
men’s soccer team. He was the captain of the U.S. U-20 national team
at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship
. He later played two seasons in Major League Soccer
, three seasons in the USL A-League and two in the USL Second Division
.
, playing on the boys’ soccer team at Central Islip High School. During his high school career, he was named both the New York State and New England Regional Player of the Year. He then attended the University of Virginia
where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1995 to 1998. He started 93 games during his four seasons as a Cavaliers. He was a 1996 and 1997 second team All American. In 1998, he was selected as a first team All American
. He was also the 1998 NSCAA Defender of the Year. He graduated in 2005 with a bachelors degree in sociology.
selected Chulis in the first round (ninth overall) of the 1999 MLS College Draft
. He spent two seasons in Columbus, seeing time in only ten games. In March 2001, the Crew waived Chulis and he was signed by the Chicago Fire where he played the first game of the season before being waived in April. On May 4, 2001, the Portland Timbers
of the USL First Division
signed Chulis. On December 7, 2001, the Timbers released Chulis. In April 2002, he signed with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds
, playing three seasons there. He finished his career with the Long Island Rough Riders
of the USL Second Division
in 2005. In 2005, he was selected to the USL-2 second team All Star team.
as it prepared for CONCACAF’s 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship
qualification tournament. The U.S. successfully qualified, and Chulis and his team mates traveled to Malaysia where they were knocked out of the tournament in the second round. Later that year, he played five of six games for the U.S. soccer team which took third place at the 1997 World University Games. He then joined the U.S. U-23 national team. He appeared regularly for the team through 2000, but was not selected to the U.S. team which played in the 2000 Summer Olympics
as an assistant coach with the men’s soccer team. He had served as a volunteer assistant coach while finishing his sociology degree during the 2004-2005 school year.
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who is currently Associate Head Coach with the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
men’s soccer team. He was the captain of the U.S. U-20 national team
United States U-20 men's national soccer team
The United States U-20 men's national soccer team is the national under-20 soccer team of the United States of America and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation. The highest level of competition in which the team competes is the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is held every two years.The...
at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship
1997 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship was the 11th staging of the FIFA World Youth Championship. It was held from June 16 to July 5, 1997 in Malaysia.-Venues:-Qualification:The following 24 teams qualified for the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship...
. He later played two seasons in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
, three seasons in the USL A-League and two in the USL Second Division
USL Second Division
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
.
Youth
Chulis grew up in Central Islip, New YorkCentral Islip, New York
Central Islip is a hamlet and census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York, U.S.. The population was 31,950 at the 2000 census.-History and overview:...
, playing on the boys’ soccer team at Central Islip High School. During his high school career, he was named both the New York State and New England Regional Player of the Year. He then attended the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1995 to 1998. He started 93 games during his four seasons as a Cavaliers. He was a 1996 and 1997 second team All American. In 1998, he was selected as a first team All American
Division I First-Team All-American (soccer)
The Division I First-Team All-Americans are the best eleven U.S. college soccer players as selected by the NCAA.-1970–1983:From 1970 to 1983 the NCAA only named defenders and forwards in addition to one goalkeeper.-1983–present:...
. He was also the 1998 NSCAA Defender of the Year. He graduated in 2005 with a bachelors degree in sociology.
Professional
In 1999, the Columbus CrewColumbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
selected Chulis in the first round (ninth overall) of the 1999 MLS College Draft
1999 MLS College Draft
The 1999 Major League Soccer College Draft.Major League Soccer held its fourth annual college draft on February 6 and 7, 1999 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The first round of the draft took place on Saturday with the second and third rounds on Sunday morning. The College Draft was followed by the...
. He spent two seasons in Columbus, seeing time in only ten games. In March 2001, the Crew waived Chulis and he was signed by the Chicago Fire where he played the first game of the season before being waived in April. On May 4, 2001, the Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers (USL)
Portland Timbers was an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 2001, the team played in various leagues at the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, including the USL First Division and the USSF Division 2 Professional League, until the end of...
of the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
signed Chulis. On December 7, 2001, the Timbers released Chulis. In April 2002, he signed with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Pittsburgh Riverhounds is an American professional soccer team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1999, the team plays in the National Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
, playing three seasons there. He finished his career with the Long Island Rough Riders
Long Island Rough Riders
Long Island Rough Riders is an American soccer team based in South Huntington, New York, United States. Founded in 1994, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its...
of the USL Second Division
USL Second Division
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
in 2005. In 2005, he was selected to the USL-2 second team All Star team.
National teams
In 1996, Chulis joined the U.S. U-20 national teamUnited States U-20 men's national soccer team
The United States U-20 men's national soccer team is the national under-20 soccer team of the United States of America and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation. The highest level of competition in which the team competes is the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is held every two years.The...
as it prepared for CONCACAF’s 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship
1997 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship was the 11th staging of the FIFA World Youth Championship. It was held from June 16 to July 5, 1997 in Malaysia.-Venues:-Qualification:The following 24 teams qualified for the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship...
qualification tournament. The U.S. successfully qualified, and Chulis and his team mates traveled to Malaysia where they were knocked out of the tournament in the second round. Later that year, he played five of six games for the U.S. soccer team which took third place at the 1997 World University Games. He then joined the U.S. U-23 national team. He appeared regularly for the team through 2000, but was not selected to the U.S. team which played in the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
Coach
On June 12, 2006, the University of Virginia hired Chulis to replace Richie WilliamsRichie Williams
Richie Williams is an American former professional soccer player and coach.Known for his diminutive height and his dogged tackling, Williams spent the vast majority of his playing career in the United States, playing one season in the National Professional Soccer League, two in USISL, two in the...
as an assistant coach with the men’s soccer team. He had served as a volunteer assistant coach while finishing his sociology degree during the 2004-2005 school year.