Matt Okoh
Encyclopedia
Matthew Nwabueze Okoh is a former U.S.-Nigerian soccer player and currently Assistant Coach of the DSU Hornets Women.http://www.dsuhornets.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=12900&ATCLID=867885 His playing career spanned eight years and took him from the United States to Brazil, Germany and Portugal. Since retiring from playing, Okoh has devoted himself to coaching collegiate soccer.
, Okoh’s family moved back to Asaba, Nigeria
for several years. His family then returned to the U.S., this time settling in Denver. Okoh attended Regis Jesuit High School
in Aurora, Colorado
. After graduating from high school, Okoh remained in the Denver area, attending the University of Denver
where he played men’s soccer. He finished his collegiate career second on the team’s career list of goals and points, having scored fifty goals in thirty-seven games. Okoh graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics
in 1995.
of the American Professional Soccer League
(APSL) before moving to Brazilian club Santos
that winter.http://goalseattle.com/gallery/1996SeattleSoundersMediaGuide/1996media_15 He spent only half a season with Santos before returning to the U.S. to play the second half of the 1995-1996 National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) season with the Wichita Wings
.
club SSV Reutlingen
. Bundesliga
club 1860 Munich was suitably impressed with Okoh’s performances and purchased his contract from Reutlingen. However, he lasted only one season, appearing in only two games, before transferring to Unterhaching
.http://fussballportal.de/index.php?kat=44&spieler_id=2661 He played the 1997-1998 season with Unterhaching, scoring two goals in thirteen games before injuring his back in May 1998.http://archiv.sportal1.de/BL2-1997-1998/player00311.html This injury put him out of action for the remainder of the season and into the 1998-1999 season. In December 1998, Okoh returned to the United States for rehabilitation. However, rehabilitation went slowly and he lost all of 1999. In January 2008, Okoh returned to Germany and joined the team of Bayern Hof in the Bayernliga. At the end of the season 2007/08 he quit.http://www.intermark.com/Rapids/rp000420.html
. The team was sufficiently impressed with him to sign him as a discovery player. On March 19, 2001, the Colorado Rapids
traded Okoh, along with Alan Woods and a second round 2002 draft pick to the New England Revolution
for Imad Baba
and Carlos Parra. The Revolution waived him on November 15, 2001.
club S.C. Campomaiorense
http://www.playerhistory.com/Default.aspx?page=player_details&playerID=28600&cCareerID=217653 He spent the second half of the 2001-2002 season in Portugal, then retired from playing professionally.
in the Germany
Bayern Liga
http://www.die-fans.de/fussball/aktuell/artikel/,Okoh+in+den+Trainerstab+geholt,27499,,,,,south in July 2008 moved to SC Baldham-Vaterstetten and than left the team after a half year to sign an Player/Coaching contract with league rival SV-DJK Taufkirchen.http://www.merkur-online.de/lokales/nachrichten/exprofi-matthew-okoh-trainiert-taufkirchner-fussballer-106962.html
.
Then again in July 2001 while playing with the Revolution, Okoh was the head coach of the women’s soccer team at Nichols College
, a Division III college in Dudley, Massachusetts
. He took the team to the finals of the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament before resigning in December 2001.
In 2002 Grambling State University
hired Okoh to establish the school’s first women’s soccer team. In the Lady Tigers’ first season, 2003, he coached the team to an 8-12-1 record. However, in 2004, he took the Lady Tigers to a 16-6 record. He resigned in January 2004 to pursue other coaching opportunities.http://www.swac.org/members/gsu/soc011705.htm That led to his being hired by Delaware State University
in August 2005.http://www.desu.edu/athletics/soccer/index.php?action=fullnews&id=287
The Delaware Dynasty
of the USL Premier Development League
hired Okoh as its head coach on February 13, 2007.http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/167839.html
In January 2008 was named as Assistant Coach from Bayern Hof
after six months left the teamhttp://www.die-fans.de/fussball/aktuell/artikel/,Okoh+in+den+Trainerstab+geholt,27499,,,,,south and in January 2009 becomes the job as Head Coach at SV-DJK Taufkirchen http://www.merkur-online.de/lokales/nachrichten/exprofi-matthew-okoh-trainiert-taufkirchner-fussballer-106962.html In July 2009 signed an contract as Assistant Coach by DSU Hornets Women.http://www.goairforcefalcons.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/072809aaa.html
http://www.howard-bison.com/sports/msoc/2007/Bios/Okoh_Michael.
Youth and college
While born in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Okoh’s family moved back to Asaba, Nigeria
Asaba, Nigeria
Asaba is the capital of Nigeria's Delta State, and has an estimated population of 149,603 .- Etymology :Ahaba in Igbo is from 'Ahabagom', meaning I have chosen well, a quote from the founding father of Asaba.- Geography :...
for several years. His family then returned to the U.S., this time settling in Denver. Okoh attended Regis Jesuit High School
Regis Jesuit High School
Regis Jesuit High School is a Jesuit Catholic college preparatory high school located in Aurora, Colorado. Founded in 1877, the high school shares much of its history with its counterpart Regis University in neighboring Denver, Colorado....
in Aurora, Colorado
Aurora, Colorado
City of Aurora is a Home Rule Municipality spanning Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties in Colorado. Aurora is an eastern suburb of the Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area . The city is the third most populous city in the Colorado and the 56th most populous city in the...
. After graduating from high school, Okoh remained in the Denver area, attending the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
where he played men’s soccer. He finished his collegiate career second on the team’s career list of goals and points, having scored fifty goals in thirty-seven games. Okoh graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
in 1995.
Early career
In 1995, Okoh signed with the Colorado FoxesColorado Foxes
The Colorado Foxes were a professional soccer team, based in Commerce City, Colorado, that played in the APSL between 1990 and 1997. The Foxes won two APSL titles, in 1992 and 1993. When Major League Soccer started and the Colorado Rapids became the region's premier team, the Foxes tried to stay...
of the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
(APSL) before moving to Brazilian club Santos
Santos Futebol Clube
Santos Futebol Clube is a Brazilian professional football club based in Santos, São Paulo They play in the Campeonato Paulista and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, the highest professional leagues in São Paulo state and Brazil, respectively....
that winter.http://goalseattle.com/gallery/1996SeattleSoundersMediaGuide/1996media_15 He spent only half a season with Santos before returning to the U.S. to play the second half of the 1995-1996 National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) season with the Wichita Wings
Wichita Wings
This article is about the original team. For the current team, see Wichita Wings .The Wichita Wings were a professional indoor soccer franchise based in Wichita, Kansas. The Wings were admitted to the Major Indoor Soccer League as an expansion team on August 21, 1979...
.
Germany
In 1996, Okoh left the Wings and moved to Germany where he signed with German Third DivisionRegionalliga (football)
The Fußball-Regionalliga is the fourth tier of football in the German football league system. Until 1974, it was the second tier of the league system before being disbanded. The Regionalliga was then re-introduced as the third tier of the system in 1994...
club SSV Reutlingen
SSV Reutlingen
SSV Reutlingen 05 is a German association football club from Reutlingen, Baden-Württemberg.- History :The club was founded as FC Arminia Reutlingen and was re-named SV Reutlingen 1905 in 1910. The club fused with 1...
. Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
club 1860 Munich was suitably impressed with Okoh’s performances and purchased his contract from Reutlingen. However, he lasted only one season, appearing in only two games, before transferring to Unterhaching
Unterhaching
Unterhaching is the second largest municipality in the district of Munich in Bavaria, Germany.-History:Based upon the discovery of graves, the settlement of the Haching Valley can be traced back as far as 1100 B.C...
.http://fussballportal.de/index.php?kat=44&spieler_id=2661 He played the 1997-1998 season with Unterhaching, scoring two goals in thirteen games before injuring his back in May 1998.http://archiv.sportal1.de/BL2-1997-1998/player00311.html This injury put him out of action for the remainder of the season and into the 1998-1999 season. In December 1998, Okoh returned to the United States for rehabilitation. However, rehabilitation went slowly and he lost all of 1999. In January 2008, Okoh returned to Germany and joined the team of Bayern Hof in the Bayernliga. At the end of the season 2007/08 he quit.http://www.intermark.com/Rapids/rp000420.html
Major League Soccer
In April 2000, Okoh went on trial with the Colorado RapidsColorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
. The team was sufficiently impressed with him to sign him as a discovery player. On March 19, 2001, the Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
traded Okoh, along with Alan Woods and a second round 2002 draft pick to the New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
for Imad Baba
Imad Baba
Imad Baba is a retired American soccer midfielder. He spent seven years in Major League Soccer with the New England Revolution and Colorado Rapids. He was also a member of the American squads at the 1989 U-16 World Championships, 1993 U-20 World Cup and the 1996 Summer Olympics...
and Carlos Parra. The Revolution waived him on November 15, 2001.
Portugal
Following his release by New England, Okoh pursued a return to Europe. This led to him signing with Portuguese Second DivisionLiga de Honra
The Liga de Honra , known for sponsorship reasons as the Liga Orangina, is the Portuguese second level football league. It was formerly called Segunda Divisão and Segunda Divisão de Honra . When the LPFP took control of the two nationwide levels, it was renamed Segunda Liga, before renaming it...
club S.C. Campomaiorense
S.C. Campomaiorense
Sporting Clube Campomaiorense is a Portuguese football club, founded in 1926, and based in Campo Maior.The club had a professional football section that played five seasons at the top level of Portuguese football and reached the Cup of Portugal final in 1999.Campomaiorense was first promoted to the...
http://www.playerhistory.com/Default.aspx?page=player_details&playerID=28600&cCareerID=217653 He spent the second half of the 2001-2002 season in Portugal, then retired from playing professionally.
Comeback in Germany
In January 2008 he turned back to Germany and made his debut for Bayern HofBayern Hof
SpVgg Bayern Hof is a German association football club based in Hof, Bavaria. The club was founded on 1 June 1910 as Ballspielclub Hof, but within a year was re-named Britannia Hof. In 1913, they merged with FC Roland Hof and FC Phoenix Hof to become FC Bayern Hof.-History:FC Bayern Hof was a...
in the Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Bayern Liga
Oberliga Bayern
The Fußball-Bayernliga, commonly referred to as the Bayernliga, is the highest football league in the state of Bavaria and the Bavarian Football League System. It is one of eleven Oberligas in German football, the fifth tier of the German football league system...
http://www.die-fans.de/fussball/aktuell/artikel/,Okoh+in+den+Trainerstab+geholt,27499,,,,,south in July 2008 moved to SC Baldham-Vaterstetten and than left the team after a half year to sign an Player/Coaching contract with league rival SV-DJK Taufkirchen.http://www.merkur-online.de/lokales/nachrichten/exprofi-matthew-okoh-trainiert-taufkirchner-fussballer-106962.html
Coaching
In 2000 while playing with the Rapids, Okoh joined the Colorado Legends Soccer Club as the Director of Player Development. At the same time, he served as an assistant coach to the University of DenverUniversity of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
.
Then again in July 2001 while playing with the Revolution, Okoh was the head coach of the women’s soccer team at Nichols College
Nichols College
Nichols College is a private, co-educational, four-year institution of higher learning that is located in Dudley, Massachusetts.Nichols has many diverse majors that mainly focus on business and liberal arts. The school also offers an MBA program for graduate students.Nichols College athletics...
, a Division III college in Dudley, Massachusetts
Dudley, Massachusetts
Dudley is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,390 at the 2010 census.-History:Dudley was first settled in 1714 and was officially incorporated in 1732...
. He took the team to the finals of the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament before resigning in December 2001.
In 2002 Grambling State University
Grambling State University
Grambling State University is a historically black , public, coeducational university, located in Grambling, Louisiana. The university is the home of legendary football coach Eddie Robinson and is on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail.-Academics:Grambling State University provides over...
hired Okoh to establish the school’s first women’s soccer team. In the Lady Tigers’ first season, 2003, he coached the team to an 8-12-1 record. However, in 2004, he took the Lady Tigers to a 16-6 record. He resigned in January 2004 to pursue other coaching opportunities.http://www.swac.org/members/gsu/soc011705.htm That led to his being hired by Delaware State University
Delaware State University
Delaware State University , is an American historically black, public university located in Dover, Delaware, and there are two satellite campuses located in Wilmington, Delaware, and Georgetown, Delaware...
in August 2005.http://www.desu.edu/athletics/soccer/index.php?action=fullnews&id=287
The Delaware Dynasty
Delaware Dynasty
Delaware Dynasty was an American soccer team, founded in 2006. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2007, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.The team played its home games at...
of the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
hired Okoh as its head coach on February 13, 2007.http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/167839.html
In January 2008 was named as Assistant Coach from Bayern Hof
Bayern Hof
SpVgg Bayern Hof is a German association football club based in Hof, Bavaria. The club was founded on 1 June 1910 as Ballspielclub Hof, but within a year was re-named Britannia Hof. In 1913, they merged with FC Roland Hof and FC Phoenix Hof to become FC Bayern Hof.-History:FC Bayern Hof was a...
after six months left the teamhttp://www.die-fans.de/fussball/aktuell/artikel/,Okoh+in+den+Trainerstab+geholt,27499,,,,,south and in January 2009 becomes the job as Head Coach at SV-DJK Taufkirchen http://www.merkur-online.de/lokales/nachrichten/exprofi-matthew-okoh-trainiert-taufkirchner-fussballer-106962.html In July 2009 signed an contract as Assistant Coach by DSU Hornets Women.http://www.goairforcefalcons.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/072809aaa.html
Personal life
His nephew Michel Okoh plays under him by SV-DJK Taufkirchen and was formerly at Howard UniversityHoward University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
http://www.howard-bison.com/sports/msoc/2007/Bios/Okoh_Michael.