Alex Yi Position: Assistant Coach Experience: 1st Season

Alex Yi joined the Dayton men's soccer program as an assistant coach in August of 2008. Yi will work primarily with the Flyer defense.

A former standout at UCLA with international playing experience, Yi joins the UD men's soccer staff after retiring from the Major League Soccer's FC Dallas in April.

Yi, a native of Alexandria, Va., was highly-coveted by several MLS teams, most notably his hometown D.C. United, upon returning to the United States after two years with Royal Antwerp of the Belgian Jupiler League, a feeder club of Manchester United.

He was picked up by F.C. Dallas in an MLS weighted lottery on January 12, 2005 and went on to play three seasons for FCD, making his debut Sept. 24 with a start against San Jose.

He made his Antwerp debut against Club Brugge in 2002 and the next season was voted Man of the Match for his play against Mons-Bergen.

Yi played for the U-17, U-20, and U-23 United States youth national teams, and started all five games in the 1999 Football World Youth Championship where the U.S. finished fourth in New Zealand. He also played in all three games during the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championships held in Argentina.

His international experience includes 57 career caps with the U.S. youth national teams, including six career caps with the U-23 team, 12 career caps with the U-20 team and 39 with the U-17's. Yi made his international debut with the U-17's against Mexico Feb. 13, 1998.

He was part of the inaugural class of the USSF's Bradenton Academy, along with other players such as Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley, and Oguchi Onyewu.

Upon graduating from the Bradenton Academy, he attended UCLA, where he became a highly-decorated soccer player in 2000 and 2001, starting in 41 games. Yi was named the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year and also earned second team All-Pac-10 honors. In addition, he was selected to Soccer America's All-Freshman Team and was named one of five Players to Watch by the Missouri Athletic Club. He was named a third team NSCAA All-American as a sophomore, as well as the PAC-10 Player of the Year and was a nominee for the Hermann Trophy.

Yi went to McDonogh High School in Maryland where he earned all-Met, all-league and all-county honors in 1998 and went on to become a First-team Parade All-American in 2000 and a two-time NSCAA All-American. He played club soccer with FC Potomac with Colorado midfielder Kyle Beckerman and U.S. International Oguchi Onyewu, winning two state titles.

His father, Kyom Yi, played for the South Korean national team at the youth level.

GETTING TO KNOW ALEX YI
Tell us a little bit about how you got here? What were you doing before coming to Dayton?
I was very fortunate. I retired in April 2008 due to hamstring issues that have effected me for the past two years while playing for FC Dallas. The injury was preventing me from playing at my highest level and was unbelievably frustrating. I decided to return home to Maryland and pursue other career goals. I received a phone call from Coach Currier and he offered me a position at University of Dayton as an assistant coach with the men's soccer team which I accepted without thinking twice. I am a true soccer man and have always wished to return to the game in some capacity, I am truly honored to have been given this opportunity by the University of Dayton.

What did you know about Flyer soccer before you came to Dayton?
I have seen the program make big strides to contend with the nation's best soccer programs over the past few years. Coach Currier has been a tremendous boost since taking the head coaching role and the program has only improved. I know the Atlantic-10 is a competitive conference with some of the best programs in the country that have competed successfully in the NCAA tournament. I am also an admirer of former Dayton Flyers I have played against during my time in Dallas, Chris Rolfe and Dasan Robinson.

Why UD? What interests you about this new job?
I am really looking forward to being involved with soccer again. University of Dayton is an ideal situation for me because of the support the program has and the coaches I will be learning from on a daily basis. I am extremely excited to meet the players and give my all to see the team grow and succeed.

What are you most looking forward to heading into the next season?
I am extremely excited to watch the team mature throughout the course of the season. I know all the guys are putting in a lot of tough hours during preseason, I'm really looking forward to seeing them become a team and challenge each other every day.

What are your interests off the pitch?
During my free time I love to relax around the house, read a good book or play golf.

What has been your biggest achievement in soccer?
Soccer has always been a huge part of my life. It has always been a dream of mine to represent my country. I have been fortunate enough to have done so at various national team levels. My biggest achievement would have to be being a part of the U-17 national team that took fourth place at the World Championships in New Zealand.

Favorite:
Book- Not a huge fan of classic literature but Great Expectations by Charles Dickens has always been my favorite book.
Movie- Power of One
Food- Tex-Mex
Ice Cream- cookies and cream
Actor- Phillip Seymour Hoffman
Actress- Natalie Portman
Athlete-Tiger Woods
Athletics Team- Washington Redskins
Pregame Ritual- cold shower