Michael Piranian

Assistant Men's Soccer Coach

Michael Piranian was an instrumental piece to the Tartans’ success in 2008 as a first-year assistant at Carnegie Mellon as the team achieved a 15-3-1 mark. Now in his fourth season, the Tartans are looking to maintain the success that has seen the program win 42 games in three years under Piranian's guidance. The 2009 team won two NCAA postseason games, set five school records and finished the year as co-champions of the University Athletic Association with a 16-3-1 (5-1-1) record. The 2010 team once again won all its non-conference matches and finished with an 11-4-1 mark. With responsbilities including practice planning and film study, Piranian routinely prepared the team for the challenges of the season.

Piranian came to Pittsburgh after spending four years as the assistant coach at Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. In 2007, the Generals finished with a 12-3-3 overall record and a runner-up finish in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Tournament after posting a 6-1-2 conference mark. During Piranian's tenure as assistant coach, the Generals posted a 39-19-10 record, winning 12 games in both 2006 and 2007.

While at Washington & Lee, Piranian was involved with every facet of maintaining and improving the successful Generals program including recruiting, scouting, planning and running practices and goalkeeper sessions, game-day preparations, scheduling, travel arrangements and video analysis.

Prior to Piranian's coaching start at Washington & Lee, the Lexington, Va., native worked as the Field Management and Special Events Coordinator for the Capital Area Soccer League (CASL) in 2003 and 2004. During this time he organized events for the club, the Atlantic Coast Conference men's and women's soccer tournaments, and NCAA Championships hosted by CASL in Cary, N.C., at the SAS Soccer Complex.

Piranian earned his Bachelor of Science degree in consumer studies from Virginia Tech University in 2002 after four successful years as a defender on the men's soccer team. The Hokies tallied a 43-22-4 record, accumulating double-digit wins each season Piranian took the field.

Piranian completed a master's degree in sports management from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2009 and holds his NSCAA Advanced National Diploma, USSF "B" Coaching License and is an USILA and MDIA Lacrosse Official.