Porter re-signs at Akron, shuns D.C. United

Zips fans can breathe a sigh of relief. Coach Caleb Porter is going nowhere.

Akron director of athletics Tom Wistrcill announced Tuesday that Porter, who was being pursued by MLS' D.C. United after leading the Zips to a 23-1-1 record, has signed a new five-year contract that will keep him on campus through the 2014 season.

The current agreement will begin immediately and replaces the five-year contract Porter only signed a year ago.

"I want to thank our president, Dr. [Luis] Proenza, and our director of athletics, Tom Wistrcill for their commitment to the future of the University of Akron Men's soccer program," Porter said. "My wife, Andrea, and I are humbled by the support we have received from alumni, friends and fans and we are thrilled to continue raising our family in this community. I am extremely proud of the brand of program we have built and the accomplishments that our student-athletes have had over the last four seasons.

"After reaching the pinnacle of college soccer this season, my vision will be to sustain the program for long-term success as one of the nation's elite programs. This an exciting time for Akron soccer and with upgrades to the facility on the horizon I am confident we have all the resources necessary to continue competing for national championships for many years to come."

In 2009, the Zips matched a Division I milestone for consecutive wins in a season (23) and took a perfect record to the NCAA College Cup. Along the way, Akron set program records for wins (23), shutouts (19), fewest goals allowed (7) and lowest goals-against-average (0.27), among others.

Akron led the nation in goals per game (2.32) and goals-against-average (0.27 GAA) as the consensus No. 1-ranked team for the final nine weeks of the regular season.

UA's 19 shutouts represented the second-highest total in NCAA history while its goals-against-average and shutout percentage (.760) are third all-time.

Porter's Zips have claimed four straight MAC regular-season championships, three straight MAC Tournament titles and qualified for the NCAA Tournament in each of the last three seasons, culminating in last Sunday's appearance in the national championship game.

Akron recruited the No. 1 class in the nation in 2009 after recording No. 5 designations for both 2007 and 2008.