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Health & Fitness

Harper Alum and MSL Vet Klaus Named Men's Soccer Coach

The Harper College men's soccer program will be under new direction for the 2014 season. Harper alum and MSL veteran Dan Klaus has been named the new head coach of the Hawks.

Klaus is currently a health teacher at Elk Grove High School and the head girls' soccer coach for the Grenadiers. Klaus has been coaching in the MSL since 1995.

"Dan will be an outstanding addition to our program. He is an educator first and foremost who has a deep commitment to soccer," said Harper Director of Athletics and Fitness Doug Spiwak. He will be able to recruit and retain our local athletes while providing them with an outstanding soccer experience."

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Klaus began his coaching career as a boys and girls assistant soccer coach for the Grenadiers from 1995-1997. Klaus served as a boys' soccer assistant coach for Conant High School from 2001-2004. While coaching at Conant, he was an assistant for the girls' varsity soccer program until he was hired as the head girls coach at Elk Grove in 2002. Klaus also worked as a boys assistant soccer coach for Elk Grove from 2005-2011, helping guide the team to its first MSL East and regional titles in school history.

As the head girls varsity coach at Elk Grove, his teams have won two regional titles, one MSL title, made one Sweet 16 appearance, and finished second in the MSL East five times.

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Klaus is the new head coach of the Harper men's soccer team. (Bill Smith) After graduating from Conant High School, Dan played on the Harper men's soccer team. He earned an Associate in Arts degree from Harper in 1997. Continuing his education, Klaus received his Bachelor's Degree in Health Education from Northern Illinois University in 2000 and earned a Master's Degree in Exercise Science from California University of Pennsylvania in 2009.

Klaus describes his coaching style as an attacking, high-pressure brand of soccer, but he will also making necessary adjustments to suit the strengths of the players.

"Soccer is not life or death, but as long as we are alive and well, let's play it with a lot of intensity," he said.

He also will be supportive of what his players do well but also push them to their limit to be their best as people and players.

"The soccer program at Harper has the potential to become a consistent top contender in our region, and Dan is the right person to get us there," Spiwak said. "I want to see our student-athletes graduate and contribute to our community, and Dan will serve as a prime example to our athletes as to what can be accomplished by starting your career as a Harper student."


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