SIUE

Cale Wassermann returns to the SIUE sidelines for his seventh season, following back-to-back seasons of overwhelming success.

The 2024 season saw the Cougars win another treble, claiming trophies in the Bronze Boot game, as well for the Ohio Valley Conference regular season and tournament championships.

During the season, Wassermann moved into third all-time in wins at SIUE and has a record of 52-35-15 (.584) in his time in Edwardsville. Following the 2024 season, Wasserman was lauded as the OVC Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year.

A 1-0 win over Saint Louis in September at CITYPARK brought the Cougars their first win of the year and the Bronze Boot trophy for the second straight year. It was the first time that SIUE had won consecutive games in the series since the 1979 and 1980 games.

From there, SIUE reeled off seven wins in their next nine games. The Cougars would go on the win the OVC regular season crown with 8-1-1 record. That record matched the home mark for SIUE and gave the Cougars a combined record of 17-1-2 over the last two seasons.

Houston Christian made SIUE work for a second straight title, but Wes Gibson’s golden goal three minutes into the second overtime period sent the Cougars to their 25th NCAA Tournament appearance.

Seven players earned All-OVC honors including Yasha Schaerer who was chosen as the Midfielder of the Year and Rob Gjelaj, who was tabbed as the league’s Goalkeeper of the Year. Nic Muench joined Gjelaj and Schaerer as All-North Region selections.

The 2023 season was  historic for the program. Wassermann and his staff guided SIUE to a 16-1-3 mark, the most wins for the Cougars since the transition back to Division I play. SIUE’s .875 winning percentage was the best in all of Division I. The Cougars finished with an unbeaten regular season capturing the first-ever Ohio Valley Conference men’s soccer regular season and tournament titles. For their efforts, Wassermann and the SIUE staff were named as the North Region’s Coaching Staff of the Year by the United Soccer Coaches.

Perhaps it was clear from the outset, but the Cougars left no doubt that a special season was ahead when they shut out Saint Louis 2-0 at CITYPARK in downtown St. Louis to win the Bronze Boot trophy for the first time in 41 years.

SIUE finished 9-0-1 during the first season of OVC play, before blanking Lindenwood and Incarnate Word in the tournament held at Korte Stadium. Wassermann was tabbed as the first-ever OVC Coach of the Year.

Under Wassermann, four players earned All-Region honors with Will Harris claiming First Team honors, the first for a Cougar since 2016. Seven players earned post-season accolades from the OVC including Stephan Moreira who was named Forward of the Year, Harris who took home the Defender of the Year award and Sam Gomez who was honored as the league’s Goalkeeper of the Year.

The Cougars won five games in 2022, including three at home. SIUE returned to the Missouri Valley Tournament before falling in the first round at Evansville. In his final season under Wassermann, defender Max Broughton earned All-Region honors.

Before the 2021 season, Wassermann led the Cougars back to the Missouri Valley Conference, where SIUE had previously played as an affiliate member from 2010-2016.

Wassermann guided the Cougars to six wins, including four MVC wins in 2021. SIUE finished third in the league and returned to the MVC Tournament, before falling in the first round to Bradley. The Cougars also won four games at home during the season. Following the season, defender Max Broughton and midfielder Pau Palacin earned All-MVC honors following the season.

During the abbreviated 2020 season, played in the spring of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Wassermann guided the Cougars to a 5-5 record, which included a pair of shutouts at Korte Stadium. The Cougars blanked Evansville (3-0) and Western Illinois (1-0) at home. Riddled with injuries, the Cougars earned a pair of wins in the Mid-American Conference, during the fourth and final year in the league. 

Under Wassermann, SIUE sophomore Oskar Lenz finished tied for second in the MAC with four goals, while leading the league with five assists. The Cougars continued to excel in the classroom, with 10 student-athletes named to the Academic All-Mid-American Conference team. 

In his first season at the helm, Wassermann led SIUE to an overall mark of 8-5-4. The Cougars were strong at home, amassing a record of 6-2-1, the second-highest home win total since the return to Division I. The Cougars' 2-1-2 mark in Mid-American Conference play was good for third and a home game in the MAC Tournament. 

Under the guidance of Wassermann, Jorge Gonzlez became Mid American Conference player of the Year, after leading the league in scoring. Gonzalez also was tabbed as a First Team All-Region selecition. Gonzalez became the eighth SIUE alum to be taken in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft, when he was selected by LA FC in the third round. 

Wassermann came to SIUE after serving as recruiting coordinator and assistant coach at Michigan State the previous four seasons. He assisted in all facets of the men’s soccer program, including summer camps and fundraising initiatives.

With Wassermann on staff, the Spartans reached the 2018 NCAA College Cup, falling to Akron in the national semifinals. Michigan State reached the quarterfinal in 2017 and was dispatched in the 2016 NCAA first round by SIUE. While at Michigan State, Wassermann coached two All-America selections, 13 All-Region picks and 17 All-Big Ten performers. The Spartans had the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2016, the Goalkeeper of the Year in 2017 and the 2018 Midfielder of the Year.

Prior to his stint at Michigan State, Wassermann served as the head coach at Division II Saginaw Valley State University, where he guided the program to its first three NCAA Tournament appearances in 2011, 2012 and 2014. He led the Cardinals to the National Championship game in 2012 when the team set the program single-season record with 18 wins. Wassermann was tabbed as the 2012 NSCAA National Coach of the Year. He also earned recognition as the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Coach of the Year in 2011 and 2012. He amassed a five-year record of 64-23-17.

The Cardinals had the 2012 National Player of the Year while Wassermann also coached three All-Americans, saw 25 of his players earn All-GLIAC honors and had 16 NSCAA All-Midwest selections in five seasons at Saginaw Valley State. In the classroom, four players earned NSCAA Scholar All-American honors.

Wassermann spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons as an assistant coach at Lewis University of the Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Flyers made two NCAA Tournament appearances including advancing to the Final Four in 2009 and the Regional Championship match in 2008.

He also previously has served as the head coach for the Under-18 USA Youth team for Maccabi USA and as the associate head coach for Detroit City FC in the NPSL.

Wassermann began his coaching career as a volunteer at his alma mater, in 2006 and 2007 after playing four seasons at SVSU. He was a two-time team captain and twice earned first-team All-GLIAC honors. He received his bachelor’s in communication in 2007. In 2015, he earned a master’s in Organizational Leadership from Lewis. Wassermann holds a USSF ‘B’ License.

A native of Southfield, Michigan, Wassermann and his wife, Shelby, have a son, Judah and a daughter, Maya.