Another Penn State coaching search has been completed.
The Nittany Lions announced the hiring of men’s soccer head coach Rob Dow on Thursday morning, securing one of the nation’s top active coaches. Dow spent the previous nine seasons as head coach of Vermont, mounting an impressive 129-41-21 record, good for the ninth-best winning percentage among active coaches with at least five seasons under their belt.
“I am so fortunate to have the opportunity to not only honor the program’s rich history, but to be a part of an athletic department that is focused on developing world class student-athletes on and off the field while pursuing success at the highest levels,” Dow said in a release. “I am excited to get to work writing the next chapter of PSU men’s soccer by getting back to chasing Big Ten titles and national championships.”
He helped lead the Catamounts to a national championship in 2024, the first ever by an America East Conference school. Vermont also went undefeated in the 2025 regular season and earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament before falling in the second round. His staff won consecutive America East Coaching Staff of the Year honors the last two seasons.
His teams were regular season conference champions three times and conference tournament champions once, reaching the NCAA tournament in each of the last four seasons.
“Rob brings a proven record of success and a clear vision for the future of our program,” athletic director Pat Kraft said in the release. “His commitment to developing student-athletes and fostering a culture of excellence aligns perfectly with Penn State’s values. We look forward to the impact he will make on and off the field.”
Dow has ties to the Northeast, having played at Maine and coached at Southern New Hampshire prior to his time with Vermont.
