FRANKLIN, Mass. – August 7, 2024 – Dean College Vice President of Athletics and Recreation Eric Desmond Lee '08 has announced the hiring of Warren Backman as the next head coach of the men's soccer program.

"It is with great enthusiasm that I announce the appointment of Warren Backman as the new head coach for the Men's Soccer program here at Dean College," said Lee. "This marks an exciting new chapter for our program, as we continue to strive for excellence both on and off the field. I was impressed with Coach Backman's preparation, presentation, and performance. Coach Backman's proven success in NCAA Division III competition, coupled with his unwavering commitment to fostering both academic and athletic excellence makes him an exceptional fit for our program. I am confident that under his leadership, our Men's Soccer program will continue to compete at the highest level and achieve new heights."

"I am incredibly honored to be named the Head Coach of Dean Men's Soccer," said Backman. "I'd like to thank our Vice President of Athletics and Recreation Eric Desmond Lee and the rest of the hiring committee for giving me the opportunity to lead one of the most historic college soccer programs in New England. I hope to be able to add to the legacy of the coaches that have come before me and help the program reach new heights."

Backman joins Dean College after spending 2022 and 2023 as the head assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Suffolk University Men's Soccer team. Wearing multiple hats, Backman created and edited scouting reports and videos for coaching staff review, organized on-campus tours, and meticulously coordinated recruiting visits, handling all aspects from hotel accommodations to transportation. Additionally, Backman played a pivotal role in the organizational aspects of daily practices and games, developing and conducting individual and team training sessions, collaborating closely with head coach Bill Maddock daily.

In the 2023 campaign, Backman helped the Rams to be consistently regionally ranked throughout the season, climbing as high as No. 2 in the region and receiving votes in the NCAA DIII National Coaches Poll. The team had two All-Region Second Team honorees and a strong presence in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC), boasting three players on the First Team, four on the Second Team and six on the Third Team. The team's exceptional performance extended to individual recognitions, including one Offensive Player of the Week, three Defensive Players of the Week, and two Rookie of the Week selections. Further highlighting the team's commitment to excellence, five players earned Academic All-District selections, showcasing a balance between athletic prowess and academic achievement.

Backman's first year with the Rams was one for the record books as the team played their way into the CCC Championship for the first time in program history after going 10-6-5 in the regular season and 4-2-3 in league play. Awards poured in for Suffolk student-athletes highlighted by Brady Sorensen's Second Team United Soccer Coaches All-Region selection. He was one of five players to earn All-CCC honors. The trio of Xander Balog, Jack Phelps and Tommy Handeslman secured spots on the All-CCC Second Team, while Sorensen and Carter Van Buskirk picked up Third Team nods.

Backman came to Boston after a one-year stint at Lynn University. He was an essential cog to all things Lynn soccer ranging from daily practices to games, scouting reports, recruiting, team activities and scheduling. On top of his soccer responsibilities, he coordinated and contributed to all the sports information tasks for home events including game recaps and broadcasting. During his time with the Fighting Knights, the men's soccer program was ranked as high as No. 1 in the region and No. 3 in the NCAA DII National Coaches Poll.

For his efforts at Lynn, Backman was the 2021-22 recipient of the 30 Under 30 award from the United Soccer Coaches, a nationwide governing body of soccer. Each year the organization conducts a yearly search to find the best 30 "up and coming" soccer coaches under 30 years old from across the country, regardless of experience or level of coaching.

Prior to his time at Lynn, Backman spent 2019-2021 at Regis as a Graduate Assistant coach and Game Operations Manager and served as the Interim Head Coach for the 2020-21 academic year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In that span, he was the sole recruiter for the program, which was recognized with back-to-back Top Recruiter awards from Regis. Backman accomplished these feats while working towards his Master of Arts in Strategic Communication. 

Regis gave Backman his first collegiate coaching experience two years following his playing days at Emerson. Originally from Spring Hill, Florida, Backman appeared in 47 matches, started 34, over his playing career from 2014-17.