Luke Oberkirch
Head Coach
E-mail Luke Oberkirch
Luke Oberkirch begins his 13th season as head coach of the women’s soccer team at Sonoma State University. The 2006 season saw the Seawolves win 12 games and go 10-3-3 in conference play to advance to their first CCAA Tournament since 2003.
Since 1995, when he took over as head coach, Luke Oberkirch has complied a 152-67-23 overall record and an 102-37-19 mark in conference play. In his twelve complete seasons, Oberkirch has guided his team to six first place finishes, including four in the CCAA’s North Division and two in the Northern California Athletic Conference.
Last season, Oberkirch picked up his 147th victory to pass Peter Reynaud and become the winningest women’s soccer coach in Sonoma State history.
In 1998, he led his team to what was then the most wins in Division II women’s soccer history with a 22-2-1 mark. That ‘98 squad won a school-record 20 games in a row and had a 14-0-0 record in conference play before reaching the NCAA Championship game for the third time in nine years. For his leadership role, Oberkirch was named NSCAA National Coach of the Year in addition to being selected as NSCAA West Region and CCAA Coach of the Year.
In 1995 and 1997, Oberkirch led his team the the Northern California Athletic Conference title. The ‘95 team was ranked #2 in the country after posting a 17-2 mark in addition to a perfect 10-0 slate in conference play.
Coach Oberkirch joined the Sonoma State staff in 1990, the year the women’s soccer team brought home the school’s first-ever NCAA National Championship. As SSU’s top assistant coach from 1990-94 under Peter Reynaud, Oberkirch was an important part of the team’s incredible success. The teams won five consecutive NCAC titles and made the NCAA playoffs five years in a row. In 1995, Oberkirch was named the third head coach in the program’s history.
Prior to coming to Sonoma State, Oberkirch was head coach of the boys soccer team at Montgomery High School in Santa Rosa from 1987-89. In 1988, his team won the North Bay League Championship and in each of his three seasons, his team made the CIF North Coach Section playoffs. On the club level, Oberkirch has coached with the Santa Rosa United Soccer Club.
A San Diego State graduate, Oberkirch received his B.A. in Physical Education in 1987 and earned his teaching credential from Sonoma State in 1989. Luke and his wife Michele reside in Santa Rosa with their son Jayk.
Dave Shaffer
Assistant Coach
A Sonoma County soccer fixture for the over 25 years, Dave Shaffer joins the SSU women’s soccer coaching staff in 2007. Shaffer has played and coached at all levels of soccer in the county from high school to the pros.
Shaffer was an All-League player at Montgomery High School, leading his team to three straight North Bay League Championships. Following graduation from Montgomery, he went on to earn All-Conference honors at Santa Rosa Junior College (1982-83) and Sonoma State (1988-89).
Shaffer also played professionally in Holland and Germany, in Atlanta, and with the North Bay Breakers of the U.S.L.
Following his playing career, Shaffer moved into the coaching ranks where he has been just as successful. The head coach at Montgomery High School from 1996 to 2004, Shaffer led the Vikings to three NCS titles and posted a record of 161-49-14. A two-time California Coach of the Year and four-time Redwood Empire Coach of the Year, Shaffer has also had coaching stints at Cardinal Newman High School, Santa Rosa JC, and with numerous club and pro teams such as the Sonoma County Sol and North Bay Breakers.
