Bio

Michael Piranian has made an impact with the Carnegie Mellon men's soccer team since his arrival in 2008 helping to guide the program to four trips to the NCAA postseason in six years, the latest coming in 2013. In six years with the Tartans, Piranian has been an instrumental piece to the Tartans’ achieving five NCAA postseason wins, the best run in school history in 2009 and two University Athletic Association Championships.

Piranian's off-season work and in-season practice planning aided the 2012 turnaround for the Tartans who won the UAA Championship and were ranked No. 4 in the nation during the season. The 2013 squad didn't miss a beat as it returned hungry and ready for the year, earning the program's second straight trip to the NCAA postseason and fourth first-round win, ending the year ranked 18th in the nation.

The 2009 team won two NCAA postseason games, set five school records and finished the year as co-champions of the University Athletic Association with a 16-3-1 (5-1-1) record. The 2010 team once again won all its non-conference matches and finished with an 11-4-1 mark while the 2011 team earned a 7-8-1 record.

Piranian came to Pittsburgh after spending four years as the assistant coach at Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. In 2007, the Generals finished with a 12-3-3 overall record and a runner-up finish in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Tournament after posting a 6-1-2 conference mark. During Piranian's tenure as assistant coach, the Generals posted a 39-19-10 record, winning 12 games in both 2006 and 2007.

While at Washington & Lee, Piranian was involved with every facet of maintaining and improving the successful Generals program including recruiting, scouting, planning and running practices and goalkeeper sessions, game-day preparations, scheduling, travel arrangements and video analysis.

Prior to Piranian's coaching start at Washington & Lee, the Lexington, Va., native worked as the Field Management and Special Events Coordinator for the Capital Area Soccer League (CASL) in 2003 and 2004. During this time he organized events for the club, the Atlantic Coast Conference men's and women's soccer tournaments, and NCAA Championships hosted by CASL in Cary, N.C., at the SAS Soccer Complex.

Piranian earned his Bachelor of Science degree in consumer studies from Virginia Tech University in 2002 after four successful years as a defender on the men's soccer team. The Hokies tallied a 43-22-4 record, accumulating double-digit wins each season Piranian took the field.

Piranian completed a master's degree in sports management from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2009 and holds his NSCAA Advanced National Diploma, USSF "B" Coaching License and is an USILA and MDIA Lacrosse Official.