Men's Soccer
Killian, Paul
Paul Killian
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- msoccer@athletics.ucla.edu
Paul Killian enters his third season as an assistant coach at UCLA in 2023. He was originally added to the staff by head coach Ryan Jorden on May 10, 2021.
The Bruins have posted a 23-14-2 overall record and qualified for the NCAA Tournament each season during his tenure.
In 2022, UCLA went 12-7-1 and reached the Third Round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014. The Bruins limited their opponents to one goal or fewer in 10 consecutive games from Sept. 15 to Oct. 29, the program's longest such streak since 2005. Overall, the Bruins held their opponents to one goal or under in all but four contests. Nationally, UCLA ranked among the elite in fewest fouls per game (9.3, 10th), save percentage (.780, 23rd), assists (33, 40th), and goals against average (1.00, 40th). Highlights from the season included a win on the road at No. 12 Clemson in the NCAA Tournament Second Round, the program's first unbeaten trip to the Bay Area Pac-12 schools since 2013, and a season-high five goals against Liberty on Sept. 2. Six Bruins were cited on the Pac-12 All-Conference Team, including Second Team honors for Jose Sosa and Tommy Silva.
His first season on staff at UCLA was an inarguable success, as the Bruins went 11-7-1 and secured an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins' 11 victories were an eight-win improvement over the 2020-21 season, representing the largest year-to-year turnaround in modern program history. The Bruins had several high-water marks over the course of the year – including a win over then-No. 1 Oregon State on Nov. 7 and a dramatic golden goal against UC Santa Barbara in the first round of the NCAA Tourney – and eventually reached the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015. The Bruins received plenty of individual accolades at the end of the year, with seven receiving All-Pac-12 recognition, four making All-Far West Region, and a pair earning national All-Freshman honors. Three Bruins joined MLS clubs after the 2021 season: Ahmed Longmire (No. 10 overall - Nashville SC) and Ben Reveno (second round – New England) via the MLS SuperDraft and Justin Garces via a Homegrown contract with Atlanta United FC.
Killian spent the five previous seasons (2016-21) on the staff of the men's program at Navy, serving as an assistant coach for four seasons before earning a promotion to associate head coach in 2020. His time in Annapolis yielded a number of program highlights, including a 15-game winning streak over the 2018 and 2019 seasons. He started his career as an assistant in 2015 at his alma mater, Stevens, guiding the club to a 15-4-2 record that season.
Killian was an instrumental part of Navy's success during his tenure, culminating in a 2019 campaign that ranks among the best in program history. The Midshipmen won 11 straight games out of the gate that year – the school's best start to a season since 1964 – and ultimately finished with a 12-4-1 record, tied for the third-most single-season wins in program history. With Killian specifically working with the team's back line, Navy posted the fourth-best goals-against-average (0.57) in the country that year.
Navy followed that up with a 4-2-1 performance during the truncated 2020-21 season. In three seasons with Killian as the top assistant, the Midshipmen posted a 21-17-3 overall record.
Killian was also the recruiting coordinator during his time at Navy, putting together a trio of recruiting classes that were nationally ranked by TopDrawerSoccer. His most notable signings included Matt Nocita, three-time Patriot League Defender of the Year and the No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, and Jacob Williams, the 2018 Patriot League Rookie of the Year and 2021 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year.
The Ellicott City, Md. native has made a pair of other coaching stops during his career, working as an assistant coach with the Baltimore Armour in the U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy program (USSDA) and assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at Stevens for the 2015-16 season.
During his one year at Stevens, the Ducks went 15-4-2 and spent the entire season nationally ranked in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA; now United Soccer Coaches) poll en route to an NCAA Tournament appearance. Killian also recruited the 2016 Conference Freshman of the Year for Stevens before making the move to Annapolis.
A goalkeeper during his playing days, Killian was a three-year starter in net for Stevens, posting a 50-8-3 career record with 25 shutouts. He was named the National Goalkeeper of the Year and a First Team All-American by D3Soccer.com in 2012 after going 18-3-1 with a 0.40 GAA, 12 shutouts, and a .894 save percentage. He won 16 games and had at least six shutouts as both a sophomore in 2011 and a senior in 2013.
Killian graduated from Stevens in 2014 with a degree in Business & Technology.
The Bruins have posted a 23-14-2 overall record and qualified for the NCAA Tournament each season during his tenure.
In 2022, UCLA went 12-7-1 and reached the Third Round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014. The Bruins limited their opponents to one goal or fewer in 10 consecutive games from Sept. 15 to Oct. 29, the program's longest such streak since 2005. Overall, the Bruins held their opponents to one goal or under in all but four contests. Nationally, UCLA ranked among the elite in fewest fouls per game (9.3, 10th), save percentage (.780, 23rd), assists (33, 40th), and goals against average (1.00, 40th). Highlights from the season included a win on the road at No. 12 Clemson in the NCAA Tournament Second Round, the program's first unbeaten trip to the Bay Area Pac-12 schools since 2013, and a season-high five goals against Liberty on Sept. 2. Six Bruins were cited on the Pac-12 All-Conference Team, including Second Team honors for Jose Sosa and Tommy Silva.
His first season on staff at UCLA was an inarguable success, as the Bruins went 11-7-1 and secured an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins' 11 victories were an eight-win improvement over the 2020-21 season, representing the largest year-to-year turnaround in modern program history. The Bruins had several high-water marks over the course of the year – including a win over then-No. 1 Oregon State on Nov. 7 and a dramatic golden goal against UC Santa Barbara in the first round of the NCAA Tourney – and eventually reached the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015. The Bruins received plenty of individual accolades at the end of the year, with seven receiving All-Pac-12 recognition, four making All-Far West Region, and a pair earning national All-Freshman honors. Three Bruins joined MLS clubs after the 2021 season: Ahmed Longmire (No. 10 overall - Nashville SC) and Ben Reveno (second round – New England) via the MLS SuperDraft and Justin Garces via a Homegrown contract with Atlanta United FC.
Killian spent the five previous seasons (2016-21) on the staff of the men's program at Navy, serving as an assistant coach for four seasons before earning a promotion to associate head coach in 2020. His time in Annapolis yielded a number of program highlights, including a 15-game winning streak over the 2018 and 2019 seasons. He started his career as an assistant in 2015 at his alma mater, Stevens, guiding the club to a 15-4-2 record that season.
Killian was an instrumental part of Navy's success during his tenure, culminating in a 2019 campaign that ranks among the best in program history. The Midshipmen won 11 straight games out of the gate that year – the school's best start to a season since 1964 – and ultimately finished with a 12-4-1 record, tied for the third-most single-season wins in program history. With Killian specifically working with the team's back line, Navy posted the fourth-best goals-against-average (0.57) in the country that year.
Navy followed that up with a 4-2-1 performance during the truncated 2020-21 season. In three seasons with Killian as the top assistant, the Midshipmen posted a 21-17-3 overall record.
Killian was also the recruiting coordinator during his time at Navy, putting together a trio of recruiting classes that were nationally ranked by TopDrawerSoccer. His most notable signings included Matt Nocita, three-time Patriot League Defender of the Year and the No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, and Jacob Williams, the 2018 Patriot League Rookie of the Year and 2021 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year.
The Ellicott City, Md. native has made a pair of other coaching stops during his career, working as an assistant coach with the Baltimore Armour in the U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy program (USSDA) and assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at Stevens for the 2015-16 season.
During his one year at Stevens, the Ducks went 15-4-2 and spent the entire season nationally ranked in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA; now United Soccer Coaches) poll en route to an NCAA Tournament appearance. Killian also recruited the 2016 Conference Freshman of the Year for Stevens before making the move to Annapolis.
A goalkeeper during his playing days, Killian was a three-year starter in net for Stevens, posting a 50-8-3 career record with 25 shutouts. He was named the National Goalkeeper of the Year and a First Team All-American by D3Soccer.com in 2012 after going 18-3-1 with a 0.40 GAA, 12 shutouts, and a .894 save percentage. He won 16 games and had at least six shutouts as both a sophomore in 2011 and a senior in 2013.
Killian graduated from Stevens in 2014 with a degree in Business & Technology.
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