UK Men’s Soccer Coaches (L-R) – Head Coach Ian Collins (holding son Jack), Assistant Coaches Jeff Chaney and Mike Keeney.

(Feb. 9, 2001) — The University of Kentucky men’s soccer team was honored on Tuesday, February 6, during a halftime ceremony at the UK/Florida men’s basketball game. This team made unprecedented advancements during the 2000 season, in only its 10th year as a varsity sport.

These men won their first Mid-American Conference regular-season championship on the way to claiming their second-consecutive MAC Tournament Championship and second-straight NCAA Tournament berth. However, it was in NCAA play that these Cats made the biggest waves. The Cats defeated No. 8 Saint Louis before falling to No. 9 Southern Methodist in their first-ever trip to the Sweet Sixteen.

The UK Men’s Soccer Team stands in front of 24,000-plus fans as they are honored at the UK-Florida men’s basketball game.

For his efforts in the Saint Louis match, senior goalkeeper Brian O’Leary earned UK its first national player of the week honor. And for his efforts throughout the season, junior Ilkka Jantti earned first-team All-Great Lakes Region honors as well as honorable mention All-America honors.

However, these Cats don’t just get it done on the field, they also work hard in the classroom. As a team they earned a spot in the top 10 of all Division I schools with a 3.08 grade point average in 1999 and followed that in 2000 with a team GPA of 2.995. This fall, four student-athletes were named PNC Bank Scholar-Athletes of the Week, while 12 were named to the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll. In addition, three student-athletes were recently named to the Athletics Director’s Honor Roll with a perfect 4.0 GPA in the fall semester.

The 2000 UK Men’s Soccer Team: young men who truly exemplify the words “student-athlete.”