University of Vermont Men’s Soccer Head Coach Rob Dow has officially accepted a position as the next head coach for Penn State University’s Men’s Soccer team. Top video: See previous coverageUVM Athletics confirmed earlier reports about Dow’s upcoming move on Thursday morning. Multiple sources had told NBC5 on Wednesday evening that Dow was in negotiations for the role.Associate Head Coach Brad Cole will serve as interim head coach for the men’s soccer team going forward, UVM Athletics said.Dow wrapped up his third year in his latest four-year deal with UVM, which has him at a base salary of $200,000. Dow helped lead UVM to an undefeated season in 2025 at 14-0-5, which led the Catamounts to their seventh America East Conference championship title. Vermont earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Division I College Cup before losing in the first round of the tournament to Hofstra University 3-2 in overtime. “Coaching at Vermont the last 14 years has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” said Dow in a prepared statement. “To my players, coaches, staffers and of course Catamount Country that filled Virtue Field every game this year, thank you from the bottom of my heart. My family and I will always cherish our time in Vermont and the memories we made together.”Dow just wrapped up his ninth season as UVM’s head coach. He earned the most NCAA tournament wins as a head coach in school history, including earning the men’s soccer team’s first national championship in program history in 2024. “On behalf of the Athletic Department and the entire UVM community, I want to thank Rob for his exceptional leadership of our men’s soccer program over the past nine years,” said UVM Director of Athletics Jeff Schulman in a statement. “Under his guidance, the program has reached unprecedented heights at the top of the college soccer world and established a lasting foundation of excellence with outstanding student-athletes whose character, leadership and talent embody the very best of college athletics on and off the field.”Cole is a UVM alum and has been associate head coach for the program for the past three years. Schulman said he will be considered for the permanent head coach job as the search for Dow’s replacement begins.
University of Vermont Men’s Soccer Head Coach Rob Dow has officially accepted a position as the next head coach for Penn State University’s Men’s Soccer team.
Top video: See previous coverage
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UVM Athletics confirmed earlier reports about Dow’s upcoming move on Thursday morning. Multiple sources had told NBC5 on Wednesday evening that Dow was in negotiations for the role.
Associate Head Coach Brad Cole will serve as interim head coach for the men’s soccer team going forward, UVM Athletics said.
Dow wrapped up his third year in his latest four-year deal with UVM, which has him at a base salary of $200,000.
Dow helped lead UVM to an undefeated season in 2025 at 14-0-5, which led the Catamounts to their seventh America East Conference championship title. Vermont earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Division I College Cup before losing in the first round of the tournament to Hofstra University 3-2 in overtime.
“Coaching at Vermont the last 14 years has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” said Dow in a prepared statement. “To my players, coaches, staffers and of course Catamount Country that filled Virtue Field every game this year, thank you from the bottom of my heart. My family and I will always cherish our time in Vermont and the memories we made together.”
Dow just wrapped up his ninth season as UVM’s head coach. He earned the most NCAA tournament wins as a head coach in school history, including earning the men’s soccer team’s first national championship in program history in 2024.
“On behalf of the Athletic Department and the entire UVM community, I want to thank Rob for his exceptional leadership of our men’s soccer program over the past nine years,” said UVM Director of Athletics Jeff Schulman in a statement. “Under his guidance, the program has reached unprecedented heights at the top of the college soccer world and established a lasting foundation of excellence with outstanding student-athletes whose character, leadership and talent embody the very best of college athletics on and off the field.”
Cole is a UVM alum and has been associate head coach for the program for the past three years. Schulman said he will be considered for the permanent head coach job as the search for Dow’s replacement begins.
