Hawken names Muresan coach

Vlad Muresan was announced Feb. 28 as the new Hawken boys soccer coach.

A native of Romania, Muresan emigrated with his family to the United States at 11. He played for Internationals in its development academy and attended St. Ignatius.

After high school, Muresan spent a year playing professionally for CS Zlatna in Romania’s third division. He returned to Northeast Ohio in 2010 and has been the technical director for Liberty FC in Akron.

Muresan earned his USSF ‘A’ license in 2016 at 24, one of the youngest coaches in the country to earn that distinction.

“I am grateful and privileged to be the new coach of Hawken,” Muresan said in a prepared statement. “I cannot wait to meet the players and families of Hawken soccer. I am excited and eager to embark on this new journey with Hawken and looking forward to getting started.”

Muresan succeeds Dani Giulvezan, who stepped down in November after 17 years on the touchline guiding the Hawks. Under Giulvezan’s tutelage, Hawken advanced to seven Division III state final fours and were D-III state runnersup four times.

“We have been getting to know Coach Muresan over the past few weeks, and wow, have we been impressed,” Hawks athletic director Jim Doyle said. “It is an exciting time for our soccer program, and I am very optimistic for the coming years.

“Vlad possesses the love, hunger and desire to take Hawken soccer to the highest level on and off the field. We also believe he has the technical ability and a balanced approach to elevate the play of our players and team.”

Hawken will also have a new girls soccer coach next fall. Heidi Wilbrandt was tapped to lead that program this past November, succeeding Anton Trifonovs after five seasons.