KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Saif Alsafeer has been named the 2024 Select Sport America NAIA Men’s Soccer Coach of the Year after lifting Dalton State (Ga.) to the Red Banner, capping off a stellar season. This is the first time Alsafeer has been awarded this honor in his coaching career.

He has guided the Roadrunners since the 2019 season and has an overall record of 90-19-10 at Dalton State including an undefeated 22-0-2 during the 2024 campaign. Starting in October through the end of the season, DSC was recognized as the top team in the NAIA Men's Soccer Coaches' Top 25 Poll and were voted second for two of the three remaining polls. 

Dalton State (Ga.) became the first team in tournament history to not allow a single goal in the entire tournament since the field expanded and five games was necessary to win the crown. The Roadrunners conceded only seven goals in 24 contests this season. DSC claimed the Southern States Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championships. 

Alsafeer coached NAIA Men's Soccer First Team All-Americans Nicolas Leite (goalkeeper) and Antonio Bittencourt (defender) as well as Second Team member Kazuma Ishizuka (defender), all three of which were senior leaders on the squad. After the National Championship tournament, three Roadrunners were named to the All-Tournament team including Juan Demichelis, Giovanni Poliero, and Leite. Jack Stainrod was named the Outstanding Offensive Player and Demichelis was selected as the Most Value Player. 

The 2024 Select Sport America-NAIA National Coach of the Year is voted on by the NAIA Men’s Soccer Coaches Association and is announced at the annual United Soccer Coaches Convention, taking place in Chicago, Illinois this year. To be eligible, a head coach must be selected as their conference or unaffiliated group coach of the year or lead their team to the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship Final Site.