2012 Yearbook - University of North Carolina

Jeff Negalha, a native of New Bedford, Massachusetts, is in his eighth
season as an assistant coach with the North Carolina men’s soccer program.
He is of Portuguese descent and fluent in the language. One of the top young
coaches in the country, Negalha, assists head coach Carlos Somoano in all
aspects of the program as the top assistant.
Negalha was named the 2011 NSCAA National Assistant Coach of the Year
for his efforts with the Tar Heels during their national championship run.
Since Negalha arrived in Chapel Hill, the Tar Heels are 103-34-23 with six
NCAA Tournament appearances in seven years, four straight College Cup
appearances and a national championship in 2011.
A key part of Carolina’s recruiting efforts; Negalha has helped assemble
seven consecutive classes ranked among the top 11 in the country, including
the nation’s best in 2011. In addition to the 2012 recruiting class being ranked
third in the country, Negalha saw the addition of the fourth-best class in 2008,
a group that featured three freshmen All-America picks.
Following the 2006 season, Negalha was recognized by College Soccer
News as one of the “20 Top Assistant Coaches of 2006.”
Last season, Negalha watched Scott Goodwin continue as one of the best
young keepers in the country as the junior posted 11 clean sheets for the
second consecutive year. In 2010, Brooks Haggerty turned in an impressive
senior campaign allowing just 11 goals (0.55 gaa) on the year en route to a
second-straight College Cup appearance. Haggerty earned all-tournament
team honors in 2008 after coming on late in the year for the Tar Heels.
During his first season in Chapel Hill, Carolina goalkeepers combined for a
school-record 15 shutouts in 2005, while Justin Hughes led the ACC with a
0.50 goals against average. In 2006, the Tar Heels posted a 0.77 goals against
average, and Hughes was selected by the Colorado Rapids in the Major
League Soccer SuperDraft.
In 2007, Negalha mentored rookie keeper Tyler Deric to a spot on the
ACC All-Freshman Team after posting a 0.94 goals against average and six
shutouts in 17 starts. Deric joined the Houston Dynamo of the MLS in 2007
and became the first home-grown player in team history to sign a professional
contract.
In addition to his work at UNC, Negalha serves as the head coach for the
CASL U-17 squad, is an assistant with the U.S. U18 Soccer Development
Academy team and has served as a scout for U.S. Club Soccer ID2 program.
Assistant Coach Grant Porter enters his second year on the Tar Heel
staff. Porter, a 2004 graduate of UNC, has been a part of both national
titles in school history. Porter helped lead the Tar Heels to their first national
championship in 2001 and again as an assistant coach in 2011.
Porter assists in all aspects of the program from handling travel plans
to recruiting. Carolina brought in the No. 3 recruiting class for the 2012
season in Porter’s first season on staff.
Porter came to Carolina with eight years of coaching experience under
his belt since departing UNC.
Most recently Porter was the Director of Soccer for the Charlotte United
Futbol Club in Charlotte, N.C. He has served in several different roles with
the club since 2006, while also being the head soccer coach at Charlotte
Country Day School since 2009.
2012 NORTH CAROLINA MEN’S SOCCER
Negalha arrived in Chapel Hill from
the University of South Florida. He was
the Bulls’ top assistant and recruiting
coordinator from 2003-2005.
During his time at South Florida, the
Bulls won the 2004 team the NSCAA
Academic Team Award for achieving
a 3.0 grade point average. The 2004
team ended the season with a 10-5-2
record, and was ranked in the top 10
in all four polls.
In 2004, he attracted the nation’s No.
3 class according to College Soccer
News and No. 5 class according to
Soccer America, and he helped land
the No. 10 class in 2003 according to
College Soccer News. Two highlights
of the 2004 class included Rodrigo
Hidalgo and Christian Jimenez, both
U.S. Under-17 National Team members
and two of the top-25 recruits in
the nation. Jimenez left South Florida
after one season and was the 14th
overall selection in the MLS SuperDraft
by CD Chivas USA.
Before joining the staff at Carolina, Negalha was also instrumental in putting
together the Bulls’ 2005 freshmen class, which included Trinidad & Tobago
youth national team member Yohance Marshall and Kevon Neaves, U.S.
Under-17 National Team member and Parade All-America Blake Wagner and
prep All-America and Indiana player of the year Jordan Seabrook.
Prior to joining the staff at South Florida, Negalha served as the top assistant
coach at his alma mater, University of South Carolina-Spartanburg, from 1999-
2002 and helped guide the Rifles to an NCAA Division II Elite Eight appearance
and a No. 5 national ranking in the final poll of 2002. While at USCS, Negalha
helped recruit and coach the Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year in both
2002 and 2003, as well as the league’s freshman of the year in 2002.
As a player, Negalha was a two-year starter in goal for USCS and led the
Rifles to the NCAA quarterfinal round and the NCAA national championship
game in 1997 and ‘98, respectively. In his two-year career at USCS, Negalha
started 47 games and recorded 19.5 shutouts while allowing just 33 goals
through nearly 3,900 minutes. He also helped the Rifles won two PBAC regular
season championships and two conference tournament titles.
Before attending USC Spartanburg, Negalha helped NJCAA national power
Massasoit Community (Mass.) College to national semifinal and quarterfinal
appearances in 1994 and ‘95. At the conclusion of the 1995 season, Negalha
was honored with All-Conference, All-Region, and the team’s MVP. Negalha
earned his bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in
physical education in December 2000 from USCS.
While at Charlotte Country Day, Porter helped groom an all-state selection,
a pair of all-region honorees and six all-conference award winners in
his two works at the helm.
Prior to his arrival in Charlotte, Porter was an assistant coach at the
University of California Santa Barbara in 2005 where he helped lead the
Gauchos to an NCAA Tournament appearance, a top 25 final national ranking
and eight Major League Soccer players.
Porter began his coaching career in Atlanta, Ga. at Georgia State University
where he was the head assistant coach. In two years with the Panthers,
Porter helped lead GSU to a winning record and a trip to the Atlantic
Sun Tournament semi-finals. During his time in Atlanta Porter would earn a
master’s degree in sport administration from GSU.
Porter was a four-year starter during his time in Chapel Hill from the
2000-2003 seasons. He was credited with the game-winning assist in Carolina’s
national championship season of 2001.
He was awarded the UNC Nicholas Douglass Potter Coaches’ Award
in 2001. Porter would later go on to become the team captain in his senior
year of 2003. The run from 2000-2003 still ranks as the best four-year span
in school history.
Porter holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina
in economics.
2001 & 2011 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS Page 17
COACHING STAFF