Damon Rensing Position: Head Coach Experience: Third Season

Former MSU soccer standout Damon Rensing enters his third season as head coach after serving as an assistant coach for 10 seasons at his alma mater. Rensing became the fifth head coach in Spartan history on January 1, 2009 after taking over for the legendary Joe Baum, who guided MSU for 32 seasons. Rensing was named MSU's head coach designate on Aug. 14, 2008 after Baum decided to make 2008 his final season as head coach.

Rensing has spent nearly half his life in the Green and White with four years as varsity letterwinner, one season as an assistant with the women's program and 10 seasons in his previous position.

2010 was a magical postseason for the Spartans, as they advanced to the Round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament and traveled to North Carolina. The teams battled through regulation and both overtimes, and it took until the final strike of penalty kicks for the Tar Heels to eliminate the Spartans. MSU downed Oakland in its opening game, and knocked off previously undefeated Butler in Indianapolis to earn its date with UNC. MSU finished the season ranked ninth in the final RPI ranking - the second-highest ranking for a Big Ten team - and compiled a 13-7-2 overall record. Rensing saw two seniors - fullback Colin Givens and midfielder Spencer Thompson - selected in the MLS Superdraft and Supplemental Draft, respectively.

In his two years, Rensing has led the Spartans to a 24-15-4 overall mark and into the NCAA Tournament both seasons. Among those victories include a dramatic overtime victory at then-No. 3 Maryland, a pair of wins over Notre Dame in the Big Ten-Big East Challenge, MSU's first-ever road victory over Indiana, and impressive conference victories over Michigan and Northwestern. He owns a 2-2 record in the NCAA Tournament, including a run to the round of 16 in 2010.

During his ten years as an assistant at Michigan State, Rensing helped lead the Spartans to 2004 and 2008 Big Ten Tournament championships as well as the 2008 conference regular-season crown. The 2008 season was one of the most successful in recent MSU history as the Spartans received the No. 4 overall seed in the NCAA Championships, tied a program-best with 13 wins and went 6-2 against ranked opponents.

Rensing was instrumental in helping the program to its first four trips to the NCAA Tournament (2001, 2004, 2007 and 2008) since 1969. Michigan State has posted a 110-64-20 (.619) overall record with Rensing on the sidelines, including 11 or more wins in eight seasons. Since 2000, the Spartans have won at least 11 games eight times.

During his time as an assistant, Rensing tutored 14 different First Team All-Big Ten performers and nine different NSCAA-All Region honorees. Rensing also worked with two NSCAA All-America selections - Ryan McMahen (2005) and Doug DeMartin (2008). Both McMahen (80 points, 26 goals) and DeMartin (85 points, 38 goals) rank in the MSU all-time top 10 in points and goals.

Five players Rensing has recruited and coached, including John Minagawa-Webster (2005), McMahen (2006), Kevin Reiman (2008), Rauwshan McKenzie (2008) and DeMartin (2009), have been drafted by MLS teams.

Rensing began his coaching career in 1997 when he assisted with the MSU women's soccer team before moving to UNLV when former MSU women's assistant Staci Hendershott was appointed head coach of that program. While at UNLV, he helped that club to an overall record of 8-10-1 along with a No. 3 national ranking for first-year programs. In addition, he coached the Las Vegas Premier Soccer U-17 Team to a state championship.

After one year at UNLV, Rensing returned to East Lansing in 1999 where he became an assistant coach on Baum's staff. In 2004, Rensing was promoted to associate head coach following the 2004 season.

Rensing was a four-time letterwinner and three-year starter for MSU (1993-96). His senior year saw him capture All-Big Ten first-team recognition after picking up 14 points on five goals and four assists. He was a second-team All-Big Ten honoree as a sophomore and junior. During his four years, he played in 74 matches, 55 as a starter, totaling seven goals and 13 assists for 27 points.

Rensing earned his bachelor's degree from MSU in communication in 1997. He married the former Daune Koester in May 2004. The couple has two children, Anna Hanley (4), and Drew Alexander (2).