Knox College has named Pablo Arriaga as the new head coach of its Prairie Fire men’s soccer team, bringing in a coach with Midwest experience and a background in player development.
The hire follows a recent leadership change within the program, according to a community announcement, after former coach Tyler Sheikh left the position to return to his home state of Connecticut.
Vice President and Director of Athletics Justin Newell said Arriaga stood out during the search process because of his recruiting track record and commitment to student-athlete growth.
“While the timing of our coaching transition was unexpected, it also created an opportunity to identify the right leader for the future of Knox men’s soccer,” Newell said. “Pablo emerged as the clear choice throughout our search. He has built a reputation as an outstanding recruiter, a strong developer of student-athletes, and a coach who understands what it takes to be successful in the Midwest. His passion for building relationships, commitment to the student-athlete experience, and vision for the future of our program made a tremendous impression on our search committee. We are thrilled to welcome Pablo to Knox College and excited about the future of Knox men’s soccer under his leadership.”
Coaching experience across regional programs
Arriaga most recently served as an assistant men’s soccer coach at Wheaton College, according to the announcement. He also held roles at Elmhurst and Greenville, contributing to programs that emphasized recruiting and team culture.
Those experiences helped establish Arriaga as an emerging coach in the region, with a focus on developing players and strengthening team performance, according to the announcement.
Building on Knox soccer tradition
Arriaga played four years of collegiate soccer at Vanguard University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology.
He said Knox’s soccer history and institutional values influenced his decision to take the role.
“Knox is a place with a proud soccer tradition, strong institutional values, and a clear commitment to providing an outstanding student-athlete experience,” Arriaga said. “The foundation that has been established here is exciting, and I am eager to build on that momentum. I look forward to connecting with our players, alumni, and recruits as we work together to compete in the Midwest Conference.”
Arriaga will begin his duties immediately as the team prepares for its upcoming season.
This story was created by reporter Nida Tazeen, NTazeen@usatodayco.com , with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: Knox College names Pablo Arriaga as new soccer coach
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