Aug. 31, 2010
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By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - UCF men's soccer head coach Bryan Cunningham has welcomed Antti Laitinen to his staff as an assistant coach for the 2010 season. Laitinen suited up with the Black and Gold from 1997-99, earning two letters as a keeper for the Knights.
"I am very excited to be back at UCF," said Laitinen. "I look forward to helping coach Cunningham guide the program to the very top where it belongs."
Laitinen was a First-Team All-Atlantic Sun goalkeeper in 1998, as his five shutouts during that season still rank ninth on UCF's single-season chart. Meanwhile, Laitinen's 143 saves and 1.39 goals-against average during his career places him sixth on the all-time list.
After graduating with a bachelor's degree in political science at UCF in 2000, Laitinen earned his MBA in football industries from the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom in 2002. He went on to play professionally for FC HIFK and FC Viikingit in the Finnish First Division.
Laitinen received a UEFA B coaching license, and has experience coaching goalkeepers from all ages including from the U12-U14 elite levels.