The University of Denver men’s soccer program has rehired Masaki Hemmi as the program’s associate head coach, head coach Jamie Franks announced on August 4, 2021.
Hemmi rejoins the program after a season in the Japanese Professional Women’s Soccer League (WE League) with INAC Kobe Leonessa. Prior to his stint in the WE League, Hemmi spent four seasons on Franks’ staff as an assistant at Denver.
Hemmi debuted on the Pioneers staff in 2016 as a volunteer assistant, part of the staff named the National Coaching Staff of the Year. The Tokyo, Japan, native spent two years on the staff as a full time assistant, including the final 16 months of his tenure as the program’s recruiting coordinator.
Prior to Denver, Hemmi had a six-year stint with the Real Colorado Developmental Academy on his coaching resume, working with teams from U-12 to U-19. Hemmi, who received his BS in petroleum engineering, played his college soccer from 2005-09 at the Colorado School of Mines and the University of New Mexico.
During his playing days, Hemmi was a two-time captain for the Colorado Rapids U-23s, and made a PDL Playoff appearance with the club. Hemmi has also played for the Portland Timbers U-23s (2009), in the MLS Reserve League for the Colorado Rapids (2010) and for international professional clubs in Germany (2010) and Latvia (2011). His latest stints in professional soccer came in the USL for Sevilla FC Puerto Rico (2011) and the Rochester Rhinos (2012).
