The ISU athletic department has named former assistant Tony Minatta as head coach of the ISU soccer team. The hiring was announced Thursday morning.

Minatta served as an assistant coach for two years under former coach Wendy Dillinger. He led the Cyclones in their first Big 12 tournament appearance since 2007 last season as interim coach. The Cyclones fell to the Baylor Bears, 0-1.

Minatta was unavailable for comment Thursday, as he was on a recruiting trip. However, he tweeted his excitement for the new job.

“So honored to be the new head coach of such a great group of student athletes at one of the finest institutions in the country,” Minatta tweeted.

Minatta is the fifth head coach in the history of the ISU soccer program. In his two years as an assistant, he helped lead the Cyclones to their first 10-win season since 2005 in his first season, before finishing fourth in the Big 12 race in the regular season in 2013.

Graduating senior Jennifer Dominguez was on the team from Minatta’s hiring as an assistant to his promotion to interim coach during last season’s Big 12 tournament appearance. She noted Minatta’s leadership as likely an important factor in his hiring.

“He cares a lot about the team and is a great team leader,” Dominguez said. “I think he definitely had the team vote. … I can definitely see him becoming the face of Iowa State soccer.”

Minatta’s resume is littered with accomplishments, including serving as assistant director of coaching at the Fort Collins (Colo.) Soccer Club where he helped nearly 40 players reach NCAA rosters. He also coached in the Colorado Olympic Development Program, leading seven girls state teams.

He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1993-96, receiving the Navy Achievement Medal for outstanding leadership in overseas deployment and attained the rank of sergeant.

Minatta graduated from University of Nevada-Las Vegas in 2003 with a bachelor’s  degree in English.

Maddie Jobe, one of Iowa State’s all-time great goalkeepers, said she approves of the coaching decision. She said the hire came as no surprise to former and current players and hopes to hang around the program to work with Minatta and players in the future.

“The seniors had a group text going today, and we were all just thrilled about it,” said Jobe of Minatta’s hire. “As a graduated senior, I’m incredibly envious of the classes under that get to play under him for the next four years or so. I’m happy that he was around when I was around and I’m very happy he got the job.”