About the Team
The Knights boys’ soccer team won back-to-back league championships in 2021 and 2022. Menlo is a consistent CCS contender, and advanced to the CCS Open in 2021, CCS Div. II quarterfinals in 2022, CCS Div. IV semifinals in 2023, compiling a 34-9-6 record over the past three seasons.
The Knights program ushered in a new chapter in its history in 2012-2013, landing its first CCS championship, and in 2019, advanced to the championship final. In 2015-2016, Menlo knocked off the top seed in the first round of the CCS Championships, ultimately losing 1-0 in the semifinals to the eventual champions.
The Knights returned to the CCS semifinals in 2017 after compiling a 9-0-3 West Bay Athletic League record and its first league title in 15 years.
The Coach
Daniel Hicker (Second Season)
Hicker has over 20 years of coaching experience i n the youth, collegiate and pro ranks, including within US Soccer, MLS, NCAA Div. I, NHL, and The Air National Guard. He began his coaching career leading the men’s team at Pierce College in Washington where he helped carry the program back to the playoffs after a 15-year drought. During this time, he also worked as head coach and performance coach for local youth clubs. Hicker then stepped in as women’s head coach at T rinity Lutheran College (WA) where he also taught exercise science. From there, he served as Director of Performance Analysis and volunteer coach for Santa Clara University’s women’s team, and during that time, he coached local youth clubs, and served as the Olympic Development Program as a Regional Coach and Cal North Head Coach. In 2014, he was an assistant coach for the Bay Area Breeze of the USL W-League. Hicker holds a Premier Coaching Diploma through United Soccer Coaches.
Hicker is also Menlo School’s Director of Sports Performance and Wellness. Before coming to Menlo, he served as Director of Performance for the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer. Prior to that, he was with the San Jose Earthquakes as Head of Athletic Performance where he led management and alignment for physical development pathways from the Academy to MLS.