Coaching Staff
Sinisa Ubiparipovic | Head Coach
Sinisa Ubiparipovic enters his fourth year as the head men’s soccer coach at Cleveland State University.
In the fall 2021 season, Ubiparipovic led the Vikings to a 10-8 overall record and a program-best eight Horizon League victories, including a perfect 5-0 mark on Krenzler Field. With their 8-2 league record, the Green and White earned the No. 2 seed in the tournament, advancing to the Championship Game for the first time since 2012.
The Vikings brought in a trio of Horizon League specialty awards; Jannis Schmidt (Player of the Year), Bojan Kolevski (Offensive Player of the Year), and Thomas M’Barek (Defensive Player of the Year). Cleveland State also received four All-League awards.
During the abbreviated spring 2021 season, Ubiparipovic led the Vikings to a 4-5 record with four players earning Second Team All-Horizon League honors.
Thomas M’Barek was named the 2020-21 Senior Class Award winner in NCAA Division 1 men’s soccer which is given annually to the most outstanding senior student-athlete in men’s soccer. M’Barek became the first student-athlete from Cleveland State to win the award.
In Ubiparipovic's first season at the helm, he led the Vikings to a number of notable results while guiding the program to its best winning percentage in four years.
In the season opener, Ubiparipovic rallied his side from a two-goal deficit to earn a result at nationally-ranked Louisville. His first road victory was also a big one as it came courtesy of a 3-2 win at Ohio State, the second straight year he helped the Vikings topple the Buckeyes. In the final match of October, Ubiparipovic saw his team post a come-from-behind win over 2018 national finalist Akron, CSU’s first win over the Zips in nine years.
Ubiparipovic’s squad had successes at both ends of the pitch in his first season. Cleveland State allowed the fewest goals in the Horizon League, conceding just 17 times in 15 matches, while getting a career year out of striker Gabriel Pewu. Under Ubiparipovic, Pewu put together the best offensive season by a Viking in over 15 years, tallying 19 points.
Pewu joined defender Thomas M’Barek in being named All-Ohio First Team, marking the first time since 2012 that a pair of Vikings earned that honor in the same season. Both Vikings were also tabbed Academic All-Ohio as well, giving CSU two of the four DI players to earn both the athletic and academic statewide honors.
Ubiparipovic was elevated into the top spot after previously serving as the program’s top assistant. During the 2018 campaign, he helped the Vikings to a pair of wins over Power Five programs, the first such occurrence for the program in over 25 years. He also guided CSU to a win over eventual Horizon League champion UIC, one of just two defeats for the Flames in their last 19 matches against league opponents as of the conclusion of the 2018 season.
Ubiparipovic appeared in over 200 professional soccer matches, including an even 100 in the Major League Soccer (MLS) ranks with New York Red Bulls and Montreal Impact.
Ubiparipovic was drafted by the New York Red Bulls in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft and went on to play four seasons with the club. He played in 12 MLS matches in his debut season and helped the Red Bulls qualify for the playoffs, where he featured in both matches his side played.
Ubiparipovic was a key piece to the Red Bulls' run to the 2008 MLS Cup Final under head coach Juan Carlos Osorio, the former Mexican national team manager. He started all four postseason matches in helping the squad to the first Cup final in franchise history. Ubiparipovic went on to play in 18 matches during a 2010 campaign that saw the Red Bulls finish in first place in the Eastern Conference.
Ubiparipovic moved to the Montreal Impact for the 2011 season and was recognized as the club's newcomer of the year. He then helped the side transition into the MLS during the 2012 campaign.
Ubiparipovic competed for the Ottawa Fury in 2014 and 2015, posting nine goals across 48 fixtures over the two campaigns. He helped the team to the Fall season title in 2015 by posting five goals and six assists in the campaign. The squad only lost once in the fall season and subsequently earned a berth in Soccer Bowl 2015.
Ubiparipovic finished his playing career with the Indy Eleven, seeing action in 34 matches. He helped the Eleven to an undefeated record in the 2016 Spring season and a berth in Soccer Bowl 2016, the second time in as many seasons he helped a team to its first Soccer Bowl appearance in franchise history.
Prior to joining the CSU staff as an assistant, Ubiparipovic was a member of the coaching staff for the U-17 and U-18 teams at Cleveland Soccer Academy Impact United. He also helped train high-level youth players when he assisted with the Fury FC Academy while playing for Ottawa.
The first-ever player from Akron to be drafted in the MLS SuperDraft, Ubiparipovic began his collegiate career at fellow Horizon League member UIC before transferring to the Zips program after one season. Ubiparipovic was a two-time All-American for Akron and was named the 2006 Mid-American Conference Player of the Year under then head coach Caleb Porter. Ubiparipovic scored 42 goals as a collegian, including a career-high 17 during his junior season. He was inducted into Akron’s Sports Hall of Fame in the fall of 2018.
Among the numerous teammates Ubiparipovic had in his professional career were former France national team captain Thierry Henry, former Mexico national team captain Rafael Marquez and former United States national team captain Claudio Reyna.
Ubiparipovic’s brother, Slavisa, was a two-time All-Horizon League First Team honoree at Cleveland State in 2008-09.
A native of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ubiparipovic earned a Bachelor's degree from Akron in sociology and criminology in 2006.
Visnu Maharaj | Assistant Coach
Visnu Maharaj enters his ninth overall season on staff at Cleveland State and his fourth as the top assistant coach.
In the fall 2021 season, Maharaj helped the Vikings to a program-best eight Horizon League victories, including a perfect 5-0 mark on Krenzler Field. With their 8-2 league record, the Green and White earned the No. 2 seed in the tournament, advancing to the Championship Game for the first time since 2012.
The Vikings brought in a trio of Horizon League specialty awards; Jannis Schmidt (Player of the Year), Bojan Kolevski (Offensive Player of the Year), and Thomas M’Barek (Defensive Player of the Year). Cleveland State also received four All-League awards.
During the abbreviated spring 2021 season, Maharaj helped the Vikings to a 4-5 record with four players earning Second Team All-Horizon League honors. In addition, he aided in Thomas M’Barek being named the 2020-21 Senior Class Award winner in NCAA Division 1 men’s soccer, the first player from Cleveland State to win the award.
Maharaj helped the Vikings to a number of notable results as the program posted its best winning percentage in four years during the 2019 campaign.
In the season opener, CSU rallied from a two-goal deficit to earn a result at nationally-ranked Louisville. The team’s first road victory was also a big one as it came courtesy of a 3-2 win at Ohio State, the second straight year Maharaj helped the Vikings topple the Buckeyes. In the final match of October, Cleveland State posted a come-from-behind win over 2018 national finalist Akron, CSU’s first win over the Zips in nine years.
Maharaj, who primarily works with defensive players, helped the Vikings to successes on that end of the pitch in 2019. Cleveland State allowed the fewest goals in the Horizon League, conceding just 17 times in 15 matches, despite starting a true freshman goalkeeper for the entirety of the campaign.
Defender Thomas M’Barek was named both All-Ohio First Team and All-Horizon League First Team with Maharaj’s assistance.
Maharaj helped the Vikings to a pair of wins over Power Five programs in 2018, the first such occurrence for the program in over 25 years. He also guided CSU to a win over eventual Horizon League champion UIC, one of just two defeats for the Flames in their last 19 matches against league opponents as of the conclusion of the 2018 season.
Maharaj helped the Vikings reach the Horizon League Tournament Semifinals in his first season as an assistant coach. Cleveland State won its Tournament quarterfinal match with a 4-0 victory at Wright State, the largest margin of victory by CSU in its Horizon League Tournament history. The Vikings also became the first team since 1999 to win a HL Tournament contest by at least four goals as the lower-seeded team in the match.
With Maharaj’s assistance, the Vikings improved over 50 places in the RPI from the season prior. Cleveland State played one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the nation, as its non-conference strength of schedule ranked 15th at the end of the regular season. CSU faced 10 teams among the top 101 in the RPI, the most in the league, as the Vikings faced three top-15 squads and two that advanced to the Elite Eight.
Maharaj was tasked with helping an incredibly young back line in his first season as an assistant. In 13 of 19 matches, CSU started two newcomers at central defense. The Vikings also started three true freshmen on their four-man back line in both of their HL Tournament matches. Despite the youth, the Vikings allowed only 10 goals from the run of play in their final 16 matches of the campaign.
He was initially promoted to a coaching role following the 2016 season after serving as the Director of Operations for three campaigns.
Primarily a central defender, Maharaj earned a pair of letters as a student-athlete with the Vikings (2012, 2013). In his time with Cleveland State, he was a key component of the CSU defense, appearing in 17 matches and making 13 starts. He helped the Vikings claim the 2012 Horizon League Championship and earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Maharaj, who was forced to retire in 2013 due to injury, was the team captain of the Nashville Metros of the Premier Development League in 2012. He also played for Rocket City United of the National Premier Soccer League in 2010.
Maharaj was a member of the Venezuelan U-17 National Team and competed in the South American U-17 Championship in 2009, where berths to the U-17 World Cup were determined. He also competed in the U-15 South American Championship in 2007. In his youth international days, he played against the likes of Coutinho, Neymar and Casemiro.
Maharaj was invited to the residency program at Brad Friedel’s Premier Soccer Academy and Columbus Crew Academy in his youth days. He played alongside Wil Trapp, a MLS All-Star for the Columbus Crew and U.S. national team captain, and Carlos Salcedo, a Mexican international player and former member of Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.
In 2009, Maharaj was invited to preseason camp with the Colorado Rapids of the MLS but rejected an amateur contract offer.
Maharaj also serves as the Director of the High School Boys Program for Cleveland Force Soccer Club (formerly CSA Impact United).
Maharaj earned a Bachelor's degree in international business in 2015 and a graduate degree in sports management in 2017, both from Cleveland State. He resides in downtown Cleveland with his wife, Victoria, one of the all-time winningest tennis players in Cleveland State history.
Carl Contrascier | Assistant Goalkeeper Coach
Carl Contrascier enters his fourth season as an assistant coach for the CSU men’s soccer program in 2020. He primarily works with the Viking goalkeepers. In 2021, Contrascier was promoted to associated head coach of the Cleveland State women's team.
In the fall 2021 season, Contrascier helped the Vikings to a program-best eight Horizon League victories, including a perfect 5-0 mark on Krenzler Field. With their 8-2 league record, the Green and White earned the No. 2 seed in the tournament, advancing to the Championship Game for the first time since 2012.
During the abbreviated spring 2021 season, Contrascier helped the Vikings to four victories which all came by shutout.
In his first season on staff, Contrascier helped the Vikings to a number of notable results as the program posted its best winning percentage in four years during the 2019 campaign.
In the season opener, CSU rallied from a two-goal deficit to earn a result at nationally ranked Louisville. The team’s first road victory was also a big one as it came courtesy of a 3-2 win at Ohio State, the second straight year that the Vikings toppled the Buckeyes. In the final match of October, Cleveland State posted a come-from-behind win over 2018 national finalist Akron, CSU’s first win over the Zips in nine years.
Contrascier helped the Vikings to notable successes on the defensive end of the pitch in 2019. Cleveland State allowed the fewest goals in the Horizon League, conceding just 17 times in 15 matches, despite starting a true freshman goalkeeper for the entirety of the campaign.
Contrascier’s work with freshman Omeed Naeemy helped the latter earn Horizon League All-Freshmen Team accolades, the only CSU goalkeeper to achiever the feat last decade. With Contrascier’s help, Naeemy led the league, and ranked among the top 30 in Division I, with his .788 save percentage, while also posting a 1.10 goals against mark. Naeemy tied a Horizon League single-match record when he made 16 saves at UIC when the Vikings were reduced to 10 men, the most by a HL keeper in over 30 years.
Contrascier is also entering his sixth season as an assistant coach for the CSU women’s program. He helped the Viking women to their best-ever season in 2018, as the squad reached the Horizon League Tournament championship match for the first time while netting a school-record 11 wins.
Contrascier was hired at Cleveland State after spending two seasons as an assistant at John Carroll.
Contrascier spent the 2013 season as a volunteer assistant and was an assistant coach with the JCU women’s team in 2014 while also serving as the men’s goalkeeper coach. In his two seasons with the JCU women’s squad, Contrascier helped the Blue Streaks to 21 wins, including a co-regular season title in 2013 and a spot in the OAC Tournament championship.
In his lone season with the JCU men, Contrascier was part of a squad that posted a 17-4 record, including a perfect 9-0 mark in conference play before falling in the tournament title match.
A three-year starter as a goalkeeper at JCU, Contrascier played in the second most games (48) as a goalkeeper in program history. His 27 wins rank third all-time and his 193 saves are fourth all-time in JCU history. He posted a 1.24 goals against average for his career, ranking ninth in school history.
As a senior in 2012, Contrascier was a second team All-OAC selection and an Academic All-Ohio pick. He was a second team all-league honoree in 2011 and made 85 saves, the third most in a season in school history.
A native of Hinckley, Ohio, Contrascier graduated from John Carroll in 2013 with a degree in history.