Oliver Carias began his career as the head men's soccer coach at Queens in the fall of 2011. He is the second coach in the program’s history.
Before being promoted to head coach, Carias spent five seasons as the assistant. During his tenure the men’s soccer team reached the NCAA Tournament in 2006 and 2007, the first time for consecutive appearances. In 2006, the Royals were Carolinas Virginia Athletics Conference (CVAC) Regular Season Champions and they went on to win the Southeast Regional Title before reaching the NCAA Elite Eight Tournament.
Carias is no stranger to the men's soccer program. Before joining the coaching staff back in 2006, the 2005 graduate played four years at Queens and led his teams to a 60-10-6 overall record including a 35 game conference winning streak and an undefeated regular season in 2002-03.
Ranked as one of the top five soccer players in the nation by USA TODAY (NCAA), Carias helped carry the Queens team to the NCAA tournament in 2002 and 2004. In 2003 the Charlotte Observer tabbed him as the number one soccer player in the Carolinas, the same year Queens maintained an undefeated regular season.
The honors for Carias are abundant including earning All-American status and league Freshman of the Year in 2001, being named CVAC Player of the Year in 2003, and being selected for the All-Southeast Regional Team for his entire playing career. Carias was also named to the All-Conference team after each of his four seasons as a Royal. In commemoration of the CVAC era Carias was named to the 2006 CVAC All-Time team alongside five other former Queens players. As a key playmaker for Queens, he was ranked nationally third in assists per game and fourth in points per game after scoring 43 goals and notching 49 assists in four years. He was also the NCAA-DII leader in assists for 2002 and was second in the nation in points per game in 2003.
A native of Guatemala, Carias also has exceptional international experience. As a member of the Guatemalan Soccer National Team, he has played in 57 international games and visited 27 different countries. Carias has participated in the U-17 and U-20 Pre-World Cup, the Central American Games, Central and Caribbean Games, Pan-American Games, and the Pre-Olympic Games. His extensive knowledge of soccer at all levels will prove to be an invaluable tool both on the coaching and recruiting sides of the program.
Carias also holds a Premier Diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) in addition to his bachelor’s degree from Queens University of Charlotte.
Coach Carias was inducted into the Royals Hall of Fame in 2011 here at Queens for his outstanding accomplishments as a player.