Arizona State University head women's soccer coach Graham Winkworth announced the appointment of Shigeyoshi 'Sugar' Shinohara as assistant coach on the Sun Devil soccer staff in January of 2017.
"I'm very excited to bring Coach Shinohara to ASU to work with me," Winkworth said. "To get to work with your best friend is amazing in itself, but to get to work with your best friend when they are as gifted as Sugar is a whole new level.
"I have known Sugar for many years now. He is an extremely talented coach who loves the game to be played in a beautiful way, which matches my philosophy. Sugar is so loyal to anyone he works with and his passion and work ethic is second to none. I cannot wait for the team to enjoy his exciting style on the pitch. I have to thank his wife Arin for supporting his dream and moving across the country to join the Sun Devil soccer program."
Shinohara joined Winkworth's staff from Brevard College (Brevard, North Carolina) where he spent eight seasons – seven seasons as head coach of the women's program (2009-15) and one season as head coach of the men's program (2016).
"I feel absolutely honored and privileged for the opportunity to work at such a great academic institution and program," Shinohara said. "I have known Graham since the beginning of my collegiate soccer career and have had the chance to get to know him very well. It is because of this time together that I have so much respect for him as a friend, father, and a coach.
"Having the opportunity to join Graham in coaching the Sun Devil women's soccer program is a dream come true for me. I am excited to begin the next phase of my career with a great coach and the dedicated team and staff at ASU."
In his only season leading the men's program, Shinohara led Brevard to its best season since joining the NCAA, as it finished 8-8-3. Included among the achievements was one of the biggest upsets in program history when it defeated eventual 2016 NCAA Division II national champions Wingate 1-0 in the quarterfinal round of the South Atlantic Conference tournament.
Under Shinohara's direction the women's program earned a berth in the South Atlantic Conference tournament for the first time in school history and set the school record for consecutive wins. Off the field, his team's 3.51 cumulative GPA was the second highest in the Brevard Athletics Department.
Prior to assuming the reins at Brevard, Shinohara served as an assistant coach at the University of Montevallo from 2005-09 under head coach Patricia Hughes. During his time at UM, Shinohara was heavily involved in recruiting and the overall operation of the women's soccer program. At UM Shinohara was part of a staff that led the women's soccer team to an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance and the Gulf South Conference Tournament title in 2007. UM was also a Gulf South Conference Tournament finalist in 2008.
Shinohara started his coaching career in Yamaguchi, Japan where he was the assistant for the Seiki Football Club of a group aged 10-16 from 1994-2001. From there he moved to the United Soccer Academy where he was responsible for the day-to-day administrative operations as well as being a full-time coach where he coached one-on-one sessions with youth players whose ages ranged from 3-18.
In addition to his collegiate work, Shinohara was a member of both the Alabama Olympic Developmental Program (2005-09) and the North Carolina Olympic Developmental Program (2009-16). In that role he was responsible for evaluating and training players as well as coaching in spring and summer camps in the district and state.
Shinohara holds an NSCAA Premier Diploma and an Advanced National Diploma as well as the F.A. Coaching License and the UEFA "B" Award International Coaching License from the Football Association in England. Most recently he also added a National B License and a National Youth License from the U.S. Soccer Federation.