The following seasons saw the Gauchos steadily improve, culminating in the school's first Big West Conference Championship in 2001, Vom Steeg's third year in charge.
In 2003, Vom Steeg and UCSB lost the Big West title to rivals Cal State Northridge, but advanced to the Sweet Sixteen round of the NCAA Tournament.
In 2004, Tim Vom Steeg and UC Santa Barbara were firmly put on the map as a bona fide college soccer powerhouse.
Vom Steeg led the Gauchos into the 2004 Division I Men's College Cup, reaching the finals against Indiana University in Carson, California before falling on penalties.
He became the first coach in program history to reach the 100-win plateau after he led that squad to a 2–0 victory over San Diego State in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
[14] UC Santa Barbara again won the Big West title and made the 2006 Division I Men's College Cup, however this time they were unseeded.
[15] After defeating San Diego State and #3 seed SMU among others, the Gauchos made it to the College Cup in St. Louis, Missouri to contend for the national championship.
The NC State Wolfpack men's soccer team made an offer for him to replace their long-time coach, George Tarantini, in 2011 but was not accepted.
[3] On October 8, 2015, Vom Steeg became the first Big West Conference men's soccer coach to reach 100 wins in league play.
Rob Friend, Memo Arzate, Alan Keely, Drew McAthy, Tony Lochhead, Dan Kennedy, Tyler Rosenlund, Andy Iro, Eric Avila, and Ciaran O'Brien have all won All-America accolades while at UCSB under Vom Steeg.