Dayton Dutch Lions News Release -- www.dutchlionsfc.com
Wednesday, January 9, 2011
DAYTON, Ohio -- The Dayton Dutch Lions FC are proud to announce Mark Batman as head coach of the women’s W-League team. The women’s team will begin their inaugural season in May, 2011, competing in the Eastern Atlantic Conference of the USL W-League, the second highest women’s league in the United States. The Dutch Lions selected Batman after a comprehensive application process with technical director Cor van Hoeven and owner Erik Tammer.
“Mark is a young, up-and-coming trainer who has great ambitions," Tammer said. "He has shown us he is very capable with this position and is committed to the Dutch Lions organization and the philosophy we have put forward. We are very excited to have Mark join us and can’t wait to see the women’s team have a successful first season.”
Batman, the current women’s head coach at Ohio Northern University, was raised in Dayton, Ohio where he began his soccer career playing for Team Dayton and Carroll High School. Batman then attended Wilmington College, and lead his team to two NCAA Sweet 16 appearances. Prior to his seven-year reign as head coach at Ohio Northern, Batman was an assistant coach at Wilmington College, University of Dubuque, IA, and Savannah College of Art and Design. At Ohio Northern, Batman has coached the Polar Bears to seven consecutive winning seasons, holding an overall record of 89-39-11.
In addition to his NCAA coaching experience, Batman has coached at all levels of U.S. Soccer’s Olympic Development Program and is currently on the Ohio North Region II coaching staff. Passionate about youth soccer development, he is excited to assist the Dayton Dutch Lions FC in bringing superior women’s soccer to the community. A mentor program between the W-League players and the Dutch Lions FC Youth Academy will provide a team of role models, developing and encouraging young girls to follow their dreams of playing professional soccer.
"I'm extremely happy to have been given this opportunity with the Dayton Dutch Lions," Batman said. "The DDL have a great vision and I was thankful they wanted me to be a part of it. It is a fantastic opportunity to be able to work with everyone involved and I'm looking forward to our inaugural season this summer."
The Dayton Dutch Lions FC were pleased with the result of the first ever open tryout for the women’s W-League, held this past weekend at Town and Country Sports Complex in Northern Kentucky. Despite the extreme weather conditions, over forty women set foot on the field for an opportunity to join the Dutch-American professional soccer club. Head Coach Mark Batman and Cor van Hoeven are likely to commit the first ever lady Dutch Lions players in the coming weeks.