Washington Spirit Reserves News Release -- www.washingtonspirit.com
Sunday, March 17, 2013
BOYDS, Md. – The Washington Spirit announced today that Mark Parsons will serve as the head coach for Spirit Reserves W-League team for the 2013 season. Following a successful stint at the helm of D.C. United Women Super-20 squad last year, Parsons assumes the lead role in developing the direct feeder team for the professional NWSL Washington Spirit.
Previous to arriving stateside, Parsons spent six years coaching at Chelsea FC in England. As the head coach of Chelsea Ladies Reserve, he led the team to an unprecedented three-for-three in championships within his first year, a feat never accomplished previously. Parsons also served as Director of the Chelsea Women’s Center of Excellence for the U10 through U16 age groups.
In addition to moving into the W-League coaching ranks, Parsons will also share duties as an assistant on the coaching staff for the senior Spirit professional side under NWSL head coach Mike Jorden.
"Mark is a young, innovative, and hard-working coach who really loves the game,” said Jorden. “He did a fantastic job last year with the U20’s, and it was a natural step to promote him to coach of the W-League side.”
“With his positive energy, commitment, and knowledge of the game, he’ll do a great job," Jorden continued.
As head coach of the Super-20 United Women in 2012, Parsons engineered a successful run at the National title. After going unbeaten in the first three days of group play in the tournament, D.C. United Women fell 1-0 in the final to the champion Colorado Rapids Women.
Currently, Parsons is also the Technical Director for Culpeper Soccer Association.
The Washington Spirit Reserves face a challenging schedule of opponents in the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference for the season, which include the 2012 playoff contenders Long Island Rough Riders and Virginia Beach Piranhas.
The Spirit Reserves will kick off their home season Saturday May 11th against the New York Magic. Match time is set for 4 p.m. at the Maryland Soccerplex and is the first in a doubleheader. The Washington Spirit professional side face the Boston Breakers at 7 p.m.