USL PRO News Release
Monday, January 20, 2014
TAMPA, Fla. – USL PRO today announced the coaches for the 2014 USL PRO Combine presented by Nike, which is set to kick off at the world-class facilities of IMG Academy on Thursday and run through Sunday. Among those set to lead more than 100 players through training and scrimmages are coaches from the professional ranks and the PDL, as well as former professional players.
“We are very pleased to welcome back a number of familiar faces for this year’s Combine,” USL National Technical Director Peter Mellor said. “The experience brought by this year’s Combine coaches will prove invaluable as they provide input and leadership for all of the players in attendance as they try to prove their readiness to make the jump into the professional ranks.”
Two notable figures who return to the Combine are the Chicago Fire’s Larry Sunderland and U.S. Women’s National Team goalkeeping coach Paul Rodgers. Sunderland, the Fire’s Academy Director, brings extensive experience in the professional and academy ranks, with the work he and his staff have put in for the Fire bearing fruit most recently in the form of Homegrown Player signings Harrison Shipp and Chris Ritter.
Rodgers, pictured at last year’s event, has been on the staff of the U.S. Women’s National Team for four years, being part of the team’s Olympic Gold Medal-winning staff in 2012. Rodgers has helped develop players such as Hope Solo, and holds a USSF ‘A’ license, UEFA ‘B’ license and UEFA Goalkeeper License.
From the PDL ranks, Victoria Highlanders coach Steve Simonson joins the Combine after leading his side to a Western Conference championship in 2013. Toronto Lynx coaches Duncan Wilde and Billy Steele return for a second consecutive season, and former Michigan Bucks coach Gary Parsons, the 2012 PDL Coach of the Year, is also set to help guide players as they look to make the jump to the professional ranks.
A number of former professionals will also lead squads, as former Manchester United midfielder Gordon Hill returns for a second consecutive year. Paul Buckle, who played professionally for 18 years and managed English clubs Torquay United, Exeter Rovers and Luton Town before moving to the United States late last year, will also participate, as will Gwynne Williams, the new Technical Director of the Puget Sound Gunners in the PDL.
Two top coaches from IMG Academy are also set to guide players through the weekend, with former English professional Aidan Davison and the Academy’s head goalkeeping coach Scott Bowers both set to return to the combine’s sidelines.
The eighth edition of the USL PRO Combine presented by Nike is set to kick off on Thursday, January 23 at IMG Academy, with the weekend’s scrimmages set to be streamed live by Tourbeau Sports on the USL PRO YouTube channel. Final rosters for the event will be released on Tuesday.