Richmond Kickers Press Release - www.richmondkickers.com

Thursday, April 17, 2009

RICHMOND, VA – Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club welcomes Virginia Commonwealth University Men’s Soccer Assistant Coach Marco Genee and current Richmond Kickers professional and former MLS player Kenny Cutler to the coaching staff. The Kickers will field nine teams (U13-U16 boys and U13-U17 girls) in USL Super Y-League competition during the 2009 season.

Genee, a native of Germany, holds a NSCAA Premier Coaching License and a DFB (German Soccer Federation) Coaching Diploma. His prior coaching experience includes serving two years as the Director of Coaching with the Triangle United Soccer Association, an assistant coach with UNC Pembroke, Gardner-Webb and a volunteer assistant at the University of North Carolina.

Cutler is a Richmond native and former Real Salt Lake midfielder with experience on the US U-20 National team. The 5’9” midfielder joined Real Salt Lake during their inaugural season as an undrafted Developmental roster signing in 2005. The versatile 26-year old started 19 matches as a rookie and ended up amassing over 3,000 minutes over the next four seasons. Cutler is the eighth current Richmond Kickers professional soccer player to join the youth club’s coaching staff.

“We are very fortunate to have Marco and Kenny join our coaching staff,” comments Ihor Dotsenko, Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club Technical Director. “Both coaches have a wealth of knowledge about the game of soccer that will no doubt benefit our youth players. Marco will be working with our U-14, U-16 and U-18 Academy teams starting in August and Kenny will be working with our U-9 players staring immediately.”

The Kickers continue to invest considerable resources into coaching education as several members of the coaching staff successfully completed USSF and NSCAA coaching courses over the winter break. Rob Ukrop, NSCAA Premier, Luke Vercollone, USSF “B”, and Andy McIntosh, USSF “A”, all received passing grades in their respective courses.

The Richmond Kickers Youth Club boasts more qualified coaches than any other club in the Central Virginia area. Currently the Kickers employ seven coaches with USSF “A” licenses or equivalent and five coaches with USSF “B” licenses or equivalent. In addition, the Kickers coaching staff includes two current Division 1 college coaches, two Professional team coaches, former MLS players and an MLS champion, eight current Richmond Kickers pro players, and a UEFA “A” licensed coach.

“The Kickers Youth Club has been committed to coaching education from the onset and has seen a significant improvement in the quality of coaching within the club over the last five years,” adds Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Vice President of Soccer Programs. “The club’s focus on coaching education has been a major factor in the success of our players, teams and club.”

About the Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club
The Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club is a 501-C3 non-profit organization that was formed in May 2000 when Eastern FC and Richmond United youth clubs joined forces with the Richmond Kickers Pro Club. Since then, the club has merged with programs in Midlothian, Ashland and Pocoshock.

Today over 4,000 soccer players participate in recreational programs sponsored by the Kickers and partner clubs; Midlothian Youth Soccer League, Ashland Youth Soccer League, City of Richmond Parks and Rec. and Goochland United Soccer Association. The Kickers travel program consists of 60 teams and over 900 players who compete in the US Soccer Academy Program, Super Y-League, VCCL and ADSL. The club was recently named as one of only 30 adidas Sports Marketing Clubs in the U.S. The club provides opportunities for all players of all abilities and unites soccer in the Central Virginia community. Benefits include economy of scale, consistency of coaching philosophy, professional administrative and coaching staff expertise, positive role models for youth players and a clear pathway from youth to pro for aspiring young players.