MCMANUS TO TAKE OVER COACHING REIGNS OF WOLFPACK WOMEN'S SOCCER
For release: Wednesday, February 18,2009
Kamloops, BC--The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Athletic program is pleased to announce the appointment of Tom McManus as the head coach of the school's women's soccer program.
"We are excited to have Tom join our program," said WolfPack Athletic Director Ken Olynyk. " We had a number of top candidates and we thank them for applying. But with our plans continuing to be towards a move to CIS, we believed that Tom offered us the best chance to be competitive now in the BC College Athletic Association but also in the future."
McManus has a wealth of soccer experience. After playing professionally for 15 years, he turned to coaching and has been involved in a number of high level programs. This includes three stints with McMaster University (CIS). He coached both the men's programs (1982-84 and again in 1990) and the women's team (2005-07). He was also a coach with Canada's National Women's Soccer team from 1991-94 and 1998-2000. In 1991, He was the coach of the Winnipeg Fury of the old Canadian Soccer League. He and the team were inducted last November into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame. They won the last Mita Cup championship (Canadian Professional Soccer Title) by defeating the four time champion Vancouver 86'ers in 1992.
McManus also coached in the "W league with the Toronto Inferno and the Womens Professional Soccer League with the Vancouver Angels. Players he directed with the Angels included National Team members Christine Sinclair, Andrea Neal and Randee Hermus.
He also has coached the University of Saskatchewan Men's team for two years (1995-96)before moving to Minnesota as the Director of Coaching and Player Development for the state of Minnesota (1996-97)
"It's really exciting to take over such a great program," says McManus. "Eric (retiring coach Schweizer) has left me with a solid nucleus of players that won silver medals at both the BC CAA and CCAA levels last year. I hope to be able to maintain and build on that".
McManus plans to get to work immediately. He plans to put the team's current players on a strong off season program. "With the schedule being shorter this year, " he says "Fitness is going to be a key ingredient to our success. We need to keep the girls at a high level."
Recruiting is also high on his priority list. "We need to get the best players here, no matter where they live." he adds.
The WolfPack will start two-a-day workouts in mid August. At this point, both of last year's assistants (Glen Archer and Kelly Shantz) will be back for next season.
Two of the current TRU players were in attendance at the afternoon press conference. Both have had experience playing for McManus at the youth soccer level. Forward Heather Lloyd will enter her third year with the team. "Im really excited, "she says. "His style is perfect for the players we have. We have a good core of returning players and with new recruits ready to step in. It'll be a very exciting time come training camp."
"Tom is very disciplined, stated midfielder Bronwyn Crawford, who will play her 2nd year with the program in the fall "I have a friend at McMaster (fellow Kamloops Youth Soccer Grad Sam Whitaker), Tom set up their program and they are still going five days a week even tough it's the off season. He is disciplined in the right way. He knows what he wants and gets the most out of h is player.
McManus will continue to be the head coach of the Kamloops Youth Soccer Association.
"I would like to thank KYSA for allowing me to take this position, states McManus. "I think it'll work well for both KYSA and the WolfPack Athletic program. While we will recruit from throughout Western Canada, we'll be able to cultivate local players as well to step into our program in the future."
"We are thrilled for Tom", said KYSA President Graham Cope " We have the utmost confidence in him juggling both jobs. This just strengthens what we see as a growing relationship between our organization and TRU."
One person who was quietly smiling at the press conference was McManus' predecessor. Eric Schweizer stated "The program is in good hands. Tom is experienced and qualified. I couldn't ask for a better person to replace me. I look forward to watching the team next year."
