Share this
Digg
Del.icio.us
Slashdot
Furl
Technorati
Newsvine
Facebook
Export PDF
Print
E-mail
TagsLong-time New Jersey coach Mike Lyons to assist during playoff push
Sky Blue FC announced Thursday that team captain and US Women's National Team star Christie Rampone has agreed to serve as interim player/coach of Sky Blue FC. Rampone will be assisted by long-time New Jersey coach Mike Lyons. This follows Wednesday's resignation of Head Coach Kelly Lindsey.
"We are grateful to Christie for stepping up," said Sky Blue FC General Manager Gerry Marrone. "She has been a tremendous leader and support to the players thus far, and a strong asset to management. We have every confidence both she and Mike will not only fill a void, but do a great job."
Regarding Lindsey's resignation, said Marrone, "We are actually quite shocked. We gave Kelly a great opportunity as Head Coach and she was making progress. We are disappointed that she chose to leave the team ten days prior to the end of the regular season, with two remaining games and Sky Blue FC in playoff contention."
Rampone, from Point Pleasant and a Monmouth University graduate, will assume her duties immediately. The team has two remaining regular season games, and is currently in fifth place (6-7-5) and in contention for one of the final three open playoff spots in the inaugural season of Women's Professional Soccer. The Los Angeles Sol has already clinched the number one playoff position.
According to Rampone, "I am excited to be able to help my team. The team has strong character and the organization has shown a strong commitment to the players, which made this an easy decision for me. What's more, the players have shown great strength and fight throughout the season. We all hope to finish the year strong and carry our momentum into the 2010 season."Sky Blue FC co-captain Heather O'Reilly, from East Brunswick, thinks Rampone is well-suited for the task at hand.
"I believe the players have the utmost confidence in Christie's leadership," said O'Reilly, a teammate of Rampone on the national team. "She is one of the best players and leaders in the women's game. By being in so many high-level soccer environments, she is well-qualified to lead us through the remainder of the season. I think everyone loves the team and feels positive, regardless of what has happened."
The 34-year-old Rampone, a member of the US Women's National Team for over a decade, is a seasoned veteran. In addition to being captain of Sky Blue FC, she was the captain of the US Women's National Team that captured the gold medal in last year's Beijing Olympics. She has played in three World Cups and three Olympics, and played for all three years of the prior women's professional league in the US, the WUSA, as part of the New York Power.
Rampone has played in 12 matches for Sky Blue FC this year. She missed two games in the beginning of the season with a strained hamstring, as well as one game for US National team duty. Rampone was unavailable for the past two Sky Blue FC matches due to laparoscopic surgery. She is aiming to be back on the field for Sky Blue FC's next match at home on August 5 vs. FC Gold Pride.
Rampone will be assisted by long-time soccer coach and trainer Mike Lyons. Lyons was a top-ranked high school, college and semi-professional player (all in New Jersey), and has coaching experience in such varied environments as college (University of Notre Dame men), New Jersey U-17 girls ODP, and has coached Wall Township High School to four New Jersey State Championships.
"I have been working closely with Mike since 2001," Rampone said. "He has served as my personal fitness trainer, technical soccer coach and provided great wisdom in the mental approach to the game. Mike possesses overwhelming passion, knowledge and respect for the game of soccer and leads by example as a person, friend, dad and coach."
Said Sky Blue Soccer CEO Thomas Hofstetter, "The first season for Sky Blue FC has been very challenging, but we are impressed with the character of the team and front office organization. Our run for the playoffs is proof of the strength of the team spirit and company culture. As we have shown in the past, Sky Blue FC knows how to endure. Christie has been instrumental throughout the season to lead the team and I consider us fortunate that she has agreed to assist her team, together with Mike Lyons."
— GARRETT MORRISON, NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM