The new coaching staff for the upcoming 2013 season in the USL PRO league is announced. The staff will exist of Patrick Bal (Head Coach), Jack Hermans (Assistant Coach) and Erik Tammer (Assistant Coach).
Patrick Bal, a 31-year-old native of the Netherlands, is very familiar with the Dayton Dutch Lions FC, having worked for the club since 2011. Last year he was Assistant Coach for the USL PRO team. He became Director of Coaching and Technical Manager in August 2012 after Ivar van Dinteren went back to the Netherlands.
In the Netherlands, Bal played for the youth academies of professional clubs FC Utrecht (Premier League) and Almere City FC (2nd Division), where he made his debut at the age of 16. Bal coached multiple years in the youth academy of Almere City FC in the highest youth divisions of the Netherlands before moving to the USA. Prior to joining the Dutch Lions FC, Bal worked in New Jersey and played college soccer for Middlesex County College.
Bal stated, “I am excited by the challenge and great opportunity of being named head coach of the Dayton Dutch Lions FC for the 2013 season. After working for the club in several roles, including assistant coach last season, it was an easy decision to accept the offer. I’m looking forward to working with Jack Hermans and Erik Tammer to make the 2013 season the most successful season in our club’s young history.”
When asked about his expectations for the upcoming season, Bal responded, “The club wants to play the ‘Dutch’ style of soccer based on player development and an offensive and creative soccer style. We want to be dominating and play offensively. It’s a huge challenge for the players and coaching staff to make this happen. The USL PRO is a strong league with a lot of teams that are really competitive with each other. We want to build on the second half of last season and fight for a playoff spot”.
Bal is asstisted by Jack Hermans, who has been part of the coaching staff since the start of the club in March 2010. Hermans has over 20 years of coaching experience, including 14 years as Head Coach of Xavier University. Also added to the staff is Erik Tammer, who played 12 years of professional soccer (over 300 games) in the Netherlands for Ajax, Utrecht, Heerenveen, Sparta, Go Ahead Eagles, Excelsior and ADO Den Haag. Tammer received his UEFA C coaching license in 2011.
Dutch Lions FC President, Mike Mossel, commented, “I believe the coaching staff this year is a good mix of talent, coaching experience and playing experience. We wanted to build off the 2nd half of the 2012 season, where we were unbeaten our last 7 home games as well as reaching the quarterfinal of the US Open Cup. With 12 of our players likely returning from last year we feel that Patrick and Jack are the best option to continue this process from day one, instead of starting over like we did in the last three seasons. Every year we have struggled in the beginning to get to the level that we want, but with most guys returning and the addition of some high level and experienced players, I feel we have our best team (on paper) ever. Patrick knows what the club is all about and what we expect, and I am confident he will do an excellent job. I know he is young (31) but that’s why we have Jack Hermans and Erik Tammer to assist him.
The Dayton Dutch Lions FC kick off their season at home against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m. at Beavercreek High School Stadium. To purchase tickets click here.