Vancouver Whitecaps FC announce that men's team assistant coach
Todd Wawrousek
has signed a one-year contract extension for the 2009 United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL-1) season.
The native of Reading, Pennsylvania, returns for a third season as assistant coach, having just completed a successful 2008 campaign alongside first-year head coach
Teitur Thordarson
. Under the pair's guidance, the Whitecaps finished second in the USL-1 regular season standings and claimed their second USL-1 championship title in three seasons with a 2-1 victory over Puerto Rico Islanders at Swangard Stadium on October 12.
"Todd is a very important member of our team and played a pivotal role in the success we shared this past season," said Thordarson. "His extensive knowledge of the North American soccer scene and the USL-1 players market proved extremely helpful during my first year in North America and I am very happy to have him back for next season."
The 50-year-old first joined the Whitecaps in February 2007 as assistant to former head coach Bob Lilley following the departure of Mike Toshack to Major League Soccer side Houston Dynamo. After the club and Lilley parted ways in September of that year, Wawrousek was placed in interim charge of the Whitecaps for the 0-0 friendly draw with MLS club Los Angeles Galaxy at BC Place on November 7, 2007.
"I've always considered it a great privilege to be a part of the Whitecaps organization," Wawrousek said after signing his new contract. "My two years at the club have been a learning experience and an enhancement to my coaching abilities. I look forward to continuing to do my best to contribute to the success of the Whitecaps organization."
Wawrousek's coaching career spans nearly three decades. This included a spell with former USL-1 club Hershey Wildcats between 1997 and 2001. Before his arrival in Vancouver, Wawrousek completed a highly-successful tenure as head coach of the Gettysburg College women’s team between 1990 and 2006. In that time, he led the Bullets to six NCAA Division III tournament appearances and was named NCAA Division III Women's Coach of the Year on three occasions (1993, 1994, 1998).
Whitecaps 2009 season tickets are now on sale. Season tickets include all men’s and women's team regular season and playoff home matches at Swangard Stadium, Nutrilite Canadian Championship home matches against Toronto FC and Montreal Impact, as well as priority listing for BC Place and the proposed Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium. Book or purchase season tickets now and receive early bird pricing, as well as the chance to win one of three trips to Las Vegas or a trip for two to Toronto to see the Whitecaps play Toronto FC in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship next year. For more information on the 2009 season ticket packages, CLICK HERE.
