Showing posts tagged “Scott Schweitzer”
David Fellerath ·
3 Dec 2009, 11:13 AM ·
6 Comments
While flipping through my soccer channels in search of a game, I spotted USL Breakaways on Fox Soccer Channel and taped it. Given the news of the past few weeks, and the generally clumsy PR operation of the United Soccer Leagues, I wanted to see how the USL is presenting itself.
I watched the hour-long program, which was hosted by Andrew Bell, former marketing director and current president of the Charleston Battery, who is young, British (Scottish?) and has a bit of Warren Barton about him (he’s also an FSC announcer). There wasn’t much news in this infomercial, produced for USL by Cultural Videos and Sports Communications, Inc., but I noticed a couple of points of emphasis.
First, the opening 30 minutes were devoted to the Super-Y league and its annual tournament in Tampa. We saw kids playing, and interviews with U15 players and coaches. No doubt intentionally, this segment spotlighted one of the main strengths of the United Soccer Leagues: fostering youth development.
After a segment featuring banquet highlights from the annual general meeting, and the Hall of Fame inductees (including Scott Schweitzer, star defender for Rochester who coached the Carolina RailHawks for its first two seasons), the theme of “development” was picked up midway through the program with an interview with USL President Tim Holt.
Holt didn’t engage directly with the fact that the first division that seems to have all but collapsed, but instead sounded the theme of “player development.”
Here are his remarks in full, with emphasis added:
Tim Holt: Yeah, it’s exciting, there’s a new direction, a new culture about USL. Probably most people know at this point, USL was acquired by NuRock Soccer Holdings from Nike, which was the previous owner. Nike Inc and the Umbro brands and Nike Soccer Brands will stay on as long-term partners in a 10-year partnership, so we get the best of both worlds. We have committed ownership from NuRock, Rob Hoskins, Alek Papadakis, their CEO. They’re soccer guys but they’re accomplished business executives, and they’re really bringing professional—more sophisticated approach to everything we do from our front-office standpoint, allowing us to serve our teams better. And it’s just a real exciting time, obviously, to be able to continue the relationship with Nike and Umbro, especially Umbro, the long time partners with USL, it’s very exciting. So we’re a few months into that transition, it’s been almost seamless, and we look forward to furthering that into 2010. Continue reading »
Carolina RailHawks, NASL, Soccer Alek Papadakis, Andrew Bell, Anton Peterlin, Brian Quarstad, Chris Economides, NASL, Scott Schweitzer, Tim Holt, USL
David Fellerath ·
5 Aug 2009, 3:54 PM ·
1 Comment
Tonight, the RailHawks have an opportunity to take possession of first place for the first time in about two months when they face off against the Rochester Raging Rhinos up by Lake Ontario.
Joe Diveronica of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle has a piece out about tonight’s match-up between two sides that have a few things in common, including a shared history with the RailHawks’ founding GM Chris Economides and inaugural coach Scott Schweitzer, as well as common ties to players Hamed Diallo and Luke Kreamalmeyer.
The first point is familiar territory around here, but the article sheds light on the issue of the two players—both of whom were Rhinos last year:
Kreamalmeyer, who tied a team record with nine assists last year in his only season in Rochester, signed as a free agent and reportedly got a big raise. His four goals are tied with forward Sallieu Bundu for the team high in Carolina.
Diallo, Rochester’s 2007 MVP who was traded last year, has played only 196 minutes because he doesn’t fit the 4-5-1 formation Rennie employs, the coach said.
“Even though he’s a dangerous goal-scorer, he doesn’t bring a lot necessarily outside the box,” Rennie said. “He’s more suited to a 4-4-2 system.”
If it’s true that Kreamalmeyer got a big raise (sources, Mr. Diveronica?), no doubt the RailHawks owners are happy with the investment. He’s been solid all season, with a relentless work rate. As for the Ivorian, we’ve noticed Rennie altering the formation and attacking strategy when inserting Diallo as far back as the Revolution friendly, but we didn’t realize the gaffer had such a stark view of the 32-year-old French Ligue 2 veteran’s limitations.
Game time is 7 p.m. at Marina Auto Stadium, a field whose naming rights were awarded to a local dealership in a raffle drawing. It’s a nice field, albeit one with artificial turf, that seats close to 14,000 and was built, apparently, with the expectation of an MLS franchise. Rochester, which is the size of Durham, has a good record of supporting the Rhinos, with attendance regularly in the 5,000-7,000 range.
Last Saturday, prior to the Austin game, we got 15 of the 18 players in the lineup correct, including 10 of 11 in the starting XI. Tonight’s lineup prediction is: Patterson, Schulte, Tolleson, McKenney, Low, Lowery, Paladini, Kabwe, Richardson, Bundu, Kreamalmeyer. On the bench: Reed, Shields, Rusin, Watson, Budnyy, Plotkin, Gardner.
Carolina RailHawks, Soccer Chris Economides, Hamed Diallo, Luke Kreamalmeyer, Marina Auto Stadium, Martin Rennie, Rochester Raging Rhinos, Scott Schweitzer
David Fellerath ·
3 Feb 2009, 4:26 PM ·
1 Comment
Returning soon
The mystery of Matt Watson’s San Jose training excursion appears to be solved. Yesterday’s very welcome news of the second team All-USL-1 midfielder’s return to Cary for the 2009 season was also puzzling in light of last week’s report that he was training with the MLS Earthquakes.
We reached Watson via email and he answered most of our questions:
“I went to San Jose at the end of last season around October and trained for one week…[I] met the team and coaches and had a really good time. I was interested in going to play with them. [...] The team and coaching staff all seemed great and it’s a beautiful city. I was a free agent as I was only signed to Carolina for one season so I didn’t need permission—although I had the blessing of Scotty [Schweitzer, the since-departed RailHawks coach] and Damon [Nahas, CEO of Cary's Next Level Academy] to go out there and try to play in the MLS.”
One factor in Watson’s return was the rapport he established with new coach Martin Rennie:
“I spoke to Martin Rennie—I felt like he had my best interests in mind. Obviously, I don’t know him that well, but from our conversations, I feel like he is a great coach as well as a great person. [...] I am very excited to work with Martin, as well as all the new players in Carolina. Hopefully, we can put together a great season.”
Watson says that personal factors weighed in his decision to return to Cary, as well.
“Me and my future wife are having a daughter in April. Her parents are based in Maryland, my family is in England and going over to the West Coast would have been very tough. Also, the cost of living in San Jose is astronomical.”
Watson says he hopes to have an opportunity to crack an MLS squad in the future:
“I would still like to play in the MLS very much at some point but it is one step at a time for me and my family.[...] It was a really tough decision for me but I took [my] time and thought through every aspect of playing for each team, as well as calling on the advice of everyone who I thought would have good insight for me—from family to coaches.
In the end I decided that, right now, Carolina is the best place for me.”
On the matter of when he’ll be back in Cary, Watson wasn’t certain.
“I am not 100 percent on this but I do not believe I will be available for [the March 14 Community Shield match] versus New England as the indoor regular season runs until March 28.”
Carolina RailHawks, Soccer Damon Nahas, Matt Watson, Scott Schweitzer
David Fellerath ·
8 Oct 2008, 1:02 AM ·
Comment
It’s been a big week for the USL-1 Carolina RailHawks soccer club. First, the announcement that team founder, GM and president Chris Economides had been bought out. Then Tuesday afternoon’s announcement of the departure of coach Scott Schweitzer. Then, after several days of portentous word of major developments to be announced soon, WRAL.com’s Tim Candon got the scoop on the team’s new stakeholder.
The headline, then the link: Bob Young, founder of the on-demand self-publishing company Lulu, has purchased an interest in the club. Young is no stranger to sports ownership: Since 2003, he has owned the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (what’s up with that name-moniker?) of the Canadian Football League. He was also the CEO of Red Hat, the Triangle-based purveyor of Linux-related products.
And here’s the rest of Candon’s scoop.
Carolina RailHawks, Soccer Bob Young, Chris Economides, Lulu, Scott Schweitzer
David Fellerath ·
7 Oct 2008, 4:04 PM ·
Comment
After two years coaching the USL-1 RailHawks, Scott Schweitzer’s contract, which was set to expire at the end of this month, was not renewed, the team announced today. Owner Brian Wellman praised the efforts of Schweitzer, who posted a record of 24 wins, 24 losses and 24 draws in league and Cup play and professional friendlies in his two seasons that also saw one playoff appearance and a drive to the semifinals of the 2007 U.S. Open Cup.
“Scotty Schweitzer will go down as one of the greatest players to ever play in the United Soccer Leagues,” Wellman said. “His dedication and passion as a player was just as evident as a coach. We are grateful to Scotty for all he gave to the organization and wish him well in his future endeavors.”
This was Schweitzer’s first head coaching job after a stellar career in the USL and its predecessor, the A League. He will retain his job as the head of Next Level Academy, a Cary youth soccer training school.
Although this year’s team finished strongly, with 16 points in its final eight games, the season was nonetheless a disappointing one. Despite the infusion of several talented midfielders and forwards—including Dan Antoniuk, Hamed Diallo, Matt Watson and Martin Nuñez—the team often struggled offensively and missed the playoffs with an eighth-place finish.
In the team’s press release, Schweitzer doesn’t disguise the existence of disagreements between him and the management:
“There was simply a difference of opinion between myself and the ownership group. I wish all of the players that gave everything to me and the organization all the best.”
This is the second major change announced in the last few days. Over the weekend, the team announced the buyout and departure of Chris Economides, the team’s founder, president and GM. Schweitzer and Economides have shared roots with the Rochester Raging Rhinos of the USL-1.
UPDATE 4:17 p.m.: In a phone interview, team publicist Marco Rosa stressed that the move was not a firing or a response to the team’s showing last season. It was an option, Rosa said, for Schweitzer to return but the coach and management were unable to resolve their differences. “It was a mutual parting of the ways,” Rosa said.
The team will conduct an international search for a new coach “starting today,” Rosa said.
Carolina RailHawks, Soccer Brian Wellman, Chris Economides, Scott Schweitzer
Chris Gaffney ·
18 Sep 2008, 5:28 PM ·
Comment
In a final flurry of very ruffled feathers, the Cary-based Carolina RailHawks flap into a doubleheader against the Charleston Battery and Portland Timbers in USL-1’s final regular season weekend. The stakes are high, as anything less than six points will snare no better than an 8th-place finish for the sophomore ’Hawks. In addition to winning two in two, they only make the playoffs if Atlanta and Minnesota choke.
On the bright side, if they do manage this Sisyphean task, they will be in the playoffs, which is of uncertain benefit other than fashioning a mantle of Cinderella to be lugged about. On the confusing side, why are there only seven teams in the playoffs? The ’Hawks finished 8th last year and made the ‘offs before being beaten soundly by Seattle.
It has been a rough year for the RailHawks who have struggled to find consistency, though they have been playing much better of late. The additions of players from Cuba, El Salvador, Mexico, Uruguay and Chile have begun to gel with those from Raleigh, California, Colorado, England, and Cote d’Ivoire (to name a few), scoring 21 goals in their last nine games. There is a core of young talent spiced with some graybeards in their early 30s, which bodes well for the future. This season, however, will look better in the Annals of American Soccer.
Before the avoidable, yet inevitable, 1-1 draw with Rochester last weekend, Scott Schweitzer pleaded for patience from the fans, and possibly the management. It was a pretty convincing plea, until with a 1-0 lead in the 82nd minute, an attacker was pulled off for a defender and in the 82nd minute it was 1-1. Even the staunchly supportive commentating crew were aghast at the decision which left the ‘Hawks scratching out a point when three were beak-bound.
Regardless of their chances of getting to the playoffs, I always recommend that people go to see the RailHawks play. They feature a great mix of international and home grown soccer talent in a comfortable, public transportation-free place to watch it. Almost like home, with all the niggling beauty of athletic reality. You might also want to see proof of the old Wall Street adage: Even if you don’t make it, they will come.
The RailHawks’ Friday night match in Charleston will be televised nationally on Fox Soccer Channel at 8 p.m. Saturday, the ’Hawks return to Cary for their final regular season game, against Portland. That match kicks off at 7:30 p.m.
Carolina RailHawks, Soccer, Uncategorized Scott Schweitzer
