So the Union stole the US national team's assistant coach a few months ago and made him the team manager, now they steal the US national team's assistant coach again and make this one their own assistant. Nice.
A bit of a reunion for new Union assistant Hackworth
The Philadelphia Union announced yesterday that John Hackworth is the newest addition to its coaching staff.
Hackworth will serve as the team's primary assistant coach, in addition to its youth development coordinator. The Union is scheduled to formally introduce Hackworth Thursday at the Wharf at Rivertown on Chester's waterfront.
The Dunedin, Fla., native currently serves as assistant to U.S. National Team boss Bob Bradley and was an integral part of the team's return to the finals of the upcoming World Cup in South Africa in June. Hackworth has also worked extensively with Union coach Peter Nowak. Before joining the Union, Major League Soccer's 16th franchise, Nowak also was an assistant to Bradley and coach of the U.S. Under-23 National Team.
"The reason I made the move here and now is simple - Peter Nowak," Hackworth said in a statement. "After working with Peter on both the national and Olympic teams, I knew that I had to be a part of what he and [Union CEO and managing partner] Nick Sakiewicz are building here. It's going to be something very special."
Hackworth is widely known for his impact in the youth game, having coached the U.S. Under-17s in the 2005 and '07 Youth World Cups. He also served as technical director of the Bradenton (Fla.) Academy, regarded as the premier academy in the U.S. for grooming soccer talent. He will work with the Union's youth academy headquartered at YSC Sports in Wayne, Pa.
Kixx secure veteran pair
The Kixx solidified their lineup yesterday, signing veterans Ptah Myers (midfielder) and forward Anthony Maher.
Myers, a member of the U.S. National Futsal (indoor soccer) team, has netted 61 goals and 30 assists (140 points) in five seasons with the Kixx. Maher, a Cape May native, is set to begin the ninth year of his indoor career that includes more than 200 career points (100 goals) with five teams.
The Kixx, who moved to Temple's Liacouras Center in the offseason, will open the 2009-10 Major Indoor Soccer League season Sunday in Mexico vs. La RaZa de Monterrey. Their first home game is on Jan. 9 against Rockford.
Locals in NCAA Tourney
The bracket for the Division I women's, and the D-II and D-III men's and women's brackets were released yesterday with several area teams making the cut.
Villanova (11-5-5) is the lone Delaware Valley representative in the D-I bracket and will play Washington State (13-5-2) in College Park, Md., on Friday.
Wilmington (19-2-1) received a top seed in the D-II men's bracket and awaits the winner of Southern New Hampshire and Southern Connecticut State in a game to be played Saturday or Sunday. On the women's side, West Chester (19-1-1) will host the winner of Indiana (Pa.) and Gannon in a second-round matchup Sunday. Holy Family (13-8-1) will play Franklin Pierce (16-4-1) on Friday.
In the Division III men's table, Swarthmore (14-2-2) will host Merchant Marine (15-3) while Cabrini (16-3-2) travels to Christopher Newport. Both games are Thursday. For the women, Rowan (15-2-1) will play MIT (12-5-2) and Cabrini (14-5-1) will travel to Johns Hopkins (16-3) on Thursday as well.
