Changing Face of the PDL Northwest

The face of the PDL Northwestern Division is changing. In addition to a brand new team this year (and one more for 2009), there are a couple of new coaches on existing teams. None of these coaches appears to be super well known, but here’s what I know about them.

Cascade Surge

The Cascade Surge have hired Larry Delamarter as the team’s new Head Coach. He has been a High School level coach for the last seven years, being named Coach of the Year for the 2006 and 2007 seasons. His Chieftains have posted an incredible 62-6-9 record over the last four seasons. He also coached the Azusa Pacific University and University of Tampa. (In fact, he coached current Surge President Dave Irby who played at Azusa and later made Irby an assitant coach there.) It will be interesting to watch Coach Delamarter’s transition to the PDL.

h2 Abbotsford Rangers

Last season, Coach Colin Miller joined the staff at Derby County in the EPL. Hehas been replaced by Shaun Lowther. Coach Lowther is a former Canadian mens’ national team player, and earned 14 caps. He played professionally from 1980-1988. He’s also been involved in managing soccer clubs in the CSL. Coach Miller is the only one of the three new coaches to have a page on wikipedia so far.

Vancouver Whitecaps Residency

The new team in the bunch, the Vancouer Whitecaps Residency, has named Thomas Niendorf, Managing Director and Head Coach. Quoting from their site:

Thomas Niendorf is a European coaching specialist who holds a DFB (German Soccer Federation)professional coaching license, and maintains an extensive network of contacts in Europe.

Coach Niendorf has a long history with Canadian soccer. He coached the Calgary Storm (and then Mustangs) of the old A League for a number of years, he also coached in Germany. He ‘discovered’ Owen Hargreaves, helping him get a trial with Bayern Munich when he was cut by the Canadian U17 squad.

It’s safe to say that Coach Niendorf has the best credentials of the three. It will be interesting to see how he does with a first year PDL team.

Victoria Highlanders

Since they won’t start playing until 2009, there’s not much to say about this club yet. Victoria is a great city though, and did well hosting U20 World Cup games. This should be a solid addition to the division. (Not to mention taking the ferry from Port Angelas, WA or Vancouver, BC will make for a fun trip—and a great pre-tailgate party.)

USL Coaches: Bob Lilley

Bob Lilley is currently the coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps, and used to coach the Montreal Impact. I can’t find a lot about him, but here’s what I’ve learned so far:

Montreal

• Voyageurs Cup: 2002, 2003
• Can Am Cup: 2003

Year	League	Regular Season	Playoffs	Voyageurs Cup
2002	USL A-League	2nd, Northeast	Conference Semifinals	Champion
2003	USL A-League	1st, Northeast	Division Finals	Champion

Vancouver

• Cascadia Cup Champions – 2004, 2005
• Nations Cup Champions – 2006

Year	League	Regular Season	Playoffs	Voyageurs Cup
2004	USL A-League	2nd, Western	Semifinals	4th
2005	USL First Division	3rd	Quarterfinals	2nd
2006	USL First Division	4th	Champion	3rd

It certainly looks like he’s been successful over the last several years. I wish I could find out what he was doing before 2002 — anyone want to share?

More about Vancouver

The City of Vancouver is currently considering a proposal for Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium, a new stadium to be built over the railway tracks east of Waterfront Station on Burrard Inlet. This 15,000 seat stadium would replace Swangard Stadium as the home field for the USL's Vancouver Whitecaps, with a proposed opening date in 2010. There is a fair degree of controversy with regards to this location — Wikipedia

When I wrote about Vancouver as a possible MLS expansion site, I wasn't aware of the proposal above. With an expanded capacity of up to 30,000, this could be an ideal MLS stadium. It might require promotion of the whitecaps though, something I'm not sure the MLS is willing to consider.

MLS Expansion in the Northwest

The MLS expansion rumour mill seems focused on either Seattle or Portland getting an MLS expansion team (maybe promoting the existing USL1 team already in the city). What about the other Pacific Northwestern option though?

What, you don't know where I mean? Why, Vancouver. Home of the Whitecaps FC.

They're a pretty solid looking USL1 club (the reigning league champs even), they seem to be well coached, and they play in a Soccer Friendly stadium (which is supposed to be expanded to seat ~10,000 for the U20 World Cup -- and might be able to be expanded to fit even more).

I'm not in a position to go making the decision, but I do think it's an interesting idea. What do you think?