The Carolina RailHawks have announced the appointment of Dewan Bader, Greg Shields, Nic Platter and John Bradford as assistants to head coach Colin Clarke for the 2012 season. Shields and Platter will have dual roles as players and coaches.
Dewan Bader enters his third year as assistant coach for the RailHawks and head coach of the RailHawks U-23’s. Bader is the director of coaching for Triangle Futbol Club, where he oversees all programs in the 60-team organization. Bader has also worked with the U-23 program for four years, where he coached the 2011 team to the USASA National Championship.
Greg Shields returns to provide leadership on the squad as a player and help other players develop as a coach. The Scottish defender had a season-ending surgery last year but is now back and healthy with the team. He has appeared in 30 matches for the RailHawks since joining the team in 2009. He came to Carolina having played in the English Premier League with Charlton Athletic as well as in the Scottish Premier League for Glasgow Rangers, Kilmarnock, and Dunfermline.
Nic Platter comes to the RailHawks from the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Platter is an accomplished goalkeeper in his seventh year of playing professionally. He played collegiate soccer at the University of California, Davis, where he is still considered one of the best goalkeepers in the university’s history. Platter will play an instrumental role not only in games for the RailHawks, but also in practice. He will double as the goalkeeper coach, and work to groom the younger goalkeepers.
John Bradford rounds out the coaching staff. Bradford currently works for nationally recognized CASL, where he is the Director of Classic – Boys Division. He has a great understanding of the game and will be a great asset to the RailHawks this season. Also, Bradford serves as a connection between youth teams and the professional level.
“I’m delighted to have such a strong group of coaches to work with. Their experience and relationships with the players will certainly help us become a better team as the season progresses,” said head coach Colin Clarke. “The assistant coaches did a fantastic job in my absence and we are ready to face Vancouver this weekend.”
Head coach Colin Clarke and the rest of the team will be in action against MLS’ Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Sunday, March 4 at 3:00pm in the 4th Annual Hilton Garden Inn Durham Southpoint Community Shield Match. Individual tickets can be purchased for the match by visiting www.CarolinaRailHawks.com. For more information on RailHawks tickets and game details call the Cruizers box office at (919) 459-8144 or email tickets@carolinarailhawks.com.
The Carolina RailHawks have announced the appointment of Dewan Bader, Greg Shields, Nic Platter and John Bradford as assistants to head coach Colin Clarke for the 2012 season. Shields and Platter will have dual roles as players and coaches.
Dewan Bader enters his third year as assistant coach for the RailHawks and head coach of the RailHawks U-23’s. Bader is the director of coaching for Triangle Futbol Club, where he oversees all programs in the 60-team organization. Bader has also worked with the U-23 program for four years, where he coached the 2011 team to the USASA National Championship.
Greg Shields returns to provide leadership on the squad as a player and help other players develop as a coach. The Scottish defender had a season-ending surgery last year but is now back and healthy with the team. He has appeared in 30 matches for the RailHawks since joining the team in 2009. He came to Carolina having played in the English Premier League with Charlton Athletic as well as in the Scottish Premier League for Glasgow Rangers, Kilmarnock, and Dunfermline.
Nic Platter comes to the RailHawks from the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Platter is an accomplished goalkeeper in his seventh year of playing professionally. He played collegiate soccer at the University of California, Davis, where he is still considered one of the best goalkeepers in the university’s history. Platter will play an instrumental role not only in games for the RailHawks, but also in practice. He will double as the goalkeeper coach, and work to groom the younger goalkeepers.
John Bradford rounds out the coaching staff. Bradford currently works for nationally recognized CASL, where he is the Director of Classic – Boys Division. He has a great understanding of the game and will be a great asset to the RailHawks this season. Also, Bradford serves as a connection between youth teams and the professional level.
“I’m delighted to have such a strong group of coaches to work with. Their experience and relationships with the players will certainly help us become a better team as the season progresses,” said head coach Colin Clarke. “The assistant coaches did a fantastic job in my absence and we are ready to face Vancouver this weekend.”
Head coach Colin Clarke and the rest of the team will be in action against MLS’ Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Sunday, March 4 at 3:00pm in the 4th Annual Hilton Garden Inn Durham Southpoint Community Shield Match. Individual tickets can be purchased for the match by visiting www.CarolinaRailHawks.com. For more information on RailHawks tickets and game details call the Cruizers box office at (919) 459-8144 or email tickets@carolinarailhawks.com.
