FC DELCO Academy Taps Penn's Rob Irvine For Next Season's Under-15/16s
Rob Irinve has been named Head Coach of the Under-15/16s for the 2008/2009 season
DOWNINGTOWN, PA (May. 14, 2008) — Today FC DELCO announced that it has tapped into its deep and rich pool of coaches to name University of Pennsylvania's assistant men's soccer coach as next season's head coach for the Under-15/16 division of their U.S. Soccer Development Academy. "Rob was a natural choice for this position with his current experience with our highly-successful Roadkill team, USSF A license, and significant college recruitment experience - which will be critical for our Academy players," said Academy Director, Alan Mezger.
Rob Irvine enters his third season as an FC DELCO coach. In 2007, he was an assistant coach with the Dynamo III U17, winning the Region I Championship and finishing third at USYSA Nationals. This past season, he was an assistant coach with the Roadkill U15 that finished third in the USYSA National League. Irvine is also the assistant men's soccer coach at the University of Pennsylvania, since joining the staff in August 2006.
Prior to arriving at Penn, Irvine was the head coach of both the men’s and women’s teams at College of the Southwest, an NAIA institution in New Mexico. With the men’s program, he compiled a two-year record of 22-14, and was the 2004 RRAC Men’s Co-Coach of the Year. At the Division I level, Irvine spent three seasons (2001-03) as an assistant coach for his alma mater, Syracuse University. During that time, he earned his masters in public administration at Syracuse.
Irvine also has experience coaching at the Olympic Development Program (ODP) level, as a staff coach for the Region IV camp in 2004. He currently holds an “A” license from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF).
Before jumping into coaching, Irvine enjoyed a successful playing career. A two-time captain at Syracuse, he played for Canada’s Under-17 national team at that age group’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in 1991. In 1993 and 1994 he was in Canada’s Olympic Soccer Team pool of players. Irvine also played professionally indoor for the Buffalo Blizzard of the NPSL, Sacramento Knights of the WPSL, and outdoor with the Toronto Lynx of the A-League.
