North Carolina Courage Add 3 to Coaching Staff
The North Carolina Courage has expanded its coaching staff ahead of the 2017 NWSL kickoff this weekend as the club welcomes three highly qualified coaches. The former WNY Flash organization is entering a new era as the transition to North Carolina Football Club builds the women’s game in the region.
NWSL Soccer News: The North Carolina Courage has added Bill Palladino, Sean Nahas, and Nathan Thackeray to the club’s 2017 coaching staff.
“We are delighted with the coaching staff we have put together,” said NC Courage Head Coach Paul Riley. “I think it further emphasizes the clubs desire to push the women’s game forward at the professional level while embracing our massively successful youth component.”
Palladino is a long-time chief assistant coach for the University of North Carolina women’s soccer team. In 36 years with the Tar Heels, Palladino helped Anson Dorrance lead UNC to 22 national titles, which is more than every other school in the country combined. Palladino received the Glenn “Mooch” Myernick Award as the national assistant coach of the year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) following the 2012 season.
“Dino is a very familiar figure in women’s college soccer. He loves talking football and life,” said Riley. “He has a thirst for the game and his experience will be invaluable for our group. He has enjoyed tremendous success at UNC, and I’m hoping he brings that lucky brush with him.”
Nahas brings 13 years of youth coaching experience with Capital Area Soccer League (CASL) to the NC Courage. In addition to being an assistant coach, Nahas will serve as the NC Courage US Soccer Girls Academy Director. He has held several leadership positions with CASL, including Director of Girls Classic Soccer, ECNL Director and Director of CASL Player Development. Nahas also has valuable U.S. National Team coaching experience that includes assistant coaching positions with the U20 USWNT and U14 Youth National Team as well as serving as a scout.
“Sean has a hunger for learning, a super astute knowledge of the game and his personable approach makes him a tremendous coach at any level,” said Riley. “Training and developing players is the best part of the job, and that’s his wheelhouse. I’m excited to have him onboard and look forward to picking his brain.”
Thackeray started his coaching career in 2011 after playing with England’s Bradford City from 2003-2006 and William Woods University from 2006-2010. He began coaching with Young Harris College in Georgia, and then became the Head of Goalkeeping at the Houston Dynamo Academy in 2012. Most recently, Thackeray, a USSF licensed coach, was named the Director of Goalkeeping at CASL and with the Capital Area RailHawks Academy.
“Nathan will be a massive plus to our coaching staff,” said Riley. “He has a goalkeepers mentality and we thoroughly expect him to get the best out of Sabrina and Kate. His knowledge of the position is second to none and I’m excited to see their development this season under his tutelage.”
The North Carolina Courage kick off its inaugural season on the road on April 15th versus the Washington Spirit. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET. The inaugural home opener against Tobin Heath and the Portland Thorns is scheduled for Saturday, April 22nd, at 7:30 p.m. ET.
