Coastal Georgia Soccer Association

Summer Camp 2005 Coaching Staff

Gary Wright     Camp Director & CGSA Director Of Coaching

Darren Bloodworth

John Rootes

Rob Weisel

Ben Freakley

Jeremy Aven

Charlie Morgan

Matthew Engele

Andy Williamson

Eric Faulconer


Click on Name or Scroll Down to view Biography

Coastal Georgia Soccer Association
Director Of Coaching

&

Summer Camp Director

Gary Wright

Gary started his soccer career at a very early age, and like all English boys, dreamed of becoming a professional footballer. His dream was realized when he was fortunate enough to be offered a contract at age 16 with the English professional club Torquay United, under the then coach and former Scottish World Cup captain Bruce Rioch.

After a successful playing career with Torquay Utd and Yeovil Town, Gary turned to coaching and took his first coaching steps by obtaining the English Football Association Preliminary badge. In 1995/96 Gary was offered the youth coach's job with Premier Swedish club Vastra Frolunda. After a very successful spell at Vastra Frolunda, which included winning the Gothia Cup (World Youth Cup), Gary was offered the Head Coaches job at Swedish Division 1 club Skovde A.I.K. He guided Skovde A.I.K to second in the division and the 4 th round of the Swedish National Cup.

After numerous offers to keep him in European soccer, Gary decided to lend his soccer knowledge to the youth of the United States and has been in Savannah now for 6 years. In that time Gary has guided club teams to State Finals, Division Championships, numerous tournament wins and even an appearance in a National Championship (Nike Cup). He has also worked as a coach to some of Savannah's high school teams and was instrumental in laying down the foundation for the success of the girls program at Savannah Country Day School where they reached the State Division AA/A final four. Gary also helped St. Andrew's to the final four in their State Championship and assisted at Windsor Forest High School when they made it to the final eight. Gary is currently the Director of Coaching for Coastal Georgia Soccer Association, on the ODP Staff for the State of Georgia and holds the USSF 'A' licensed coaching qualification.

Darren Bloodworth


Darren was born February 10th, 1967 and after a successful youth soccer career signed as a young professional for English professional team Peterborough Utd. After enjoying his time at Peterborough, Darren moved on and had a spell playing for Kui Tan in Hong Kong before returning to England and playing for Kettering Town and King's Lynn. After finishing playing Darren took up the role of coaching and has been working for Premier English Club Norwich City at their development center, Cambridge United U-16, the Adidas Coaching Centers and recently was the first team manager at Kings Lynn. Darren holds the prestigious UEFA 'A' license and also works for the English Football Association as one of their instructors for the F.A Level 1, Level 2 and child protection courses. He currently is employed full time at the College of West Anglia, Kings Lynn, England where he lectures in Practical Sport and Soccer. Because of his extensive soccer background and knowledge Darren has recently joined the English Premiership scouting system. His role there is to look for new young talent that he feels would possibly be of interest to clubs for the future.

Darren is married to wife Claire and has two children, Isaac 8 and Finlay 6.







John Rootes


John Rootes begins his first season as the head men's soccer coach at the Savannah College of Art and Design. John spent the past six seasons as the men's head coach at Clayton College & State University, where he led the Lakers to a 69-38-9 (.634) record and two NCAA Division II Tournament appearances.

Rootes, who is ranked No. 3 on the NCAA Division II all-time winningest coaches by percentage list with a 238-68-20 (.761) record, led the Lakers to an 11-6-1 record in 2003.

Rootes led the 2000 squad to an 18-3-1 record, its first NCAA championship berth and its first Peach Belt Conference Tournament Championship. His 2000 Lakers finished ranked 14th in the country, and the team produced its first All-American.

In 2001, the program continued its winning ways, capturing the school's first-ever Peach Belt Conference regular-season soccer title. The squad finished the season undefeated in PBC play, advanced to its second straight NCAA tournament and was ranked 13th in the final Division II poll.

Clayton State opened the 2002 season with a 7-0 record, ranked fourth in the country and appeared poised to gun for the school's first national championship before devastating injuries to the team's two leading scorers and arguably the two best scorers in school history took their toll.

Prior to coaching at Clayton State, Rootes spent 10 seasons as the head men's coach at New Hampshire College (now Southern New Hampshire University).

During his tenure at NHC, Rootes compiled a 169-30-11 (.831) record and elevated the program to national prominence.

In 10 seasons, his teams were consistently ranked in the ISAA National Top 10 and earned three 20-win seasons, six NCAA Division II Tournament bids, four appearances in the Elite Eight and an NCAA National Championship in 1989.

Nine of his players were named NSCAA All-Americans and 15 have gone on to professional soccer careers.

Prior to his years in New Hampshire, Rootes worked as the senior assistant coach under I.M. Ibrahim at NCAA Division I powerhouse Clemson University.

While with the Tigers, he helped the school to the 1987 National Championship and the 1988 World Collegiate Championship.

As a player, Rootes was a four-year starter for legendary coach Barry Barto at Philadelphia College of Textiles & Sciences (now Philadephia University) and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Rootes led Textile to an undefeated season and a No. 1 ranking in the final coaches' poll in 1980 and guided UNLV to its first NCAA Tournament bid in 1983.

Rootes was twice honored as an NSCAA All-West striker, and was a member of the 1984 United States Amateur team. He also played two years of professional soccer for the Boston Storm in 1994 and 1995.

Rootes holds a U.S. Soccer Federation “A” license, an NSCAA Advanced National Diploma and a master's degree in sport science. Rootes and his wife, Alicia, have two children, Savannah (5) and Thomas (2).


ROOTES' COACHING RECORD

Year Institution Record Honors

2003 Clayton College & State University 11-6-1

2002 Clayton College & State University 12-4-2

2001 Clayton College & State University 11-4-5 NCAA Division II Regional

2000 Clayton College & State University 18-3-1 NCAA Division II Regional

1999 Clayton College & State University 10-9-0

1998 Clayton College & State University 7-12-0

1997 New Hampshire College 17-2-2 NCAA Division II Regional

1996 New Hampshire College 13-2-2

1995 New Hampshire College 16-4-0 NCAA Division II Regional

1994 New Hampshire College 14-2-2

1993 New Hampshire College 15-2-2

1992 New Hampshire College 20-3-1 NCAA Division II Regional

1991 New Hampshire College 15-5-0

1990 New Hampshire College 15-7-0 NCAA Division II Regional

1989 New Hampshire College 22-1-2 NCAA Division II National Champion

1988 New Hampshire College 22-2-0 NCAA Division II Regional, Ranked No. 1 in Final National Poll

Overall Record (16 years) 238-68-20 (.761)

Rob Weisel

Rob Weisel begins his first season as an assistant coach for the men's soccer program at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Weisel comes to SCAD after playing soccer for the past four seasons at Piedmont College in Demorest, Ga. He was named team's Most Valuable Player and a first-team NCCAA Division I All-American in 2003. He was selected to the All-Great South Conference team three times (2001-03) as well as being named Piedmont's team captain twice.

Last spring, he played soccer for the Melchester Silverbacks which finished in third place in the Atlanta District Amateur Soccer League. He also developed, promoted and instructed weekly youth goalkeeper clinics for the Lanier Soccer Association.

Weisel graduated cum laude from Piedmont in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in business administration.

Originally from Allentown, Pennsylvania, Weisel attended Piedmont College in Demorest, Georgia

Four-year starter (2000-03)
GSAC Tournament MVP (2000)
Three-time All-Great South Athletic Conference Selection (2001-03)
Team Captain (2002-03)
NCCAA All-South Region Selection (2001-03)
NCCAA All-American Honorable Mention Selection (2001-02)
NCCAA All-American First Team Selection (2003)
Piedmont ranked #16 in Final NCAA DIII poll (2003)
Worked with Lanier Soccer Association in Gainesville, GA
Goalkeeper trainer for 2004 spring season
Conducted weekly recreational and select goalkeeper training for entire club
Currently the Assistant Coach at Savannah College of Art & Design

Holds USSF “D” License




Matthew Engele


Born 22-04-84 SYDNEY AUSTRALIA
School- Knox Grammar .
Played youth football from u9s-u14’s at Manly Waringah Soccer Club , Sydney NSW.

Represented my state New South Wales U14/15/16

Played for the U17 national Australian team in 2001 fifa world cup in Trinidad and Tobago. (12 caps)

Awarded a scholarship for soccer at the Australian Institue of Sport, Canberra Australia. 2001

2002 Played for Chievo Verona A.C (Italian Serie A) reserve grade.

2002-2003 3 caps for U20 Australian National Team.

2003-beginning of 2004. Played for Dundee FC (Scotland premier league) reserve grade.

2003. -2 caps for Australian U23 team

2004- SCAD soccer Co-Captain. All-confrence (florida sun) 1st XI, All regional (region XIV) 1st XI. Top goal scorer. SCAD record holder for most goals in a game 4, most points in a game 9.

Coaching Experience:

2 yrs coaching U13 boys . Knox Grammar School (2003and 2004)

1yr coaching Wahronga tigers Mens 1st grade semi professional. Divion 1. (2004)

Hold USSF 'D' License






Jeremy Aven

Jeremy holds a USSF A License and is NSCAA National Advanced Soccer Coach.

He also holds an NSCAA Goalkeeping Level II Diploma.

He is presently the Director of Coaching for Mount Pleasant Soccer Club in Summerville, South Carolina. And is the Assitant Coach for the men's College of Charleston Soccer Team.

He has held the positions of: 

Assistant men's soccer coach at Georgia Southern University

Head Coach for Brewton Parker College Women's Soccer Team

Assistant men's and Women's Coach Buena Vista University

South Carolina Olympic Development Program State Coach

Georgia Olympic Developement Program District Coach

Jeremy also holds a Masters Degree in Exercise Science.

Andy Williamson

Andy Williamson coached his fourth season as the head women's soccer coach at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Williamson helped guide the Bees to their fifth postseason berth in the past six seasons as they advanced to the NAIA Region XIV Tournament in 2004 and finished 7-7-4. The other four times, the Bees qualified for the NCAA Division III playoffs and the NAIA Region XIV Tournament.

Williamson came to SCAD from the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Ark., where he served a year as head women's soccer coach and facilities director. Prior to coaching at Ozarks, he served as the assistant men's and women's soccer coach at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. During his stay, Trinity won Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference titles and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Tournament twice.

Williamson also served as the head coach at San Antonio Academy and St. Paul's Episcopal Day School from 1995-97.

Eric Faulconer

Eric Faulconer was named in January 2005 as the first head women's soccer coach at Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Georgia. He will lead the Pirates in their first season of play this fall.

Faulconer came to AASU from Thomas University, where he compiled a career record in six seasons of 68-44-6. Faulconer left Thomas 16th all time in the history of the NAIA in winning percentage. He was the ninth winningest women's soccer coach in wins and eight in winning percentage among active NAIA coaches. In 2004, the Lady Night Hawks finished 10th in the country and No. 1 in Region 13, both the highest in the program's history. In 2003, he led Thomas to the NAIA Region 13 title and received an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament in Santa Barbara, CA. He was named the 2003 NAIA Region 13 Coach of the Year, as well as the 2003 NSCAA/adidas South Region Coach of the Year. He was a finalist for the National Coach of the Year with both organizations. He also led Thomas to three straight national rankings.

He has been involved in the sport of soccer at the professional, collegiate and youth levels. Faulconer was an assistant coach with the Thomas University men's soccer program during the 1998-99 season. He also served as Deputy Commissioner of the professional Eastern Indoor Soccer League from 1996-98. He was quite active at the high school and youth levels in Tallahassee, Florida since 1990. Faulconer was the Director of Girls Player Development for the Tallahassee United Futbol Club and is currently a staff coach with Tallahassee-based Warner Soccer. Faulconer holds a USSF National B License and is a member of the Florida Youth Soccer Association Olympic Development coaching staff.

Born in New Jersey, Faulconer's family moved to Naples, Florida in 1979. He graduated from the Florida State University with a bachelors in political science and a masters in public administration, with additional graduate course work in sport administration.