Jason Hills
FC Edmonton Communications

When the Canadian Premier League took control of FC Edmonton in January, there weren’t just significant changes and cost-cutting measures made to the club’s roster for the 2022 season — the impact was also felt within the coaching staff and soccer operations department.
Eddies head coach and general manager Alan Koch lost assistant coach Brendan Shaw as well as veteran goalkeeper coach Lars Hirschfeld.

“The longer we went with no information, the more people we lost,” said Koch.
“Brendan was initially scheduled to return in his role as an assistant coach, but due to the inability to give him a contract, he opted to join Whitecaps FC 2 as an assistant coach. I have no hard feelings towards Brendan. He couldn’t wait any longer, and our loss is the Whitecaps’ gain. Brendan is going to end up being one of the best coaches in the country.”

Losing Hirschfeld, who is one of the top goalkeeper coaches in the country, was also a challenge.

“I loved working with Lars, he’s the consummate professional, and his knowledge in terms of goalkeeper instruction and guidance is at the top level in Canada,” said Koch.

With the off-season training in full swing, Koch didn’t have much time to put his coaching staff together, and was faced with budget restraints, but was able to bring in quality coaches with a variety of experience in Todd May and former FC Edmonton defender Allan Zebie, who retired after the 2021 CPL season.

May spent time as an assistant coach with Simon Fraser University and has worked with U17 Mountain FC boys team in the BCSPL and the Barca Academy in British Columbia.
The Eddies have shown significant growth throughout their young roster this season, and the same can be said for the club’s coaching staff as May and Zebie are in their first year’s coaching, professionally.

“Todd and Allan are two intelligent young coaches who are growing and learning on the fly every day,” said Koch.
“The growth of the staff has been just as pleasing as the player development, and I’m pleased with Todd and Allan’s progressions.”

The goalkeeper coach role has been done by committee this year. Koch originally brought in Darren Woloshen to fill the role, but he left early in the 2022 season for an opportunity he’d been waiting for in B.C.
Koch then filled the role with current SFU head coach Clint Schneider, whom he worked with during his time at SFU, but Koch once again had to fill the role at the end of July after Schneider had to return to his duties with SFU.
Dhee Govender, who helped Schneider in a volunteer role and has experience as an assistant coach with MacEwan University men’s soccer team has transitioned into the role after Schneider left.
In terms of support staff, the club was able to retain Alex Mejia as clubhouse manager.

“I was very grateful that we were able to retain Alex. Without his club knowledge and the fact he has already been through a season cycle working on the technical staff, it meant there has been one less member to educate and groom in their role,” said Koch.
“He brings passion and commitment to his role and the club every day. We’re lucky to have him.”

The club was able to bring in Julian Micolta as head athletic therapist and Ryleigh Bridges as the team’s operations manager.

“Ryleigh has been fantastic. She has connected well with the staff and players, and plays a massive role in the smooth daily operations and functions of our team,” said Koch.
“We also brought in Julian Micolta and he has been a fantastic connection as the Head Athletic Therapist connecting the players medical needs, all medical staff and the technical team. 

“I am very grateful for the work Alex, Ryleigh, Todd, Julian, Allan, and Dhee do to help this club every day. Without their efforts, we would not be able to field a team every week, and FC Opportunity would not have been able to remain competitive in the majority of the games we have played this season.”