Mick McDermott Accepts Men's Soccer Assistant Position
March 16, 2004
CORVALLIS, Ore. - -
Mick McDermott has been named an assistant coach of the Oregon State University men's soccer program, Beaver head coach Dana Taylor announced Tuesday.
"Mick brings a high-level of coaching, playing and sport-specific training experience to our team," Taylor said. "We're fortunate to add Mick to our staff and are thrilled to have him."
McDermott is a National Strength and Conditioning Association certified strength and conditioning specialist. One of his duties will be overseeing all soccer-specific aspects of OSU's training.
As a speed and agility coach at the prestigious Parisi Speed School in Fairlawn, N.J. from 2001-02, McDermott implemented and developed training curriculum for world-class athletes. In addition, several of his articles have appeared in national publications.
"Mick's expertise in the realm of fitness, as well as his coaching abilities, will elevate our program to another level," Taylor said. "He has a tremendous knowledge of the game and how to get the most out of each individual."
McDermott will work primarily with OSU's midfielders and forwards on the field.
"Mick will have a huge impact on our team, and our attacking element in particular," Taylor added.
McDermott, most recently an assistant coach at Quinnipiac University, in Hamden, Conn., takes over the position vacated by Jesse Cormier when he accepted the head coaching position at his alma mater, Vermont, in February.
McDermott, 30, brings professional coaching experience to the program, having served two years as an assistant with the "A" League's Connecticut Wolves from 2002-03. During that time, he worked under head coach Dan Gasper.
A veteran professional soccer player, McDermott played seven years in the "A"-League with the Long Island Roughriders, Raleigh Express and Connecticut. He served as Raleigh's team captain in 2000.
McDermott, a native of Belfast, Northern Ireland, also played two seasons in the Irish Premier League, earning three U-18 national caps for international competition.
McDermott earned Academic All-America honors at the University of Rhode Island, where he was the team captain from 1994-95 and teammates with current OSU assistant Anthony Latronica. He was also named URI and Atlantic-10 Conference Student-Athlete of the Year in 1995, graduating on the URI Dean's List in 1996 with a bachelor's degree in Physical Education.
McDermott and Latronica later played professionally in the "A"-League with Connecticut in 2002.
McDermott holds a USSF "A" License and will complete his UEFA License early this summer.
Said McDermott: "This is an outstanding opportunity. Oregon State is a program that has just begun to make its mark on collegiate soccer, and I'm thrilled to help take the program to the next level. I look forward to working with an outstanding group of student-athletes and coaches.
"My family and I are excited to come to Corvallis - this is a great community and an outstanding university."
A certified physical education teacher, McDermott and his wife, Karla, have two daughters, Kali (4) and Kiera (1 ˝).
