FEDERAL WAY, WASHINGTON (Friday, February 22) – In partnership with the Seattle Sounders and the newly-formed Seattle Major League Soccer (MLS) team, Washington Youth Soccer has hired former Professional player and Sounders Assistant Coach, Darren Sawatzky as the Director of Youth Development, for the MLS/Washington Youth Soccer Camps and Academy Programs. Acting as the liaison between the organizations, Sawatzky will play a critical role in strengthening the local youth camp system while assisting with the development and identification of youth players for MLS Academy programs.

 

In this emerging position, Sawatzky’s initial focus will be to design and create youth modules and camps for Washington Youth Soccer in cooperation with the MLS Technical Director Chris Henderson. This combined effort will ensure that when these programs are introduced over the next few months, they are not only appropriate for the current youth soccer environment, but plan for future growth as well.

 

“With the MLS coming to town, it was our job as the leading youth soccer association to strengthen our player base and programs in an effort to support both the team and the future of soccer throughout the state,” stated Todd McGann, Washington Youth Soccer Executive Director. “We knew that we needed to make an immediate and positive impact on all levels of the game and hiring someone with Darren’s skills and experience will allow us to do just that.” 

 

In alignment with the philosophical beliefs and practices of the MLS, Sawatzky’s hire re-enforces the great strides already being taken by Washington Youth Soccer to reach out to the state’s numerous diverse soccer communities. This continued outreach will provide training to an extensive number of local players, including many diverse populations, and will ultimately strengthen the overall player base for the MLS in the future and continue the commitment to Diversity in our soccer community that both of these organization share.

 

Prior to this new role, Sawatzky, a Federal Way native, has had an illustrious soccer career both on and off the pitch. Under the tutelage of the great Clive Charles, Sawatzky made his mark on three NCAA Tournaments at the University of Portland and earned an All-West Coast Conference (WCC) selection and WCC Scholar Award in 1992.  

Propelled by his success at the collegiate level, Sawatzky then spent a decade in the professional ranks with the New England Revolution (MLS), the Dallas Burn (MLS), the Colorado Rapids (MLS), the Oregon Surge (USL), Leicester City (England), the Hershey Wildcats (USL) and the Portland Timbers (USL). His playing time also included four years with the Seattle Sounders where he became the Sounders second all-time leading goal scorer and Team MVP. In addition, Sawatzky received USL First Division First Team Honors and tied for third in the USL First Division scoring title before retiring in 2004. Three short years later as an Assistant Coach, Sawatzky helped lead the Seattle Sounders to a USL First Division Championship. 

Over the past few years Sawatzky has also played a big part in local soccer community having worked as an assistant coach at the University of Washington, head coach at Thomas Jefferson High School (Federal Way) and as the Director of Coaching for the Highline Premier Football Club.

 

Washington Youth Soccer is the largest youth soccer organization in Washington. Washington Youth Soccer is the state's affiliate for US Youth Soccer, which is the largest sports organization in the United States and the most populous member of the United States Soccer Federation, the governing body for soccer in the United States.  The Washington Youth Soccer is the sixth largest membership in the nation; our organization represents over 123,000 players (ages 4-19) and their families, 15,000 coaches on 11,000 teams and 6,500 referees in the state of Washington.  Washington Youth Soccer’s mission is to foster the physical, mental and emotional growth and development of the State of Washington's youth through the sport of soccer at all levels of age and competition.

# # #