VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today that Brett Adams has been appointed regional head coach of the club’s Kootenay Academy Centre.
Adams joins Whitecaps FC after previously working with English club Notts County FC, where he spent six years coaching within the club’s youth system. Most recently, Adams was a youth coach for Notts County, leading the club’s youth development program and producing no less than six professional players who saw regular playing time with the first team. Adams holds a UEFA A coaching license and has over 10 years of youth development coaching experience in England, including time spent with English Championship club Nottingham Forest.
The Nottingham, England, native comes to British Columbia to lead the second year of operation for Whitecaps FC Kootenay Academy Centre programs. The first year of programming was overseen by Okanagan regional head coach David Broadhurst, with academy programming being delivered in partnership with SoccerQuest.
“We very much appreciated our first year in the Kootenays and we learned a great deal from the experience,” said Whitecaps FC director of soccer development Dan Lenarduzzi. “When the opportunity came up to bring someone of Brett’s experience and credentials to the Kootenays, we felt it was the perfect opportunity for us to have a permanent Whitecaps FC presence in the area to work more closely with the community, local players, and our partners to help grow our Academy Centre.”
Adams will be overseen by Whitecaps FC Pre-Residency and Academy Centre head coach Bart Choufour and will also work closely with Okanagan regional head coach David Broadhurst on the development of programs and services to the Kootenay region. As part of the developed training program, select travel projects and events will be organized, including travel to Vancouver with opportunities to train with Vancouver staff and take in a Whitecaps FC MLS match.
Whitecaps FC will operate the Kootenay Academy Centre as part of a regional strategy that will initially include a Kootenay West Prospects Academy primarily open to players from Nelson, Castlegar, and Kootenay South. A Kootenay East Skills Academy will operate out of Cranbrook and be open to eastern-based Kootenay players. While the West program will operate as the main Kootenay hub, selected players from the East Skills Academy will be identified and given the opportunity to travel and train with the West Prospects program whenever possible. As the East Skills Academy develops, it will mirror the West Prospects program as well as the club’s other Academy Centres across the province.
Whitecaps FC programming in the Kootenays is designed to provide supplementary training that supports and enhances the programs currently running through the local soccer associations including:Nelson Youth Soccer Association (NYSA); Kootenay South Youth Soccer Association (KSYSA) and Kootenay East Youth Soccer Association (KEYSA). In addition, Whitecaps FC Academy Centre programs are positioned to be complementary and supportive to BC Soccer programs and the EA SPORTS BC Soccer Premier League (BCSPL) programming – the Whitecaps FC partner league and main scouting vehicle for the club’s programs in BC.
Whitecaps FC Academy Centres are a network of regional Whitecaps FC training hubs linked through key staff, curriculum, and standards that provide professional supplemental training for serious, motivated players. Other current Academy Centres are located in Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Northern BC, the Okanagan and Saskatchewan.
For more information on Whitecaps FC youth programs in the Kootenays, please visit online at whitecapsfc.com/academy and select the Kootenay Academy Centre options.
Contact information
Whitecaps FC Kootenay Regional Head Coach: Brett Adams – badams@whitecapsfc.com
Whitecaps FC Okanagan Regional Head Coach: David Broadhurst – dbroadhurst@whitecapsfc.com or 250.550.5489
Whitecaps FC Administrator:gopro@whitecapsfc.com or 1.855.932.1932 toll free.
