VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC have named Ariel Gitz head coach of the club’s Whitecaps FC BMO Okanagan Academy Centre.
As part of his role, Gitz will oversee programs in Kelowna and Vernon, including working with Whitecaps FC Network Partner Kelowna City FC.
"We are pleased to welcome Ariel to lead our Okanagan Academy Centre programs,” said Mike Ayyash, Whitecaps FC BMO Academy Centre director. “The Okanagan is an important region for the club. We’re looking forward to Ariel integrating himself into the community.”
Gitz led the technical development programs at Brazilian Soccer Schools Canada for five years, including programs partnered with Fusion FC, in addition to coaching for Burnaby Girls Soccer Club and FC Barcelona Academy Vancouver.
In his playing days, the native of Porto Alegre, Brazil captained the futsal team at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul in his home country. He then began his coaching career as an assistant coach with the school’s women’s futsal team.
Gitz holds a BC Soccer Provincial B licence and a Master of Education in Coaching Studies from the University of Victoria.
For more information on the Whitecaps FC BMO Academy System, visit whitecapsfc.com/academy.
