Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today that
Hubert Busby Jr.
has been named the new head coach of the Whitecaps women's team. The club also announced today that Whitecaps Prospects Girls head coach
Jesse Symons
will serve as the assistant coach of the women's team.
As part of the club's long-term plan to form a player development pipeline from the Whitecaps female youth teams to the W-League side and Canadian national team programs, Busby will also serve as head coach of the Whitecaps U-18 Prospects team, as well as oversee the recruitment, scouting, and promotion of the 'Caps women's program. Symons, meanwhile, will also serve as assistant coach of the Whitecaps U-18 Prospects, as well as the head coach of the Whitecaps Prospects Girls.
"We're very pleased to be able to add someone of Hubert’s qualifications to the Whitecaps," said Whitecaps director of youth development Dan Lenarduzzi. "Hubert’s experience at the highest level of women’s professional soccer in a major market with Los Angeles Sol last year will help establish a long-term plan for the Whitecaps women's team and the club’s female development program. Both Hubert and Jesse will be very active in helping to create development relationships, particularly with the Canadian national team program."
Busby, 40, brings an extensive coaching resume to the role as Vancouver's United Soccer Leagues (USL) W-League team head coach. Born in Toronto, Ontario, and raised in Kingston, Ontario, Busby was an assistant coach with Los Angeles Sol during their inaugural season in Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) in 2009. As a member of the Sol coaching staff, he helped the Southern California outfit to the WPS regular season title.
"I'm very excited about the opportunity to become the women's team head coach and to be part of the Whitecaps vision going forward," said Busby. "It's a great opportunity for me to help produce and develop young female players - not only for our club, but also for the Canadian national team. Our role will be to identify and nurture young Canadian female talent and provide them with opportunities to fulfill their playing aspirations."
Locally, Busby is the current technical director of both the North Shore Soccer Development Centre and USL Super Y-League club Mountain WFC. In 2003, he led Ottawa Wizards to a Canadian Soccer League regular season title before taking charge of former USL First Division club Toronto Lynx in 2005. Busby has also worked with the women's programs at New Jersey's Fairleigh Dickinson University and Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. His credentials include a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) 'A' coaching license and a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) 'A' diploma. Busby also has a Bachelors degree in Sociology from Queen's University.
A goalkeeper during his playing days, Busby played professionally in both Europe and North America. This included spells with Crystal Palace and Oxford United in England, as well as Montreal Impact, Toronto Lynx and Vancouver Whitecaps FC in USL-1. Though born in Canada, Busby also spent time with the Jamaican national team.
Busby - who resides in North Vancouver, BC - becomes the sixth head coach of the Whitecaps women’s team. He succeeds Alan Koch, Bob Birarda, Pat Rohla, Chris Bennett, and Dave Dew.
Symons, 28, enters his new role with the Whitecaps women after a successful 2009 season as head coach of the Whitecaps Prospects Women's (U-18 Girls) team. He led the side to a Pacific Coast Soccer League Premier Division championship before leading Team BC to a gold medal at the 2009 Canada Games in Prince Edward Island. Serving as Prospects Girls head coach since 2006, Symons has taken several teams to top international youth tournaments in Las Vegas, Minnesota, Portland, San Diego, and Seattle. His credentials include a Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) National 'B' license, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Teaching Certificate from the Professional Development Program at Simon Fraser University.
Whitecaps 2010 season tickets are now on sale. Season tickets include all men’s and women's team regular season and playoff home matches at Swangard Stadium, Nutrilite Canadian Championship home matches against Toronto FC and Montreal Impact, as well as priority listing for Vancouver MLS 2011 in BC Place. For more information on Whitecaps 2010 season ticket packages, call 604.669.WAVE (9283) or click here.
