Vancouver Whitecaps News Releases - www.whitecapsfc.com

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

VANCOUVER, BC -- Vancouver Whitecaps FC announce that men's team assistant coach Todd Wawrousek has signed a one-year contract extension for the 2009 United Soccer Leagues First Division season. Men's team head coach Teitur Thordarson and Wawrousek will be attending three player combines to identify potential new signings for the 2009 season in the coming weeks.

Wawrousek, a native of Reading, Pennsylvania, returns for a third season as assistant coach, having just completed a successful 2008 campaign alongside first-year head coach Teitur Thordarson. Under the pair's guidance, the Whitecaps finished second in the USL-1 regular season standings and claimed their second USL-1 championship title in three seasons with a 2-1 victory over Puerto Rico Islanders at Swangard Stadium on October 12.

"Todd is a very important member of our team and played a pivotal role in the success we shared this past season," said Thordarson. "His extensive knowledge of the North American soccer scene and the USL-1 players market proved extremely helpful during my first year in North America and I am very happy to have him back for next season."

The 50-year-old first joined the Whitecaps in February 2007 as assistant to former head coach Bob Lilley following the departure of Mike Toshack to Major League Soccer side Houston Dynamo. After the club and Lilley parted ways in September of that year, Wawrousek was placed in interim charge of the Whitecaps for the 0-0 friendly draw with MLS club Los Angeles Galaxy at BC Place on November 7, 2007.

"I've always considered it a great privilege to be a part of the Whitecaps organization," Wawrousek said after signing his new contract. "My two years at the club have been a learning experience and an enhancement to my coaching abilities. I look forward to continuing to do my best to contribute to the success of the Whitecaps organization."

Wawrousek's coaching career spans nearly three decades. This included a spell with former USL-1 club Hershey Wildcats between 1997 and 2001. Before his arrival in Vancouver, Wawrousek completed a highly-successful tenure as head coach of the Gettysburg College women’s team between 1990 and 2006. In that time, he led the Bullets to six NCAA Division III tournament appearances and was named NCAA Division III Women's Coach of the Year on three occasions (1993, 1994, 1998).

Thordarson and Wawrousek will first attend the United Soccer Leagues Men's Player Showcase in Charleston, South Carolina, from December 14 to 16 before co-hosting a player combine with USL Second Division side Harrisburg City Islanders at In The Net Sports Complex in Palmyra, Pennsylvania, on December 17 and 18. City Islanders coaches Bill Becher and Steve Widdowson will join Thordarson and Wawrousek in evaluating the players over three sessions of the two-day tryout. The third combine takes place in the New Year, as the Whitecaps coaching staff will attend the Major League Soccer Player Combine in Fort Lauderdale, Florida from January 9 to 13.

Thordarson hopes to find players that can add something extra to his USL-1 championship side. "We are looking for young talent that can give us additional squad depth," he said. "We will not be focusing on particular positions, as we will be looking for the best players that are available."

City Islanders head coach Becher was pleased to collaborate with the Whitecaps on their joint player combine next month. "Vancouver is a first-class organization and we are pleased to partner with them once again," he said. "I look forward to having the Whitecaps coaching staff here in Harrisburg and I believe that a joint tryout with franchises from different levels of USL is a great way to find players who may be able to contribute to one of the respective teams. It should be a quality event."

For additional information on the joint Harrisburg/Whitecaps player combine, visit www.cityislanders.com.

Whitecaps 2009 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 BC Place and the proposed Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium. For more information on the 2009 season ticket packages, visit www.whitecapsfc.com