Ottawa Fury News Release - www.ottawafury.com
Monday, October 8, 2007
OTTAWA, ON -- The Ottawa Fury Soccer Club is pleased to announce that Stephen O’Kane has been appointed as the new Head Coach of the Men’s Premier Development League team for the 2008 season.
O’Kane has been the Head Coach at Algonquin College for the past three seasons. In 2006, he led the Thunder to an undefeated season and a Canadian Colleges Athletic Association National Title. The team posted a 14-0-1 record and ran away with the national title winning the final 4-0. Since taking over 3 years ago, he has guided the Thunder to one CCAA National Title (2006), three Ontario CAA Championships (2004, 2005, 2006), and two National CCAA Silver Medals (2004, 2005).
“Stephen is an excellent young coach who has achieved tremendous success at the youth and varsity levels in taking teams to National Championships,” enthused Fury owner John Pugh, “We are ready to take our Men’s PDL program to the next level in 2008 and are excited that we have been able to attract a coach of the caliber of Stephen to spearhead this effort.”
At the Fury, O'Kane guided the 2007 U16 Boys team to a 10-1-1 record and a 2007 USL Super Y-League New England Division title and to the North American Finals in Florida last November. His squad finished in 3rd place at the highly regarded Foyle Cup in Northern Ireland this summer. The Fury squad, having defeated the hot favorites from South Africa in the quarter finals, were defeated by the FA of Ireland squad in the semi-finals. In 2006, his U20 Boys Fury squad finished runners up in the newly formed United Soccer Leagues Super-20 division. With many of his players in the U18 age bracket, the team finished in 2nd place, missing out on the title by one point but qualifying for the Super-20 North American Finals held in New Hampshire. Seven members of this team went on to earn scholarships at US schools. In 2005, O'Kane guided the U17 Fury Boys team to an unbeaten (15-0-0) season and the SYL New England Division title. His squad also finished runners up in the US Club Soccer National Cup Regional tournament. He is a Provincial B License coach.
“Stephen is a great communicator who knows how to get the best out of his players and is an excellent game tactician,” commented Fury Technical Director, Colin McCurdy, “I am very confident that we are in good hands with Steve at the helm.”
As a player at Algonquin College, O’Kane won the Provincial title in 1999 and was a finalist at the national level. He was also a 3 year team captain and OCAA All Star selection. Stephen had trials with Sheffield United in England where he played with their academy team as well as the University squad. He received a soccer scholarship to Geneva College in Pittsburgh.
The Fury have just completed their third season in the USL Premier Development League, the top U23 men’s league in North America and a development ground for players aspiring to play in the professional ranks. The 2007 campaign featured 63 teams from coast to coast competing in four conferences. The Fury play in the North Division of the Eastern Conference where they posted a 3-8-5 record in 2007.
