Lancaster Rattlers News Release - www.lancasterrattlers.com

Monday, October 8, 2007

LANCASTER, CA -- The Lancaster Rattlers announced the hiring of a new Head Coach for the Premier Development team. Costa Skouras will head up the second-year Antelope Valley team.

Skouras has coached at the professional level abroad for the Rapacha FC of the Thailand’s Division I. Skouras also coached in the United Soccer Leagues in 1998 with the San Diego Flash that was a part of the USL First Division. He has also played at the professional level in the 1980’s.

“Costa Skouras comes to us with experience in the level of play that was needed last season,” said General Manager Gerald Brunner. "We needed someone who can step in and bring out the talent and ability that I know we have."

Skouras takes over for Brunner who coached the team last season after the ownership released Steve Mackenzie partway through the season.

Brunner said “We decided on someone out of the area so the coach would be impartial and comes with no connections to the players so the decisions would be made without politics weighing into it."

Skouras, who will also serve as director of coaching for the Rattlers developmental programs, such as the Rattlers A V United (a recreational league with over 60 teams from ages 4 to adult), Rattlers Club teams and the USL Super-20 team that will act as a feeder team for the Rattlers PDL.

All these programs are designed to develop the young athletes who desire it to the highest level of play. And Costa Skouras will work with the other coaches in all of the divisions in the training methods and coaching style. This is designed to create a Rattlers roster full of Valley soccer stars.

“We never have to draft and never have to scout outside our program because we’re developing players on a continuous basis,” said Brunner.

Though the season doesn’t start until May of 2008, the Rattlers will continue with workouts and practice three days a week during the offseason at their official training center, The Lancaster National Soccer Center. The newly appointed coach feels at this level the team needs to become one unit.

"This will take time, so we start now," said Skouras.

Now that he has hired a coach with a better understanding of the professional ranks, Brunner guaranteed the Rattlers will have a more successful season.

“The first year we were new at this and didn’t really know what to expect,” said Brunner. “But this year we will be a little smarter, and we know a little more and it is going to be a whole new game. We feel with the addition of Costa Skouras the fans of the Valley will see a whole new team and most importantly a whole new attitude."

Fans are welcome to attend any practices on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evening 6:00pm to 7:30pm west side of the complex field 14 or 16.