West Virginia Chaos News Release
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
CHARLESTON, WV -- The West Virginia Chaos announced that Luke Ibbetson will replace Marty Martinez as Head Coach of the West Virginia Chaos for the 2008 Premier Development League (PDL) season.
Ibbetson a native of Leeds, England will be the third coach in franchise history following Martinez, who led the Chaos for the last four seasons, but recently resigned from his Head Coaching positions with both the University of Charleston and the West Virginia Chaos to pursue other interests. Martinez was proceeded by Lawrence Fine who led the Chaos in their inaugural 2002 season.
“We’re very happy to have Luke as the head coach of the West Virginia Chaos,” said Chaos Director of Media Relations/Director of Operations Rudy Roediger. “After meeting with him at the United Soccer Leagues winter meetings and continuing to talk to him on a regular basis the last two months it is obvious that we have a unified vision of where we want this team to go on the field and how we are going to represent and involve ourselves in the community off the field.”
Roediger went on to say, “Luke will be invaluable to the growth of our organization, he came highly recommended and brings a special expertise in working with players that aspire to be professionals. He has experienced what it is to be a full professional himself in the United Soccer Leagues’ Second Division (USL-2)."
Ibbetson, 25, holds the Football Association Coaching Badge Level 1 and Level 2 and will be completing the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) B License this year. Ibbetson came highly recommended to the Chaos from NCAA Division I Costal Carolina University’s staff where he has been an assistant coach, the Director of the Costal Carolina Soccer Academy, and Assistant Director of Coastal Soccer Camps. Ibbetson was first introduced to the Chaos by conference foe Kalamazoo Outrage’s Head Coach Stu Riddle. Riddle had first offered Ibbetson a job with the Outrage, but at the USL winter meetings in Tampa, Florida in November gave a great recommendation to the Chaos’s staff on Ibbetson’s abilities and became instrumental in setting up an introduction during the USL winter meetings weekend.
In 2007 Ibbetson was an instrumental part to the Costal Carolina University Chants going a perfect 6-0-0 in Big South play a feat not done in the last 11 years in the conference. Prior to joining the Costal Carolina University’s coaching staff he spent an eight year youth career playing for Leeds United, Sheffield Wednesday, and York City’s youth academies in England, in addition to the Great Britain University’s National Team pool.
After a three year contract with York City, he joined Lander University (Greenwood, South Carolina) for the 2003 season. He led the team as a Captain and team MVP from 2003-2005 and to the 2005 NCAA Division II Southwest Region Championship. In 42 appearances for the Lander University Bearcats Ibbetson scored 59 goals, leading the nation in scoring for 2005. He was named to the NSCAA Second Team Division II All American in 2004 and 2005 and was the Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year in 2005.
In 2006 he joined NCAA Division I Costal Carolina (Conway, South Carolina) of the Big South Conference leading them to the conference semi finals; he was named team MVP and earned Big South All-Conference Second Team honors while leading the Chants in goals (9) and points (20). Following the end of his collegiate playing career Ibbetson signed a professional contract with the Wilmington Hammerheads of the USL-2 scoring two goals in 11 appearances last season.
“I am excited to be joining the West Virginia Chaos and becoming part of the Charleston community. I am fully motivated in exceeding expectations and bringing success back to the Chaos both on and off the field,” stated Ibbetson.
Chaos General Manager Dan Rollins feels that the Chaos will bring a higher caliber team and organization this summer to the Chaotics (Chaos fans) with the new changes to the organization,
“There are many exciting changes in store this year both on and off the field for us. We expect larger crowds and more people to enjoy the games this coming season at Schoenbaum Stadium in Coonskin Park. We have a beautiful field and stadium to play in thanks to Betty Schoenbaum and the Kanawha County Parks & Recreation,” Rollins stated.
Ibbetson’s first task with the Chaos will be focusing on recruiting the players that will take the team to the next level. Open tryouts will be held in Columbia, South Carolina on Feb. 9th from 2pm – 6pm at the Columbia United Soccer Complex and in Charleston, West Virginia at the home of the Chaos, Schoenbaum Stadium on Feb. 23rd from 2pm – 6pm. At the tryouts Ibbetson will be looking to finalize the roster of 26 players with 10 to 15 players being selected and an additional 10 to 15 players selected for a practice squad.
The Chaos is required to sign three U19 players to the active roster with the leagues idea of development. For pre tryout registration contact Director of Operations Rudy Roediger at 740-804-3355 or by email rudy.roediger@gmail.com. Pre registration cost is $20 and registration at the tryout will be $30 and will include a West Virginia Chaos PDL tryout t-shirt. The 2008 West Virginia Chaos PDL schedule is expected to be released next week.
