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NSC Minnesota NSC Minnesota Stars pro soccer team news update for March 4, 2010:

Carl Craig appointed as first assistant coach

Kevin Friedland will serve as combination player-assistant coach

Kyle Altman signed as eighth player

 

NEWS RELEASE

For immediate release, February 17, 2010

 

For more information:

Barclay Kruse, Chief Communications Officer
National Sports Center
763.785.5634 (office)
763.458.6615 (cell)
bkruse@mnsports.org

 

BLAINE, Minn. (March 4, 2010) –The NSC Minnesota Stars professional soccer team announced the hiring of Carl Craig as an assistant coach and Kevin Friedland as player-assistant coach. Additionally, Kyle Altman signed a player contract this week.

 

Carl Craig, originally from Newcastle, England and now living in Richfield, Minn., has been appointed as the first NSC Minnesota Stars assistant coach. Craig has an extensive background in soccer coaching going back to 1990, with his original head coaching job with the Walker Central Football Club in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. After several coaching assignments in England, he moved to Minnesota in 1994 where he assumed a head coaching position with the Edina Soccer Club.

 

Over the years, Craig coached at Minneapolis South, Hopkins and Richfield High Schools. He has also coached with the Edina, Wings, Westside, Twin Cities Phoenix and Dakota Rev Soccer Clubs. His most recent assignment has been as the U16 boys’ head coach and soccer operations manager at Shattuck-St. Mary’s School in Faribault, Minn.

Since 1995, he has served as a Region 2 staff coach, and is the head coach for the Minnesota Boy’s ODP Program.

 

In 2000, he secured his U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) “A” Coaching License, and his National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Premier Coaching Diploma in 2002.

 

“I’ve had experience at many different levels, primarily with youth, but also with adults prior to moving to the United States,” said Craig. “I think what I can bring on board is a great understanding of how to work with different players, within different age groups and levels.”

 

“Carl has worked very hard at many different levels. I think he’s going to provide a great amount of experience and insight for the team,” said Head Coach Manny Lagos.

 

Kevin Friedland, originally from Irvine, Cal., and more recently a Minnesota Thunder defender, has been appointed in the combination position as an assistant coach and player for the NSC Minnesota Stars. Friedland has been a popular player for the Thunder since 2004, with 115 game appearances and six goals. He recently completed his U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) “B” Coaching License course. He has coached at different youth levels, but this is his first professional coaching experience.

 

Friedland played his college soccer at Southern Methodist University from 2000-2003, where he was a second-team All-American in 2002. He was drafted by the Kansas City Wizards in the sixth round of the MLS Superdraft in 2003. He signed with the Thunder in 2004. In 2004, he was a member of the U.S. team that won the silver medal at the Maccabiah Games in Israel.

 

On his dual role as player-coach, Friedland said, “I’ll still be a player first and be contributing there, but I’ll also be helping out with both developing other players, and working with Manny and Carl behind the scenes to help shape the team.”

 

“Kevin still has a lot of value to provide for the team, and we also think he’ll transition into pretty good coach,” said Head Coach Manny Lagos. “He’s been a great guy in the community and a great advocate for the sport in Minnesota.”

 

Kyle Altman, a defender from Albuquerque, New Mexico has also been signed by the team.

 

Altman played his college soccer at Trinity University in San Antonio, where he was a Division III All-American in 2006 and 2007. He was drafted in the second round of the 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft by the New England Revolution. He signed with the Minnesota Thunder in 2008, and played in 16 games that season. Altman returns to the pitch after taking the 2009 season off from professional soccer to complete his education.