PORTLAND
, Ore.
–
Portland Timbers head coach
Gavin Wilkinson
announced today that assistant coaches
Jim Brazeau
,
Jim Rilatt
and
Rod Underwood
will return to the Timbers’ sidelines for the 2008 season.
Brazeau returns for his seventh season as the Timbers’ goalkeeping coach, while Rilatt and Underwood enter their second seasons on Wilkinson’s staff.
“It’s great to have all three coaches back,” said Wilkinson. “We worked well together last season and all have the expectation to succeed. Each one is committed to the game and the future success of the Timbers.”
Now entering his seventh season with the organization, Brazeau served as the Timbers’ goalkeeping coach from 2001-05 under former head coach Bobby Howe, and then returned in 2007 as a member of Wilkinson’s staff. Named the 2006 Northwest Conference Coach of the Year, Brazeau also serves as the head coach of the men’s soccer program at Pacific University in Forest Grove., Ore. He played his collegiate career at Pacific University and Oregon State University prior to a six-year professional career.
Rilatt, who enters his second season with the Timbers, brings more than 20 years of coaching experience to the Timbers’ staff. During his 14 years of coaching at the high school level in the state of Oregon, Rilatt was a five-time Mt. Hood Conference Coach of the Year selection. He has also coached at several local colleges and currently serves as an assistant for the men’s team at Pacific University. In 1994, Rilatt led FC Portland’s U-18 team, which included current Timbers players
Andrew Gregor
and
Chris Brown
, to the U.S. Youth Soccer national championship.
Underwood returns for a second season with the Timbers in 2008. An experienced coach at the professional level, Underwood led the Albuquerque Geckos, a former USL club, to the USL Second Division title in 1997, and is the co-author of the book, “Understanding Soccer,” which was published in 1993. He currently holds advanced coaching certificates from the Netherlands and Wales in addition to his USSF “A” license. Underwood began his professional career in 1989 and saw time with two former USL clubs - the New Mexico Chiles and Albuquerque.
The Timbers face Major League Soccer’s San Jose Earthquakes on March 28 and Gonzaga University on March 30 as they prepare for the 2008 USL First Division campaign. Portland’s 2008 regular season opens April 17 against the Puerto Rico Islanders at PGE Park. Season-ticket packages, flex plans, group discounts and party suites are available by contacting the Timbers ticket office at (503) 553-5555, click here for more information.
