Serafy Adds Two To Women's Soccer Coaching Staff For 2010 Season
Mercer women’s soccer head coach Grant Serafy announced Wednesday the addition of two assistants to his 2010 coaching staff.
The seventh-year head coach named former professional player Jason Russell and recent USC Upstate graduate Peter Davis to his staff as the team prepares for their 2010 season.
Both coaches have regional experience and a pedigree tailored for Atlantic Sun play. Russell has known Serafy since his high school days when Serafy coached at Stratford Academy in Macon in 1993 and Davis graduated from USC Upstate in 2009, playing two seasons with the Spartans.
"I believe we have been able to assemble a tremendously talented staff for the program,” Serafy said.
Russell’s professional experience includes playing for a number of teams in the United Soccer League and the National Professional Soccer League from 1999-2003. He also had a prolific collegiate career at Georgia Southern, helping the program gain national recognition as a player before graduating in 2004.
In Statesboro, Russell notched 30 goals and 30 assists in his career and remains as the Eagles second all-time points leader.
“Jason was a professional player in this country and has been coaching at the highly successful Tophat Soccer Club in Atlanta, so he will be able to add insight into the tactics of the game.” Serafy said.
With strong ties in the state of Georgia and over ten years of coaching experience, Russell will provide a wealth of knowledge serving as the team’s recruiting coordinator. Since 2006, Russell served as the Head Coach of the Tophat Soccer Club in Atlanta, coaching U-14 girls.
Davis comes to the Orange and Black by way of Pfeiffer University where he served as an assistant and goalkeeper’s coach for the men’s team in 2009. At Pfeiffer, Davis helped guide the team to their best record in program history and aided in two all conference honors for both the men’s and women’s goalkeepers.
"Peter played in the Atlantic Sun as a goalkeeper so to have someone with that knowledge of our conference will be a great asset,” Serafy said. “Peter also has been a goalkeeper coach at the collegiate level and at the ODP level in North Carolina. He will train our goalkeepers and be in charge of community and alumni relations."
Davis played two seasons for the Spartans as goalkeeper after transferring from Spartanburg Methodist College (junior college) and was named a captain three of his four years as a player. Davis also holds several coaching licenses through the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and was heavily involved in the North Carolina Olympic Development Program.
The Bears will begin work for the 2010 season when fall training camp opens on August 4. Mercer will begin play on August 12, with a home exhibition match against Troy. The Bears non-conference schedule includes the likes of Alabama, Georgia, Florida State and Air Force. For season tickets check out mercerbears.com