Minnesota Thunder Professional Soccer Team
Friday, March 9, 2007
ST PAUL, MN -- Minnesota Thunder head coach Amos Magee has been named Head Coach of the US Maccabi Games soccer team. Magee will coach the Open Team in the 11th Edition of the Pan-American games to be held December 26th, 2007 – January 2nd, 2008 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
“This is both a thrill and an honor,” said Magee. “To be selected to coach the marquee soccer team says a lot about what we’ve been able to accomplish with the Thunder and during my time with the US Maccabi Team.”
Magee started his Maccabi career in 1993, winning a bronze medal as a player in the 13th Maccabiah. He assisted the U16 Maccabi Junior Team in the 2003 Pan-Am games and assisted San Diego St. Head Coach Lev Kirschner at the 2005 Maccabiah. Kirschner and Magee led the US team to a Silver medal, the highest medal a US Maccabi Soccer team has ever received.
“There is nothing quite like representing your country in an international competition,” added Magee.
Magee will be assisted by former William and Mary coach Al Albert. Coach Albert spent 33 years at W&M, wracking up an impressive 401 wins, 12 NCAA bids, and two trips to the Elite Eight. He is the vice-president of NSCAA and will assume the presidency in January of 2008.
“I’m tremendously excited about working alongside one of the legends of US Soccer,” said Magee. “I expect this to be an educational trip as well as a competitive one. I’m very excited to have Al on staff.”
In addition to his impressive collegiate resume, Albert was one of the founders of what has now become the Virginia Legacy SC. He also has United Soccer League connections as he will be the assistant coach for the Legacy in the Premier Developmental League (PDL). Albert is currently the Associate Director of Athletic Development at W&M.
Thunder assistant coach Tod Herskovitz was named assistant coach of the Junior Team for the Pan-Am games. Herskovitz, Varsity Boys coach at St. Paul Academy, played with Magee in the 1993 Maccabiah and will be assisting St. Mary’s University Men’s Coach Adam Cooper.
“This will be a great learning experience,” said Herskovitz, “I’m excited to work with Coach Cooper towards a gold medal.”
'Maccabi USA/Sports for Israel will send a contingent of more than 600 athletes to the 11th Pan American Maccabi Games, in the Open, Youth, Juniors and Masters categories, joining an estimated 3,000 athletes from more than 20 countries,” said Phyllis Magerman, General Chair of the U.S. 11th Pan American Maccabi Games Organizing Committee.
The Games will take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, December 26, 2007 – January 2, 2008.
Since 1948, Maccabi USA/Sports for Israel has sought to enrich the lives of Jewish youth in the United States, Israel and throughout the Diaspora through athletic, cultural and educational programs. The organization is the sponsor of the U.S. Team to the World Maccabiah Games in Israel. It also sponsors U.S. participation in Maccabi competitions in Pan America, Europe and Australia and supports Jewish youth through the JCC Maccabi Games.
