Med City FC Names First Head Coach
A few weeks ago, the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) announced that an expansion franchise, Med City FC, was launching in Rochester starting in 2017. Now, word comes out from the team that they have hired their first-ever head coach.
Luke Corey, who played and coached at the college level in Canada and who works for EXOS, a partner of Mayo Clinic's Sports Medicine department, will take charge of the team during its inaugural season.
“We’re excited to have Luke on board as we look to quickly build Med City FC into a force in the NPSL,” said Frank Spaeth, Med City FC’s General Manager. “His experience playing and coaching, as well as his work with athletes, including soccer players, who play at the highest levels of the game, are going to be valuable assets for the club!”
Luke graduated from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, in 2004 where he played on the varsity soccer team for four years, serving as team captain during his final season. He was a conference all-star and finished his collegiate career as the third-leading scorer in team history.
After college, he moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and played soccer in the Atlantic Canadian Soccer League from 2005 to 2013. He was a five-time all-star, a top 5 scorer in league history, and led his team to two appearances at the Canadian National Championships. During this time, he also coached collegiately at Mount Saint Vincent University, which included several years as the team’s head coach. The team made two appearances at the Canadian College National Championships, and Luke was named Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association Coach of the Year in 2013.
In Rochester, Luke works for EXOS, an official partner of Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine, as a Performance Dietitian. EXOS is the official performance provider for the World Cup Champion German Men’s National Team and several other high-level soccer teams. Luke has personally worked with Clube Athletico Paranaense, which plays in Brazil’s top division.
“I am excited to join the Med City FC organization to help grow local soccer and showcase the talent that exists in Southeastern Minnesota,” Luke said of his appointment as the team’s head coach. “The development of a soccer player has evolved over the years. It is no longer just about kicking a ball around a field. Our goal is to develop high-level athletes with elite soccer skills, who are good citizens and great role models.”
More info about the new soccer team can be found on the Med City FC website. The team is also trying to raise funds through a GoFundMe campaign.