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Dutch Lions hire new coach for jump to USL’s Pro Division

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By David DiCenzo, Contributing Writer 6:28 PM Sunday, January 30, 2011

KETTERING — As the Dayton Dutch Lions move up the United Soccer Leagues ladder, change is inevitable. The Lions will play the upcoming 2011 season in the USL Pro Division, a level up from last season’s successful debut in the Premier Development League, with new personnel in charge.

DDL FC ownership has hired Ivar van Dinteren as the head coach and Cor van Hoeven as the technical director. van Dinteren, a 31-year-old native of Bussum in the Netherlands, was a midfielder for the Lions last season after a long career in his homeland with sides like RKC Waalwijk, FC Zwolle and Helmond Sport.

“I am very happy and excited,” said van Dinteren, who studied in a UEFA coaching program for ex-players and was also director of the Lions’ Youth Academy. “This is a tremendous opportunity to develop myself as a coach, and to apply my U.S. player’s experience, my coaching experience and my Dutch national professional soccer experience.”

DDL FC co-owner Mike Mossel said that he and his business partner Erik Tammer were looking for three qualities in a coach: a Netherlands native that had played at the highest level; an individual who understood the mission of the club and American soccer; and finally, someone who will foster the link between the academy and the senior team. After speaking with many candidates, they realized they already had their man.

“Ivar did a great job coaching his two (academy) teams and fully understands what we are trying to build as an organization,” said Mossel. “He has been a valuable asset for us in the transition from the first team to the youth academy. He is still young but very hungry and ambitious, same as our club. And very important, we are exactly on the same page as far as our desired style of play and behavior.”

van Dinteren said he will be a dedicated, disciplined and structure-oriented coach. He will have local coach Jack Hermans as an assistant, with van Hoeven filling a key role. van Hoeven, an experienced coach and academy developer and owner of the Winning Skills soccer school in Holland, signed a four-year contract. He will be responsible for DDL FC’s five business units in the Soccer Operations Department: the men’s pro team, women’s team, Super20 team, camps and clinics and the Youth Academy.

“Looking at how fast we are growing and the quality we want to present to our customers, we needed a person that is experienced in putting a solid structure in an organization,” said Mossel. “Cor is not only a great person to work with, he has more than 10 years of experience in building a top professional soccer operation.”

TRYOUTS: DDL FC is still looking for eight to 10 American players for the 2011 season. Preseason starts in March and USL Pro play begins April 16 against last year’s champion Charleston Battery. Tryouts will be held Saturday at Athletes in Action in Xenia. Players for the men’s pro team, the U20 team and women’s team can still register this week at www.dutchlionsfc.com.

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