Soccer

CPUSA tabs coaching director

Mike Parsons comes from Kansas City, Mo., to replace George Kiefer, who leaves after one season.

By STEVE LEE
Published July 6, 2004

LAND O'LAKES - It took 30 years for the Central Pasco United Soccer Association to hire a director of coaching. A year after it did so, the league has its second.

Mike Parsons has replaced South Florida men's coach George Kiefer, hired in May 2003.

"He's like one of the best in the country at directing clubs, so they're in good shape," said Kiefer, who in February gave a four-month notice to step down from a three-year contract after his daughter, Kendall, was born.

"We anticipated the conflicts from that standpoint, but I think (Kiefer) realized his responsibilities as a family man come first," said former CPUSA president Tim Hayes, who has been an administrator or coach in the Land O'Lakes-based league for more than 10 years. "I think it's all going to work out for the best."

League president Jennifer Higgins said Parsons signed a three-year contract worth an undisclosed amount.

Six competitive teams from the CPUSA advanced to Region C final fours during Kiefer's one-year stint. Before that, the CPUSA never had more than two teams get that far in a season.

"(Kiefer) put us on the map and we took the first step toward going to a higher level," Hayes said.

"One of the major problems clubs have is, what do we do as a board and where do we go next," Parsons said. "I think they're well on the way right now. I think it's a great situation. It's a matter of keeping it going."

Parsons, 49, left Kansas City, Mo., for Florida today and plans to reside in Clearwater. He has stayed on Clearwater Beach in previous visits.

In Kansas City, Parsons, a National Soccer Coaches Association member, ran the WINS program, which promotes education and development for coaches and players. In Land O'Lakes, Parsons will work in recreational and select programs with about 900 players, ages 4-19, and their coaches.

This marks Parsons' second stint in Florida. From 1982-84, he coached the men's team at Stetson.

Parsons played at Massachusetts and captained that squad in 1977, graduating that year with a major in physical education. He earned a master's degree in that field at North Carolina-Greensboro in 1984.

Parsons has coached at Notre Dame, UNC-Greensboro, Methodist and Old Dominion, and worked with recreational and select clubs. He also has worked with players in the U.S. Olympic Development Program.

[Last modified July 5, 2004, 21:59:05]