Gore Signs Extension With Brigade
The Bakersfield Brigade, Bakersfield’s own Premier Development League (PDL) soccer team, announced today that they have reached a deal with head Coach Jay Gore to extend his contract through the 2006 season. Financial information was not released. Contrary to earlier reports, negotiations with Eric Wynalda (leading goal scorer for the US National Team) for the Brigade coaching position have been terminated, due to Wynalda’s prior broadcasting commitments with ABC and ESPN networks for the 2006 World Cup. However, Wynalda has accepted a position within the Brigade organization and will be the “Technical Director” for the 2006 season working closely with Gore during the recruiting process, as well as throughout the season.
“We had a great inaugural season under Jay’s guidance,” said Jeff Thorn, Brigade President and Owner. “Our record was 6-8-2. We led our division in attendance and are considered amongst our peers as one of the top new franchises in the league. And with the addition of Eric to our club, well, having the all time leader in goals scored for the Men’s US National Team speaks volumes alone but underlines our focus for the upcoming season. We will field a team filled with talent that will take us into the 2006 postseason,” added Thorn.
Coach Jay Gore has a long and respected history in league soccer as both a coach and a player. Gore played for CSUB (Division 2), the New Mexico Geckos (USL-D3 Pro League) and the Chico Rooks (Men’s Premier Soccer League). In addition to head coaching duties for the Bakersfield Brigade, Gore is also head coach for the Liberty High School Boys Varsity Soccer Team. “Now that this is behind us we can start recruiting some new players and sign some contracts. We expect that some time in late January or early February we will conduct our annual “open” tryouts once again,” stated Gore. “We are very excited that Jay has decided to continue on with us for a second season,” said Joe Jimenez, Brigade General Manager. Wynalda’s presence should attract a sea of talent and with his technical assistance, our players will have their best opportunity to make it into the next level,” added Jimenez.
Eric Wynalda earned a spot on the 1990 US Men’s National Team while attending San Diego State University and holds the all time Men’s National Team record of 34 goals. On April 6, 1996, Eric scored the first goal recorded in Major League Soccer (MLS) during the MLS’s inaugural match between DC United and the San Jose Clash. At the end of the 1996 season, Wynalda had scored 10 goals along with 13 assists while playing for the clash, and was honored as the 1996 MLS Scoring Champion.
The Bakersfield Brigade Soccer Club Franchise (originally the Lafayette Swamp Cats) was purchased and relocated from Louisiana to Bakersfield in 2004. The Brigade is a PDL team, playing within the United Soccer Leagues’ PDL Southwestern Conference which is made up of nine teams throughout California.
For more information please visit: http://www.BakersfieldBrigade.com.
