Broken unofficially by SI.com, it's now official. At the Jenny Craig pavilion on the campus of USD, SD Loyal executives announced the team's m
Broken unofficially by SI.com, it’s now official.
At the Jenny Craig pavilion on the campus of USD, SD Loyal executives announced the team’s manager (head coach): Landon Donovan.
Donovan will be the team’s manager and the club’s executive VP of soccer operations. Donovan and SD Loyal coaching staff and advisors are currently putting together the team’s roster. SD Loyal, under their new manager, will be playing the USL Championship in March of 2020.
Carrie Taylor joins coaching staff as well
Carrie Taylor has been part of the USL San Diego team since Day 1. Today, she was officially announced as a San Diego Loyal Assistant Coach. She told me, “I’ve been working on player identification with Landon every day. We are really excited about getting this team together.” Taylor is one of only five women who have coached an NCAA men’s soccer team. She also holds a US Soccer A-license.
Additional technical staff bring decades of soccer experience
In addition to Landon Donovan and Carrie Taylor, SD Loyal announced a strong contingent of technical staff. These professionals will support the SD Loyal players on and off the field:
From left to right, the SD Loyal technical staff pictured above:
- Dr. Jesse Saenz, D.C., CCSP – Sports Performance Consultant
- Elizabeth Rivas – Team Manager
- Carrie Taylor – Assistant Coach
- Shannon Mac Millan – Senior Advisor
- Landon Donovan – Manager / EVP of Soccer Operations
- Dr. Annemarie Alf, PT, DPT, CSCS – Performance Director / Doctor of Physical Therapy
- Brittany Peterson, ATC – Head Athletic Trainer / Nutrition Coach
- Marielle L’Heureux, MS, ATC – Assistant Athletic Trainer
I asked Shannon Mac Millan what her role will be with SD Loyal. She told me, “I’m a senior advisor, so that means I help the coaching staff however I can. I do player evaluations in person and video too. I’ll be helping with the tryouts and with putting together training plans. Basically, I’ll be there to support the coaching staff however they need me.”
During the presentation, Donovan joked, “Yeah, I played for the US Men’s National Team. But I’m not the one who has an Olympic Gold Medal and a World Cup medal. I came in fourth in the Olympics once, though!”
Thousands of season ticket deposits placed
During the event, Warren Smith said, “We’ve got a few thousand season ticket deposits already. This stadium is going to be packed.”
EARLY BIRD pricing on season tickets available through November 30th
Time is running out to have access to Early Bird pricing on SD Loyal season tickets. PLACE YOUR DEPOSIT HERE. With your deposit, you will have access to the discounted pricing. Anyone who places a season ticket deposit on December 1st or later will pay more.
