Soccer Club Completes Trifecta by Bolstering Technical Leadership
TAMPA, FL (February 26, 2020) – The Tampa Bay United Rowdies (TBUR), the youth affiliate soccer program for the Tampa Bay Rowdies, today announced the selection of the Director of Technical Development for the soccer club’s girls program. Tricia Taliaferro will lead the club in this new position and will oversee the girl’s competitive development programs. Taliaferro will be responsible for developing the curriculum for a technical standard of shared vision and philosophy, establishing coaching implementation, and creating player development methodology that will further enhance and develop the TBU playing style. Taliaferro brings significant United States National Team, NCAA Division I, ECNL, and US Club Soccer experience to the Tampa soccer community.
“The hiring of Tricia Taliaferro is another massive statement and proof to the country that we are committed to exposing our players and membership to the best possible people in youth soccer development,” said Anthony Latronica, Sporting Director of TBU. “Tricia played an integral role in building the FC Prime program from a startup into a national powerhouse. With the support of Alan Hough and FC Prime, Tricia now has the opportunity to make a lasting impression on the Tampa soccer community as she did in South Florida. This is a proud moment for youth soccer as we continue to find synergy and connectivity in Florida’s youth soccer landscape.”
Alan Hough, FC Prime Executive Director elaborates noting that Tricia, “is one of the best leaders, coach and mentors in the country. Tricia brings a wealth of experience and relationship that will provide TBUR players exposure to top-level collegiate and professional opportunities.”
A holder of the U.S. Soccer National “A” License and Youth National License, Taliaferro has significant coaching experience at the national level. She served as the Head Coach of the U.S. U-16 Girls National Team, an assistant coach with the U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team during the 2012 and 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and as a scout for the Senior Women’s National Team during CONCACAF qualification and their run at winning another World Cup title.
She is the former Director of Player Development and ECNL at FC Prime and is currently the Director of US Club Soccer’s id2 Girls program which offers a no-cost process to identify elite youth players across the country, providing them with opportunities for inclusion in U.S. Soccer’s Youth National Teams as well as top-level developmental and learning experiences. Taliaferro has a relentless passion for player identification and the ability to develop all levels of talent.
”I am thrilled to join the TBU Rowdies. Having competed against them over the years, I recognize the talent of the players in this region and feel I can make an impact in elevating the players’ capabilities and status as a world-class soccer club. Being able to offer these players a complete path from youth soccer to the highest levels of competition available to them, is so exciting,” says Taliaferro.
She also served as a head coach at the NCAA Division I level for 13 seasons at the University of Illinois (1999-2001) and the University of Miami (2001-2010), leading her teams to four NCAA tournament appearances and earning the 2007 ACC Coach of the Year award.
Over the past year, the TBU Rowdies have been bolstering their coaching staff to include leaders with the highest level of experience. The Tampa Bay area attracts attention from college and national team scouts from around the country and this hire will help to give the TBU athletes more attention in the full landscape of competitive soccer.
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About Tampa Bay United Rowdies
The Tampa Bay United Rowdies is one of the top soccer clubs in the state of Florida and is the youth affiliate program for the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Dedicated to the development of the sport of soccer for the youth player, the organization offers opportunities to participate and advance in the game for recreational and competitive players. In partnership with U.S. Soccer, the TBU Development Academy recognizes the elite soccer athlete, pairing them with expert coaches, to create the next generation of National Team players. TBU is also a member of the ECNL, a league that enhances the development of the female and male soccer athletes, and has four soccer campuses throughout Tampa Bay (Waters Avenue, Ed Radice, Palm Harbor, and Monroe in South Tampa). For more information, please visit http://www.tbusc.com/.
Additional Press Contact:
Anthony Latronica
Sporting Director, Tampa Bay United Rowdies
alatronica@tbusc.com