Chicago Fire Soccer announced today that the club has added two new coaches to its Fire Academy technical staff. Illinois natives Alex J. Hernandez II and Markus Roy are expected to join the Academy staff immediately, and will be present today at the team's practice in Bridgeview, Ill. The latest additions to the Academy technical staff combine for over 36 years of high-level coaching experience, bringing together professional playing knowledge with an extensive youth coaching background. The duo will join current Fire Academy Director Louis Mateus and fellow staff coaches Tony Kees and Paul Cadwell.
Hernandez comes to the Fire Academy from the Chicago Magic program, where he served as a staff coach from 1988-91 (then Sports Club) and 2005-present, and as head coach of the Lyons Township High School varsity boys and girls teams from 2001-2007. From 1994-2001, Hernandez held the Director of Coaching & Soccer Education position for the Carolina United Soccer Club (N.C.) and worked with North Carolina State ODP and Licensing as a Staff Coach. Hernandez returned to the Chicagoland as Executive Director of the Lyons Township Soccer Club (Ill.) from 2002-05 and has been a Region II Boys ODP Staff Coach since 2002 and Girls ODP Staff Coach since 2006. A member of the United States Soccer Federation National Coaching Staff for the National Licensing Program since 1993, Hernandez is a USSF National "A" licensed coach since 1988 and holds a Bachelors Degree from Lewis University and a Masters from the University of Evansville, where he was an assistant coach from 1982-84.
"I've known Alex for over 20 years, working with him in state and regional ODP programs," said Mateus. "He brings in a great quality in regard to what he demands out of players and I think his experience will make us a much better Academy."
Roy, a product of Fenton High School in Bensenville, Ill., is a former U-20 National Team player and a four-year all-conference player and two-year adidas academic All-American (1990-91) at Northern Illinois University (1998-91). His professional playing career included stints with the NPSL Chicago Power (1992), the USISL Chicago Stingers (1996-1998), and Dallas Burn (now FC Dallas) of MLS (1997). Roy began his coaching career at Libertyville High School (Ill.), serving as an assistant coach for the boys and girls team from 1998-99 before becoming the York Community High School (Ill.) assistant boys and girls coach from 2000-04. He was promoted to boys varsity coach in 2005-present, and has worked as the goalkeeping coach for the Team Elmhurst Soccer Club (Ill.) from 2004-present.
"With Roy, not only are we bringing in one of the best-ever goalkeepers from the area, but a great individual and coach," said Mateus. He's shown that he's very good one-on-one with players and he's done a good job not only as a goalkeeper coach, but also as an overall coach. With both his talent and personality, he will be great person to have on our staff."
About Chicago Fire Academy
The Chicago Fire Soccer Academy is an elite player development initiative designed to identify and develop the best young talent within the Chicagoland area. The program is fully funded by the Chicago Fire, with no financial responsibility falling on Academy players. The Academy will be directly tied to the Major League Soccer (MLS) Home Grown Talent initiative. This initiative allows players involved in the Chicago Fire Academy that meet specific minimum training standards to be signed directly by the Chicago Fire without entering the MLS SuperDraft or Supplemental Draft. The rule is designed to provide increased opportunities for local players to realize their goal of playing for their local MLS team, while teams strengthen their connection with the community.
