A day after a prominent local coach was fired, another coach was hired by a local sports team.
The Salt Lake Sting, the city's new professional soccer team, named Laurie Calloway, a native of Birmingham, England, as their first head coach. The announcement came Wednesday at a press conference at Sabala Bros. Food Brokers.Team general manager Mark Hugo cited three reasons for selecting Calloway - (1) successful playing experience; (2) successful track record as a head coach; and (3) a reputation for attracting top quality players.
"We conducted a nationwide search and we feel we pulled off the first `sting' of our operation," said Hugo. "Laurie has established himself as a coach and he will enhance the Salt Lake Sting."
The 44-year-old Calloway has head coaching experience in the defunct North American Soccer League and won a championship as the coach of the San Jose Earthquakes in the Western Soccer Alliance, the forerunner to the Western Soccer League, of which the Sting are a part.
Calloway turned professional at the tender age of 16 and played in the English leagues for 14 years. He came to the United States in 1974 and played six seasons, earning all-league honors once, as well as team MVP honors.
"The persistence and challenge of the game is what brought me here," said Calloway. "I've always wanted to get back into the pro arena. I'm very happy and pleased to be offered the opportunity again."
Calloway said he already has some players in mind, including a few from the San Jose Oaks semi-pro team that he coached last year.
"We intend to put a very competitive team on the field and, of course, that includes the best available players in this area," said Calloway. "Hopefully in a few years' time we will be able to pull a majority of our players from this area with the vast wealth of talent that's coming through at the youth level."
The Sting have already held two open tryouts and they plan to have more early next year. The team should start to take shape in February or March, according to team officials.
The Sting will be part of an 11-team league.
The 1990 schedule is already set with the Sting slated to open April 13 on the road against the New Mexico Chiles. The home opener will be April 21 against the San Francisco Blackhawks. There will also be at least three exhibitions games.
The Sting's home games will be played at Derks Field. Many of the Sting's owners are the same as the Salt Lake Trappers, so there won't be any conflicts between the baseball and soccer teams. The soccer season runs through early August.
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(Additional information)
Salt Lake Sting Soccer Club
1989 Schedule
Apr. 13 - at New Mexico Chiles
Apr. 14 - at Arizona Condors
Apr. 21 - SAN FRANCISCO BLACKHAWKS
Apr. 28 - HOUSTON DYNAMOS (exhibition)
May 5 - F.C. Dallas (exhibition)
May 11 - at California Kickers
May 12 - at San Diego Nomads
May 19 - COLORADO FOXES
May 25 - CALIFORNIA KICKERS
June 1 - ARIZONA CONDORS
June 9 - LOS ANGELES HEAT
June 15 - NEW MEXICO CHILES
June 23 - at Seattle Storm
June 30 - REAL SANTA BARBARA
July 4 - at Portland Timbers
July 11 - at Colorado Foxes
July 13 - at Los Angeles Heat
July 14 - at Real Santa Barbara
July 21 - SEATTLE STORM
July 23 - PORTLAND TIMBERS
July 28 - SAN DIEGO NOMADS
Aug. 3 - EXHIBITION GAME T.B.A.
Aug. 11 - at San Francisco Blackhawks