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USL Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Riverhounds Name Carter Permanent Head Coach; Team Awards Announced

September 5, 2002 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release


PITTSBURGH - Pittsburgh RIVERHOUNDS® President and CEO Paul A. Heasley has named Tim Carter permanent head coach after serving as interim coach since July 8. Carter agreed to a one-year contract. Joining Carter on the coaching staff will be Bryan Hamilton, a native of Ireland who has extensive coaching and playing experience in the English Premier League.

Carter, who joined the RIVERHOUNDS® in January as director of youth development and assistant coach under former head coach and general manager Kai Haaskivi, will continue his role in youth development and will manage the player personnel decisions.

"I am very pleased that Tim will be staying on in the role of head coach," Heasley said. "The players responded well to him in the final stretch of the season, and he has an established relationship with the management team. We are on solid footing for the 2003 season."

The former Illinois State University head coach (1984-95) posted a 5-4-1 record including winning four of the last five games. Three of the five wins and the tie came against playoff-bound teams.

Hamilton, a long-time professional colleague of Carter's, plans to re-locate to Pittsburgh from England early next year. He spent several days visiting Tim and the team in mid July and was able to see the team practice and compete in one game. He will work with Carter through the end of this year scouting talent in Europe and planning the make up of the 2003 RIVERHOUNDS® roster.

TEAM AWARDS PRESENTED

Following a season where the RIVERHOUNDS® were expected to challenge for the A-League title but finished without making the playoffs, the team, front office staff and several season ticket holders gathered at the Wyndham Hotel in Robinson Township Tuesday night to honor several players and other team associates.

Honored as the 2002 Player of the Year was rookie midfielder Derek Potteiger. The RIVERHOUNDS® territorial draft pick received the most nominations from his teammates and the endorsement of Coach Tim Carter.

Potteiger began the season in a starting role in the outside midfield until veteran midfielder Gary DePalma returned from his championship run with the Philadelphia Kixx of the Major Indoor Soccer League. Upon DePalma's return, Potteiger became more of a role player who was asked to fill several positions on the field. His teammates noted that Potteiger's willingness to contribute to the team in any way, to play consistently on the field in game situations and practice and to make a seemingly seamless transition into the professional ranks were the primary reasons for nominating him.

Midfielder Joey Worthen took home Rookie of the Year honors. Worthen was the only RIVERHOUNDS® player to see action in each of the 28 games and led the team in minutes (2247) and assists (7). Worthen was a second-round draft pick out of the University of South Carolina.

The 2002 Unsung Hero Award was presented to defender David Wright. The third-year player out of Creighton University did not see his first game action until July 20 against Charlotte after rehabilitating from a strained MCL in his knee. From July 20 through the end of the season, Wright played every minute of the remaining games helping the team to a 5-3-1 record in its final third of the season.

Each year the team honors players who compile 2000 or more minutes. Three players topped that mark this season earning them status as RIVERHOUNDS® Iron Men. Included on that list are defender Michael Green (2048), goalkeeper Randy Dedini (2056) and Worthen (2247).

In addition to the Iron Men awards, other statistic-related awards were granted to forward David Flavius for his third consecutive season as Team Scoring Leader (8 goals, 3 assists for 19 points) and Most Game-Winning Goals to mid-season addition forward Thiago Martins (3).

The team's three rookies were also honored with special awards commemorating their first professional game and professional goal. All three rookies - Worthen, Potteiger and forward Chuck Kim - scored goals this season with Kim 's coming in the last game of the season.

The RIVERHOUNDS® established a new award this season and honored Bart French with the first Volunteer of the Year Award. The Oakmont resident is better known to RIVERHOUNDS® fans as "the parking lot guy" or "funny socks man." The friendly, soccer-loving French has been involved with the RIVERHOUNDS® since the team's inception volunteering to do a variety of tasks on game day and in preparation for games. He has also been a tireless advocate of the RIVERHOUNDS® organization.

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