MLS Houston Dynamo FC

Houston Signs First Home-Grown Player from Dynamo Academy

Published on February 27, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Houston Dynamo FC News Release


HOUSTON, TX (Friday, February 27, 2009) - The Houston Dynamo signed the first home-grown player in team history on Friday, inking goalkeeper Tyler Deric directly from the Dynamo Academy.

The 20-year-old Deric originally signed with the Dynamo Youth Development System, presented by StatoilHydro, on January 24, 2007, as one of the first players to join the Academy. The Dynamo Youth Development System includes seasonal camps, the Dynamo Centers of Excellence, the Dynamo Junior Academy, the Dynamo South Texas Academy, and Academy teams at the U-15 and U-18 levels.

A graduate of Klein High School in nearby Spring, Texas, Deric backstopped the Bearkats to the UIL 5A state championship in 2005 as a sophomore. He played college soccer at the University of North Carolina in 2007 and posted a 0.94 goals against average, earning Atlantic Coast Conference all-freshman honors. He trained with the Dynamo Academy and occasionally with the first team during the 2008 season in preparation for the 2009 campaign.

"It's really a dream come true," Deric said. "Every pro athlete as a kid always thinks of playing for their home team. I was the biggest Dynamo fan even before I signed with the Academy."

Deric is the second player in MLS history to be promoted as a home-grown player directly from a team's developmental academy. The first was Los Angeles Galaxy forward Tristan Bowen, who signed last fall. Deric will occupy a developmental roster slot.

"He knows the hard work is ahead of him" Clarkson said. "Tyler is an inspiration to all in the Academy, and the players in the Academy all look up to him. It's good for the Academy, because in a short amount of time, we've got our first player signed to the first team."

ABOUT THE HOUSTON DYNAMO

The Houston Dynamo are a Major League Soccer franchise that has won two MLS Cup championships in its first three seasons and represented the United States in three consecutive regional championships. Their 2009 season continues with CONCACAF Champions League play in Cancún, Mexico, on Tuesday, March 3, at 9:00 p.m. The Dynamo will begin their 2009 MLS campaign on Saturday, March 21, taking on the defending MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew. For more information, please log on to www.HoustonDynamo.com or call (713) 276-7500.

ABOUT THE HOUSTON DYNAMO YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM

The Houston Dynamo Youth Development System, presented by StatoilHydro, is intended to develop and prepare soccer players to join the Houston Dynamo first team. The Youth Development System includes seasonal camps, the Dynamo Centers of Excellence, Dynamo Elite Camps, the Dynamo Junior Academy, the Dynamo South Texas Academy, and Academy teams at the U-15 and U-18 levels. More than 1,400 youth players participated in Dynamo Youth Development programs in 2008, with about 170 players participating in the Dynamo Academy and Dynamo Junior Academy.

TYLER DERIC

Pronunciation: DARE-ick

Position: Goalkeeper

Height: 6'3" Weight: 185 lbs.

Date of Birth: August 30, 1988

Hometown: Spring, TX

Citizenship: United States

College: North Carolina

Last Club: Dynamo Academy

How Acquired: Signed as first home-grown player in team history on 2/27/09

Status: Developmental

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Major League Soccer Stories from February 27, 2009


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