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USL1 Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC

Kevin Sawchak Joins NoCo Hailstorm FC Coaching Staff

December 23, 2021 - United Soccer League One (USL1)
Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC News Release


WINDSOR, COLO - Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC announced today the hiring of assistant coach Kevin Sawchak.

Sawchak, a native of Atlanta, Ga., had been an assistant coach with fellow USL League One club Chattanooga Red Wolves SC since 2020. He holds UEFA B, USSF B, and USSF C coaching licenses, and his UEFA A license is pending certification. He also holds a master's degree in strength and conditioning, which he received from the Football Science Institute.

"Hailstorm's best offseason signing as we prepare for our inaugural USL League One campaign is undoubtedly Kevin," said head coach Éamon Zayed. "Bringing his talent here was an absolute coup; he's the best right-hand-man there is. He's a forward-thinking, modern coach who is extremely motivated to do things the right way, and that is how we want to run every aspect of Hailstorm FC."

"I am very excited to be a part of the Hailstorm's inaugural season, and to assist in bringing a brand of soccer the Northern Colorado fans can enjoy and be proud of," said Sawchak. "I believe that with the Katofsky family's vision and Éamon's leadership we will have one of the most entertaining, and more importantly, one of the most competitive teams in League One."

The Red Wolves went 6-4-5 in the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, and 11-11-6 and made it to the league semifinals in 2021. Under the guidance of Sawchak, who was a defender during his own professional playing career, the Red Wolves had League One's second-best defense and second-best goal differential in 2021.

Prior to joining Chattanooga, Sawchak was a member of the coaching academy at MLS club Atlanta United FC in 2019, spent three years coaching at the Georgia Rush Soccer Academy (2016-18), and one year as the assistant men's soccer coach at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta (2016).

Sawchak's last year as a professional player was 2015, when he spent four months with the North American Soccer League's Atlanta Silverbacks FC before being acquired by Veikkausliiga (Finland's premier league) side FC Honka for the final six months of their season.

That was Sawchak's second stint in Finland, as he had previously played for Ykkönen (first division) clubs FC KooTeePee (2013-14) and Ekenäs IF (2012), and Veikkausliiga side Myllykosken Pallo -47 (2011).

Sawchak attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he played as an attacking midfielder and did not miss a match in four years. The Blazers' team captain, Sawchak was twice named to the Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll.

Sawchak is married to Janita Sawchak, and the couple have one son, Gabriel.

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