USL Memphis 901 FC

Memphis 901 FC Lands Ben Pirmann as Assistant Coach

Published on December 13, 2018 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Memphis 901 FC News Release


Defender Todd Pratzner with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
Defender Todd Pratzner with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
(Memphis 901 FC)

MEMPHIS, Tennessee - Memphis 901 FC has named Ben Pirmann an assistant coach heading into its inaugural United Soccer League season in 2019, Sporting Director Andrew Bell and head coach Tim Mulqueen announced Thursday.

In addition, the club has signed veteran defender Todd Pratzner to a contract, pending league and federation approval.

Pirmann arrives in The Bluff City after spending six seasons as the head coach of Detroit City FC in the National Premier Soccer League and eight seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Michigan State University.

"Ben is a very good young coach and will be a valuable asset to our Club as we continue to build towards the start of the USL Championship season," Bell said.

"Ben is an exceptional coach who has a vast knowledge of the game," Mulqueen stated. "He is a great teacher of the game who has developed many collegiate stars, as well as NPSL and USL players. Ben's work ethic will fit in perfectly with the Memphis 901 FC culture."

"I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to join the Memphis 901 FC family," Pirmann said. "I am humbled to be an addition to such an experienced and proven technical staff with Sporting Director Andrew Bell and Head Coach Tim Mulqueen.

"I hope I am able to provide the same blue-collar approach that the people of The Bluff City bring each and every day, and I cannot wait to help this tremendous Club achieve the highest of successes in the USL Championship."

As head coach of DCFC, which boasts one of the largest fan bases in all of North America, Pirmann went 49-17-17, won a regular season title in 2013 and a Midwest Region championship in 2017, and helmed the club to three playoff appearances and two runs in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. His club took USL foe Louisville City FC to penalty kicks and then-USL side FC Cincinnati to extra time in the second round in 2016 and 2018, respectively.

At Michigan State, Pirmann and the Spartans reached the Elite Eight four times in six seasons from 2013-18, one of just two programs in the nation to do so, and appeared in the 2018 College Cup as one of the final four teams in the nation left playing. Pirmann was named the National Top Assistant Coach by College Soccer News in both 2016 and 2017.

Pratzner, a defender, has spent the past two seasons in the USL with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in 2018 and the Rochester Rhinos in 2017. He started 17 matches this past season with Pittsburgh and made 13 appearances with 10 starts with Rochester the season before. He started both of the Rhinos' playoff games and finished fourth on the team with 41 clearances.

"Todd is a player I have liked for a couple of years now," Bell said. "He enjoys defending, and his work ethic will fit in well with the Club culture we are building in Memphis."

"Todd is a very good and experienced central defender," Mulqueen said. "He joins us from a winning culture, and we look forward to him bringing those winning attributes to Memphis. Todd is another member of the team who has a tremendous thirst for work, and he will push the group forward."

Prior to beginning his professional career, Pratzner played collegiately at Xavier University from 2013-16. He amassed 71 games played with 70 starts, four goals, and one assist while holding down the backline during his four seasons. He was named to the BIG EAST Conference All-Tournament Team as a junior, in addition to anchoring a defensive unit that set school records for shutouts (11) and team goals-against average (0.84) as a sophomore.

Pratzner joins defender Louis Bennett, defender Wes Charpie, forward Heviel Cordovés, midfielder Raul Gonzalez, midfielder Ewan Grandison, defender Triston Hodge, midfielder Dan Metzger, defender Josh Morton, midfielder Leston Paul, and forward Luca Uccello on the team's 2019 roster.

Additional signings will be announced in the coming weeks and months.

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Images from this story

Memphis 901 FC Assistant Coach Ben Pirmann
Memphis 901 FC Assistant Coach Ben Pirmann
 Memphis 901 FC Assistant Coach Ben Pirmann
Memphis 901 FC Assistant Coach Ben Pirmann
 Memphis 901 FC Assistant Coach Ben Pirmann celebrates with Detroit City FC
Memphis 901 FC Assistant Coach Ben Pirmann celebrates with Detroit City FC
Defender Todd Pratzner with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
Defender Todd Pratzner with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
   



United Soccer League Championship Stories from December 13, 2018


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