Richard Reece Returns To The Husky Sidelines
June 10, 2011
SEATTLE - Richard Reece spent six seasons as the Huskies' goalkeeping coach, beginning in 2004 and ending in 2009 when he left the Huskies to become a full time club director and coach for the USL under 20 and PDL Washington Crossfire club teams. He returns in 2011 as under new head coach Jamie Clark.
"It's nice to be back," Reece said. "I've `been' a Husky since 2004 and to come back and be a part of the new regime is exciting. To work alongside Jamie and to be part of the Husky future is something that I couldn't refuse as UW has been a big part of my life the last seven years."
Clark and Reece go way back, knowing each other through recruiting when Clark was an assistant coach.
"We are delighted to have Rich back involved with our team," said Clark. "He is a great coach who is considered one of the top goalkeeper trainers in the country. In addition, he has a long history with the program and many former players who worked with Rich are excited to see him back on the sidelines."
A native of Cullercoats, England, Reece mentored UW goalkeepers Chris Eylander and Rylan Hawkins, both of whom etched their names in the Husky record books under his tutelage and earned All-Pac-10 honors. Eylander went on to have an outstanding career with the MLS' Seattle Sounders, while Hawkins came back from a serious facial injury to post a career year his senior season and establish himself as one of the top keepers in the Pac-10.
Reece holds the prestigious UEFA "A" along with the USSF "A" coaching license, a USSF National Goalkeeping License, a USSF Youth license, a NSCAA Premier Diploma, a NSCAA Advanced National Goalkeeping Diploma and NSCAA Director of Coaching Diploma.
In addition to his duties at UW, Reece is a NSCAA national staff instructor and the NSCAA State Technical Director for Washington. Reece is an age group head coach for the Region IV Olympic Development Program as well as a coach for the U.S. soccer market training centers and a ECNL scout.
He is also the Director of Goalkeeping for Crossfire as well coaching the 98/95/94 A and ECNL girl's teams and the USL men's teams. Over the past four years he has coached the national-ranked Seattle Utd (ECFC green) '92 girls team which won numerous state and league championships and produced five national team players and 21 college players. Reece is the owner and director of the Elite Goalkeeper Academy.
Reece came to Seattle from Houston, Texas, where he had been the Director of Goalkeeping for the Eclipse Soccer Club since 2001. While coaching in Houston, Reece mentored goalkeepers onto youth national and All-American teams, as well as leading teams to State and Regional finals. Reece also ran the goalkeeping programs for both South Texas ODP and the STYSA coaches education department.
A standout goalkeeper himself, Reece spent six years playing professional and semipro soccer including stints with Gateshead FC, Stevenage Boro, Blyth Spartens, Whitley Bay, Lincoln City and Sunderland FC.
