Head coach Alan Koch secures his on-field assistants through 2020 season
CINCINNATI – FC Cincinnati has extended the contracts of on-field assistant coaches Yoann Damet and Jack Stern through the 2020 season.
Head coach Alan Koch, who was rewarded with a contract extension through the 2020 season in July, has now retained his on-field coaches as FC Cincinnati prepares to enter Major League Soccer in 2019.
“Yoann and Jack have been instrumental to our success this season and in our preparations to make the move to MLS next year,” Koch said. “As a head coach, it’s vital to have people you trust innately around you and who challenge you with new thoughts and ideas as it only makes your team better and more successful. I’m appreciative of Carl Lindner and Jeff Berding’s support as we sought to ensure our coaching staff remained intact as we enter the club’s next phase.
“Yo and Jack both have brilliant football minds, and the passion they have not only for our club, but also the city of Cincinnati, is evident from the moment you meet them. We’re thrilled they’ve committed to remaining here and helping us continue to grow this club, both on and off the field,” Koch said.
YOANN DAMET
Damet is currently in his second season in Cincinnati after joining Koch’s staff ahead of the 2017 campaign.
Prior to arriving in the Queen City, Damet spent three years with the Montreal Impact as its U-18 head coach after working with the club’s U-12, U-16 and U-18 squads in various coaching roles. In addition, Damet was tasked with creating the Pre-Academy programs from U-8 through U-12 age groups as the Impact’s Pre-Academy coordinator.
“Yoann has been an exceptional addition to our club and has been a big part of our success over the last two seasons,” Koch said. “His attention to detail in preparing and helping to execute training is incredibly impressive. We are lucky to have one of the best young coaches in North America on our staff. It is a pleasure to work with him every day.”
Prior to his stay in Montreal, Damet spent the early part of his coaching career in France. From 2013-14 he was the U11 head coach and coordinator, as well as a U-15 assistant coach, with the Dijon FCO Academy. Before that, he has both head and assistant coaching duties at various age groups with District Jura, Jura Sud Foot and Beaune FC’s youth development programs.
“I am very honored and grateful for the confidence placed in me and the opportunity to continue this amazing journey,” Damet said. “We have an exciting opportunity in front of us with the end of the 2018 USL season and the beginning of a new chapter in MLS. I am thrilled to continue working for the club, the city and its incredible fan base in order to continue FC Cincinnati’s development and to write its story together.”
Damet holds his UEFA “A License” from the French Football Federation, an “A License” from the Canadian Soccer Association, a degree in sports training with a concentration in soccer from the Université de Bourgogne in France as well as a diploma in Evaluation and Strength and Conditioning from the Université de Poitiers in France.
JACK STERN
Stern is currently in his first season in Cincinnati, joining Koch’s staff in December 2017 as the club’s goalkeepers coach after four seasons with the Montreal Impact.
“Jack has come in this season and shown that he is an elite level goalkeeping coach,” Koch said. “He has maximized all of his players’ abilities and is a charismatic member of our staff. He should be incredibly proud of the success that his keepers have had and will continue to have with our club. His energy around the work environment is incredibly infectious.”
Stern started in Montreal as the Head of Academy Goalkeeping and in three seasons and helped produce the Impact’s MLS and USL goalkeepers, as well as members of the Canada National Team at both the senior and youth levels. In his final season in Montreal in 2017, Stern was elevated to the club’s Head of Goalkeeping and served as the first team’s goalkeepers coach.
Prior to his stint with Montreal Impact, Stern spent five seasons in the English Premier League with West Bromwich Albion, where he helped to design and implement a technical program that produced goalkeepers for England’s youth national teams for five consecutive seasons. As the Academy Goalkeeper Coach, Stern helped managed the on and off-field development for all of the club’s goalkeepers ranging from U-8 to the U-21.
“I feel a real connection with this city, club and our amazing fans,” Stern said. “I’m extremely excited and honored to have the opportunity to continue to build our winning culture here for the long-term. I’m looking forward to finishing our USL season with success, and also helping lead our club into MLS in 2019.”
Stern holds his “A License” from the Canadian Soccer Association, UEFA goalkeeping licenses as well as a degree in sports coaching science from University of Worcester in England.
FC Cincinnati (18-3-6, 60 pts.) continues to lead the USL standings and became the first team to secure a berth in the 2018 USL Cup Playoffs with last Saturday’s victory over Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC at Nippert Stadium.
The Orange and Blue will be back on the road this weekend for a top-of-the-table clash when they travel down I-71 to face Louisville City FC at Louisville Slugger Field on Saturday, Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m. The game will be televised live on WSTR 64 and streamed live on ESPN+.
For up-to-the-minute information about FC Cincinnati, visit the team’s official website at fccincinnati.com, or follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @FCCincinnati. For more information about FC Cincinnati tickets, call 513-977-KICK (5425) or visit fccincinnati.com/tickets.
