RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Manhattan men's soccer team has added two new assistant coaches to the staff for the fall 2015 season. Third-year head coach Jorden Scott welcomes Simon Royle and Kyle Hoffer to the program, both of whom have extensive experience in both competing and coaching at a multitude of levels.
"We are delighted to add Simon and Kyle to our coaching staff this year," Scott said. "Both coaches bring a different dimension and truly offer great variation from their experiences and knowledge of the industry."
Royle arrives in Riverdale with an extensive coaching background. He worked with the Manchester United soccer school in England and has also spent time coaching in France, Italy, Holland and Australia.
Royle holds a degree in coaching and sports development and owns multiple soccer coaching certificates. He joined Soccer Domain Academy, where he worked as club director for three years before being promoted to Academy Director.
During his career, Royle has worked with college-level players as well as national, regional and state champion players.
Royle currently runs an elite-level soccer club in New Jersey, where he serves as the Director of Coaching.
Hoffer will work with Scott during training sessions and with the evaluation of players. He joins the staff after spending the last five years playing professionally in both the U.S. and Europe. He also enjoyed a successful college career while at St. John's.
While playing for the Red Storm, Hoffer was a member of the 2008 Big East regular season champion team that advanced to the NCAA semifinal round. In 2009, his side won the Big East Tournament.
Professionally, Hoffer competed for the Charleston Battery, helping the squad win the United Soccer League (USL) Championship in 2012. In 2011, he was named to the USL All-League Second Team. After completing his season in the USL in 2011, he took his talent to Finland. While there, he helped Ekenäs IF earn promotion to the Ykkönen, the Finnish First Division. He most recently played for the Austin Aztex of the USL before joining the coaching staff at Manhattan.
"Our focus is always to improve the program with new ideas and different perspectives that bring out the best in our student athletes, and both of these coaches will provide just that," Scott said.
The Jaspers will open their season on Friday, Aug. 28, when they host Temple for a 4 p.m. match at Gaelic Park. The game will be broadcasted live on the Jasper Sports Network.
