Colin Miller has returned to the Abbotsford Soccer Association.
The ASA announced the return of Miller on Friday, and he will be re-joining the club as the new head of development beginning in January.
Miller will be working closely with technical director Ian Knight, and will provide on-field assistance to teams within the ASA.
In his new role, Miller will work with teams, coaches and players in the U13 to U18 age groups to provide mentorship and coaching insight for those members of the club by visiting ASA teams, helping to run training as well as leading coach education sessions.
“The ASA is proud and delighted to announce that Colin Miller will re-join the Club in the coming weeks,” Knight said in a press release.
“With his wealth of playing and coaching experience, Colin is undoubtedly one of the top coaches in Canada, and we are delighted that he is home.”
In collaboration with neighbouring club colleagues, Miller will also be overseeing the boys program in the new Fraser Valley Performance Academy, being hosted by ASA, Chilliwack FC and Langley United.
Miller was ASA’s original head coach before moving on to coaching stints with Derby County in the English Premier League, the Vancouver Whitecaps, and most recently with FC Edmonton of the NASL.
Miller also captained the Canadian men’s national team several times while earning 61 caps for Canada.
The first of two goalkeepers signed this offseason, @_smalltown, knows all the stops. #WelcomeVillage pic.twitter.com/hQ9j7bVxgq
— FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) November 22, 2017
In other local soccer news, ASA product Mark Village is heading to FC Cincinnati of the United Soccer League for the 2018 season.
Village spent three seasons with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 playing from 2015 to 17.
This season he made one appearance in goal, posting four saves and collecting a USL Save of the Month accolade.
He also played one season with the Fraser Valley Mariners FC of the USL Premier Development League (PDL). In that season, Village recorded a league high 103 saves with a season-best 11 saves on the final match day against Whitecaps FC U-23.
“Mark is a fantastic team guy and will come in and fight for playing time,” stated Cincinnati head coach Alan Koch in a press release.
“He has improved every year as a pro and I know will embrace the challenge that lies ahead here in Cincinnati. We look forward to welcoming him to FCC and working with him to have an imprint on our team culture and the quality of our daily work environment.”
Village graduated from the University of Fraser Valley in 2014 after a five-year career with the Cascades. Village was voted a 2012 Canada West all-star and the team’s most valuable player after leading UFV to their best league record at 5-5-4. He made 57 saves in 13 games and broke the team’s single-season record with four clean sheets.
For more info on the ASA, visit abbotsfordsoccer.com.
