PITTSBURGH (August 16, 2017) – The Pittsburgh Riverhounds Development Academy (RDA) has hired James Meara as its Director of Partnerships, as well as head of soccer operations for its Academy East location in Connellsville, Pennsylvania.
Meara, a native of London, England, played professionally for the Riverhounds in 2004 after arriving in the Pittsburgh area in 2002 as an Assistant Regional Manager for the “MLS Soccer Camps” youth coaching network.
With playing stints at both Watford F.C. and Doncaster Rovers F.C., Meara put his professional experience to work in the youth game when arriving in the US, managing 60 clubs for camps and training opportunities through MLS camps between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg. He would eventually settle into club and high school soccer roles in Pittsburgh, serving as a Director of Coaching within both North Stars Soccer Club and Arsenal FC of PA, while also leading Varsity programs at Riverview and Shaler high schools, as well as Shady Side Academy.
“I am extremely excited to be coming back to Pittsburgh and working for the Riverhounds,” Meara said. “I am very much looking forward to sharing the Riverhounds philosophy and curriculum with local soccer clubs and organizations in their own backyards.”
Meara and the RDA have been active behind-the-scenes in building relationships with a number of organizations across western Pennsylvania. In establishing working partnerships with clubs at the grassroots level, Meara will help in designing and launching programs that send Riverhounds trainers into the communities for cost-effective skills sessions.
“I had the privilege of playing with James and we grew a close friendship years ago which went through twists and turns as we each worked diligently to build our respective programming in the area,” said Jason Kutney, Riverhounds Sporting Director. “Based upon his experience in the game, as a player, coach and director, and his close working knowledge of building training programming for a host of clubs in our area, it was a natural fit.”
In addition to his partnerships role, Meara will join Academy East Director Sterling Flunder in an effort to establish a stronger club presence in its Fayette County location. The Academy East has grown to include nearly 400 players in its Technical Training Academy and, as of this June, launched its first-ever competitive team platform by way of two teams (Under-11 Boys and Under-12 Girls) in the USL Super Y League.
With a significant investment in facilities underway, Meara and Flunder will work to develop partnerships in the area specifically designed to offer a full-scale club model to players in all surrounding communities as early as 2018.
