PITTSBURGH (January 23, 2020) – Former Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC midfielder Kevin Kerr has announced his retirement from playing professional soccer and will join the Riverhounds Academy as a full-time staff member effective immediately.
Kerr played for the Riverhounds SC professional team for seven seasons from 2013-19. Nicknamed “The Archer” for his bow and arrow goal celebrations and pinpoint accuracy, he finishes his Riverhounds professional career with 181 appearances and 29 goals. His 14,712 minutes and 27 assists are both the most in team history.
“I’m thankful for the support of the Riverhounds SC organization,” Kerr said. “I’ve always felt like we’ve had a great relationship. The club and fans have been very good to me, and I tried to give them everything I had. I’m excited to begin full-time work with the Riverhounds Academy and dive into the youth side of things. I’m proud to have played for this organization for the past seven years, and it’s special to continue to be a part of it moving forward.”
In his full-time role with the Riverhounds Academy, Kerr will be the Director of Fundamentals and Position-Specific Training. He will begin leading programs starting in February that will work with current RDA players in specific areas of technical and tactical work outside of already scheduled team sessions. These training topics will be announced at a later date.
In addition, Kerr will continue to serve as the head coach of the RDA 2006 Boys team and an assistant coach for both the RDA 2003 and 2005 Girls teams.
Since he arrived with the club in 2013, Kerr has worked with the Riverhounds Academy in areas such as individual training and summer camps.
“We are delighted to bring on Kevin full time with the Academy,” Academy Director Scott Gibson said. “It was a natural fit, as he has integrated himself within the program over the previous years while playing. It’s very important to us as we grow that we can provide a platform for our professional players to stay in the game after retirement. Kevin understands the expectations and philosophy of the club and joins recent hires Rob Vincent, Stephen Okai and Justin Evans, to name a few, who are now full time. This is extremely important to the club that our players give back to the RDA, as well as the local youth, after retirement from the game.”
Before Kerr arrived with the organization, he suited up for S.C. Wiedenbruck of the Regionalliga in Germany’s fourth tier. Born in Münster, Germany due to his father’s military duties, he began his professional career with Arminia Bielefeld and made his debut for the club in Germany’s second tier in March 2010.
“Kevin’s professionalism and level of consistency have had a major impact on the first team for many years,” Riverhounds SC head coach Bob Lilley said. “It is important for the organization to continue to identify players for the first team and coaches for the Academy who can help grow our brand on the field as well as throughout the community. Kevin has had an outstanding career, and we’re thankful that he will bring his abilities to the Academy coaching staff.”
For more information on the Riverhounds Academy, visit https://www.riverhounds.com/academy.