New Technical Director
Message from the President:
Good evening Drillers family,
While we know it has been a week of constant updates/e-mails, we have the best for last, in announcing the filling of our vacant Technical Director position! Upon learning of the recent position vacancy and that the club was seeking a new Technical Director, we had an internal candidate express interest. He met with the Board and Technical staff a few days ago to discuss and bounce off questions/ideas regarding the position, responsibilities, the club's goals and this candidate's vision of what he would like to implement into the club in the lead Technical Director role.
In conclusion, both parties felt this would be a good fit and direction. With that said, I am pleased and excited to announce Mark Spiller, as the Drillers new Technical Director!
Below please see a summary/bio about Mark's experience around the game of soccer, as well as a message from myself, on behalf of the Board of Directors.
Mark has been involved with the Drillers Soccer Club as a coach for nearly 2 decades. He has spent his time with Drillers coaching all ages from U-8 through into our Men’s Program. His long tenure within Drillers, along with being heavily integrated in the youth soccer community in Edmonton will be a great asset for our Club. Mark has not only coached in Edmonton for many years. but has played the game for most of his life. Growing through the ranks with one of the inaugural first Driller youth teams (1986' boys), through St. FX High School Soccer Academy, and he has been a part of our Drillers Men’s Major League squad for years, often near the top of the goal scoring charts. He also spent time playing semi-professionally when the Edmonton Drillers indoor team (previously in the NASL @ Rexall/Skyreach Centre for those from that era), made a comeback in the Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League in 2008. Mark has competed in many Provincial and National Championships as a player with his Alberta youth soccer teams, and also was a stand-out player with the NAIT OOKS at the collegiate level.
Ever since Mark has decided to start coaching, he has always had a strong drive to improve and push not only his players/teams he has worked with but also himself in learning and developing as a coach. He has coached his teams to many youth/men’s league titles and Provincial Champions. He has had the pleasure of taking the 1996' boys Drillers youth team from U-8 all the way to U-18, in their final season where they won Alberta Soccer U18 Tier 1 provincials, earning the opportunity to represent the Drillers on the country's stage at the Canadian Youth National Championships. Most recently, Mark has held the position of U13-U19 Technical Lead Coach for the Drillers over the last two years. Mark obtained his Provincial Coaching C-License in 2016, along with numerous NCCP courses. He also spent a year working as a Technical Coach with the Barcelona Academy when they were stationed in Edmonton years ago. Most recently, he has continued his development as a coach and succesfully completed and obtained his National-B Level Coaching License with Soccer Canada over the past year. The coaching experience and drive he displays to continually grow and adapt with the game is what will make a positive learning environment for current and future Drillers (both players and coaches) to develop and grow as individuals and within their teams!
Board of Directors Message:
"While the outside soccer community may ask why our club did not look to post externally for the vacant TD position, the outside soccer community also likely would not have had a devoted, invested, and up-and-coming decorated soccer mind within their own ranks. It was quite clear after our Board and staff's initial meeting with Mark earlier this week, that he was ready and motivated to take a lead role for the club that he has grown with as player and coach to present day. We look forward to his new ideas and concepts to progressively phase into the club, in a variety of aspects including; player training in both a technical skill curriculum and tactical game model knowledge, our team coaches mentorship/development, and overall changes to the club structure, culture and attitude. We believe that Mark's coach education experiences, most recently his National B Coaching License from Canada Soccer, and his ability to relate as a player and past team coach himself, will give him a wide range of tools to work with our club membership, as well as networking within the Provincial and National soccer community.
Speaking personally for a second here, I have known Mark for many years - whether it has been playing as a past teammate, as youth team coach colleagues with the Drillers, and most recently playing under his guidance as he coached of the Men's Major League squad this past Outdoor season. One thing I can say without a doubt in my mind is that Mark's ambitious and motivated nature to teach and improve will be infectious throughout our clubs' ranks. This is also an extremely well-deserved opportunity for one of our own, who has deep roots and investment within the club's history, and we know how much he wants to see the Drillers grow and succeed. I look forward to seeing him thrive in this role as we support him, the other Technical staff, and most importantly, our youth team coaches, into a next chapter for the Drillers.
You will likely be introduced to Mark throughout the coming months whether it be Team Evaluations, Club Meetings, Season Start-Up sessions or monthly Club-Wide Technical Sessions. Mark can be reached directly as his new e-mail address technicaldirector@edmdrillers.com
