Rapids Class VI

CVI Questions with Coach John Murphy

Rapids assistant coach answers VI questions for Class VI

I. There is so much involved for a coaching staff; First Team, Reserve Team, Goal Keeping, training, tactics, fitness, set pieces. Can you describe what your duties are as Assistant Coach of the Rapids.

While my titles with various MLS teams have changed over the years, my primary role have stayed the same: assisting the head coach and “fill in the gaps” between the staff and team. My former boss, Mike Noonan of Brown University told me years ago that the main role of the assistant coach is to allow the head coach to focus on the enjoyable part of his job, and help with the not so fun parts! I have tried to adhere to that credo during my time in MLS and feel the results show. As a recent example, I have been working with the goalkeepers more this season. This is due to the change in the coaching staff during the off-season, but that doesn’t change my role within the team. My on the field duties still include training individuals and groups in preparation for upcoming matches. On game day of the reserve matches, I run the team with Fernando giving feedback when needed. Off the field roles include scouting future MLS opponents, match analysis/review with our players, and scouting of college and international players. However, the task that has taken a good deal of my attention over my four years in Denver is development of the Rapids Academy; a project that I take great pride in. This was earmarked as part of my job when I first arrived in Denver in 2005 by GM Charlie Wright, and I am happy to say that the growth has been very positive. Today, we have over 1,000 participants in our training/camp programs, a U-16 and U-18 boys teams in the US Soccer Academy system, as well as a grass roots programs that will be launched this fall. Even more encouraging is the commitment of Dick’s Sporting Goods as they have contributed a significant amount of scholarship funds to be used for both boys and girls throughout the Denver metro area. Their commitment has helped us reach out to kids in need from various ethnic and economic backgrounds that may not be able to afford our programs.

II. Many fans are unaware of your pursuit of a UEFA coching license. Can you tell us why you pursued it and give us one of those stories you tell over a pint!

My mother is from Glasgow, so I have always had a connection to Scottish football. As I first entered coaching in my early twenties, I began to attend coaching courses from the US, and was encouraged to attend the B License from the Scottish Football Association after meeting Scottish National Team Coach Craig Brown in 1995. Unlike many European countries, Scotland has always believed in coach education and has been at the forefront for quite some time. Andy Roxborough, former head of the SFA technical staff is the head of UEFA and former students include Alex Ferguson, David Moyes, Jose Mourinho and Alan Shearer. During a 12 year period, I have completed my B, two levels of the UEFA A and currently on the UEFA pro badge. The Pro Badge has just 19 of us with most current managers in the UK. We meet 6-8 times a year for two to three day modules, but keep in touch and submit assignments on an incripted website. This is an 18 month course that covers various topics such as:

Handling professional players

Styles of play

Key game analysis

Mental preparation

Sports medicine

Specialist training

Game related training

Fitness and conditioning

The media and technology

Ethics and code of conduct

Business management

Club structure

Contracts and agents

Planning including rest and recovery

Study visits (Pachuca, Fulham and EURO 2008)

Practical work and problem solving
The course has a great deal of content that is helpful to me as an MLS coach, and I have developed a great international network through my work in Scotland. It has had a big impact on how I work in my day to day tasks with the Rapids. Some of the stories I could tell you would curl your hair, so I will just leave them to your imagination. Needless to say, the Scots are perhaps the funniest people on the face of the earth!

III. As head coach of the Reserve Team, how does it feel to see some of the young kids you're involved with making such a big splash with the Rapids first team?

Very pleased, but not too surprised. We spend quite a bit of time scouting these kids in college, but you are taking a bit of a chance as it is difficult to determine how they will adapt to a professional environment. All have adapted relatively well, but we still need to be patient with them. All of our young players have a tremendous attitude and commit completely to the Rapids on and off the field to make it work for them. The developmental salaries are very difficult to live on, so these boys are not only training with us, but working quite a bit in our Academy system to help make ends meet. To see them on the field competing with the first team and growing has been very satisfying.

IV. You've been in MLS for nearly a decade. The Designated Player rule has landed Beckham & Blanco and now there's talk about Thierry Henry coming to future expansion team Settle Sounders. How long do you think it will be before MLS turns out a World Class star that not only turns on the American Public, but the world wide fans of the Giants of European Football.

The only way we will get the attention of the general public through a star player is by developing not one of our own, but literally dozens. So we are still a few years away from that. That is why the work that I am currently doing with the Academy is key for our long term development as a club. Eventually, we will be able to protect selected youth players that come through our system from the MLS College draft. This will eventually help us establish a type of player and playing style that will run though the club. A stronger club pool will ultimately effect our national team and that is where the world class star you describe must excel. The World Cup is the ultimate showcase, and we must continue to make strides in qualification and in the finals themselves. In the meantime, bringing in foreign players with the right attitude will help improve the level of play and galvanize the MILLIONS of soccer fans in this country. Hockey did it for decades before American consistently broke through the pro ranks, so we are much further along in that respect.

V. Okay coach, the Sox swept away the Colorado dream of a World Series. Did you get yourself in any close calls, lose any friendships, or make any small children cry from your allegiance to the wrong team?

I made sure that my five year old son wore a Red Sox shirt and hat everyday to school during the World Series to rub it in a bit. I figured that no one would beat him up since he was in Day Care!

VI. Denver or Boston. Which is the bigger sports town? And remember coach, you're not running for President!

Are you kidding me?!? Red Sox, Celtics, Bruins, Patriots, the Boston Marathon, the Bean Pot, I could go on and on……But the best reason is quite simple: people from Denver actually have a life. They can go to the Mountains or ride their bikes through amazing parks and open spaces. The lifestyle is much more conducive to a well rounded lifestyle and mentality. Bostonians are generally miserable people no matter where we end up living. We scream at the TV, complain about the team we are watching, then say “told you so!!” when one of our local teams screw up. My childhood was shaped by too many men of the ice in 79, the bad Boys of Detroit in 89, Goose Gossage popping up Yastrzemski in 78 and Calvin Schiraldi in 86 (NOT Bill Buckner!). The Pats this year was a classic example. We are still getting over that. BTW, the Bruins lost 5-0 to the Canadians in game seven of the playoffs the other night. I almost threw up after I watched the game. The Yankees are the only team that Bostonians hate more….it has something to do with that snobby French-Canadian attitude I think. That is why I grew up hating the Quebec Nordiques…..then they moved to Denver and stole Ray Bourque……that’s a Bostonian’s memory for you: forget everything except a grudge!

Thanks coach and congratulations on doing such a fine job with the Rapids Reserves.

Posted by mark at April 25, 2008 10:38 AM