Marshall University Athletics
Photo by: Mark Webb
Men’s Soccer Head Coach Grassie Announces Two Hires
8/20/2019 3:02:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Faga and Black join the Herd
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall men's soccer head coach Chris Grassie announced two additions to his team with the hiring of assistant coach Josh Faga and assistant strength and conditioning coach Sam Black who will be working with Grassie's squad.
Faga comes to the Herd from Duquesne and Black joins Marshall from Belmont.
"Josh was the standout candidate in the excellent group of applicants we had for the position," coach Grassie said. "Josh is very knowledgeable in many aspects of the game, but it was his conditioning for soccer and soccer periodization knowledge that really set him apart from the field. We knew he would add that knowledge base to our staff, and he has done that and more since arriving. I've also been very impressed with his tactical knowledge and insights during his first few weeks with us. I know the players are enjoying learning from him during pre-season.
"He has added a nice balance to myself and Petsa, and we are enjoying working together. A lot of people I know spoke really highly of Josh's character, his work ethic and knowledge, so when that many people I trust said such good things, I was very interested in learning more about him. Josh also runs his own coaching podcast, "Just Kicking' It," so I was able to listen to six or seven episodes of that during the hiring process to get a good feel for his knowledge base. I would highly recommend that coaches of all levels check it out!"
Faga spent the past five seasons as an assistant coach with Duquesne's men's soccer program. He helped boost the Dukes offense that led the Atlantic 10 Conference in scoring and points per game during his first season with the team. Faga also helped lead Duquesne to conference championship match appearances in 2015 and 2016. He has spent time with the Feyenoord Rotterdam U19 team in Rotterdam, Netherlands during the World Football Academy Expert meeting in 2016 and went through the course again in 2017 with the SL Benfica U16 Academy Team in Lisbon, Portugal.
Marshall's new assistant coach is also co-host of a popular podcast, "Just Kickin It", a coaching podcast with Brian Shrum the head coach of the women's soccer team at Youngstown State. The two have interviewed over 100 of the best coaches in soccer since the show started in 2015. With his interviews, Faga put together his first book entitled "The Real Giants of Soccer Coaching: Insights and Wisdom from the Game's Greatest Coaches" that was published in the spring of 2018.
Faga was an all-conference performer during his playing days at Marist after spending his first two collegiate seasons at St. John's. He made 11 starts during his redshirt freshman season with St. John's and helped the Red Storm to the 2009 Big East title and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. After graduation he signed a professional contract with the Rochester Rhinos (USLPRO) in March of 2013. He played for the Rhinos before moving on to the Rochester Lancers of the MASL where he was playing before being hired by Duquesne.
"We were also lucky enough to be able to bring Sam on as our Strength and Conditioning coach," coach Grassie said. "I know (head strength and conditioning coach) Matt (Donelson) was excited to add him to his staff, and so far, Sam has been tremendous. I love the fact that Sam has played soccer in D1, and knows what each of these guys are going through on the pitch. We've already seen his insights during training pay off. We're not a weight room heavy team, so being able to have Sam, Josh and Petsa work together to create programs that work in conjunction with training is amazing.
"Sam will have a tough decision to make on his future, as he could go in the college soccer coaching direction or the S&C route, but I look forward to being on part of that journey with him. His only real downside is that he's a Man U fan, but so far I haven't held that against him!"
Black spent the past two years as a graduate assistant in Belmont's Strength and Conditioning program. He also served as a student intern under Belmont's head strength and conditioning coach, Lee Rowland, while an undergrad and worked with men's soccer and volleyball. As a graduate assistant for the Bruins, Black worked directly with men's soccer, women's golf and women's tennis to develop and deliver the strength, speed and conditioning programs for the teams.
The Douglas, Isle of Man, United Kingdom, native also completed a strength and conditioning internship with the Vanderbilt men's basketball team during their summer workouts. He also gained experience training youth soccer and volleyball athletes in personal training sessions while working for Chawick's Fitness and performance in Franklin, Tenn., where he also served as a head coach with Aris FC for its U15 and U16 travel teams. Black holds a NSCA-CSCS certification, a US Soccer D License and a FA Level 1 Award in Coaching through the English Football Association.
In his soccer playing days, Black began collegiately at McMurry University in Texas. After one season he transferred to Belmont and played three years for the Bruins.
For all of the latest information on the Marshall men's soccer team, follow the Herd on Twitter @HerdMSoccer, Facebook at Marshall University Soccer and on www.herdzone.com.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules, and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS or Android!
Faga comes to the Herd from Duquesne and Black joins Marshall from Belmont.
"Josh was the standout candidate in the excellent group of applicants we had for the position," coach Grassie said. "Josh is very knowledgeable in many aspects of the game, but it was his conditioning for soccer and soccer periodization knowledge that really set him apart from the field. We knew he would add that knowledge base to our staff, and he has done that and more since arriving. I've also been very impressed with his tactical knowledge and insights during his first few weeks with us. I know the players are enjoying learning from him during pre-season.
"He has added a nice balance to myself and Petsa, and we are enjoying working together. A lot of people I know spoke really highly of Josh's character, his work ethic and knowledge, so when that many people I trust said such good things, I was very interested in learning more about him. Josh also runs his own coaching podcast, "Just Kicking' It," so I was able to listen to six or seven episodes of that during the hiring process to get a good feel for his knowledge base. I would highly recommend that coaches of all levels check it out!"
Faga spent the past five seasons as an assistant coach with Duquesne's men's soccer program. He helped boost the Dukes offense that led the Atlantic 10 Conference in scoring and points per game during his first season with the team. Faga also helped lead Duquesne to conference championship match appearances in 2015 and 2016. He has spent time with the Feyenoord Rotterdam U19 team in Rotterdam, Netherlands during the World Football Academy Expert meeting in 2016 and went through the course again in 2017 with the SL Benfica U16 Academy Team in Lisbon, Portugal.
Marshall's new assistant coach is also co-host of a popular podcast, "Just Kickin It", a coaching podcast with Brian Shrum the head coach of the women's soccer team at Youngstown State. The two have interviewed over 100 of the best coaches in soccer since the show started in 2015. With his interviews, Faga put together his first book entitled "The Real Giants of Soccer Coaching: Insights and Wisdom from the Game's Greatest Coaches" that was published in the spring of 2018.
Faga was an all-conference performer during his playing days at Marist after spending his first two collegiate seasons at St. John's. He made 11 starts during his redshirt freshman season with St. John's and helped the Red Storm to the 2009 Big East title and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. After graduation he signed a professional contract with the Rochester Rhinos (USLPRO) in March of 2013. He played for the Rhinos before moving on to the Rochester Lancers of the MASL where he was playing before being hired by Duquesne.
"We were also lucky enough to be able to bring Sam on as our Strength and Conditioning coach," coach Grassie said. "I know (head strength and conditioning coach) Matt (Donelson) was excited to add him to his staff, and so far, Sam has been tremendous. I love the fact that Sam has played soccer in D1, and knows what each of these guys are going through on the pitch. We've already seen his insights during training pay off. We're not a weight room heavy team, so being able to have Sam, Josh and Petsa work together to create programs that work in conjunction with training is amazing.
"Sam will have a tough decision to make on his future, as he could go in the college soccer coaching direction or the S&C route, but I look forward to being on part of that journey with him. His only real downside is that he's a Man U fan, but so far I haven't held that against him!"
Black spent the past two years as a graduate assistant in Belmont's Strength and Conditioning program. He also served as a student intern under Belmont's head strength and conditioning coach, Lee Rowland, while an undergrad and worked with men's soccer and volleyball. As a graduate assistant for the Bruins, Black worked directly with men's soccer, women's golf and women's tennis to develop and deliver the strength, speed and conditioning programs for the teams.
The Douglas, Isle of Man, United Kingdom, native also completed a strength and conditioning internship with the Vanderbilt men's basketball team during their summer workouts. He also gained experience training youth soccer and volleyball athletes in personal training sessions while working for Chawick's Fitness and performance in Franklin, Tenn., where he also served as a head coach with Aris FC for its U15 and U16 travel teams. Black holds a NSCA-CSCS certification, a US Soccer D License and a FA Level 1 Award in Coaching through the English Football Association.
In his soccer playing days, Black began collegiately at McMurry University in Texas. After one season he transferred to Belmont and played three years for the Bruins.
For all of the latest information on the Marshall men's soccer team, follow the Herd on Twitter @HerdMSoccer, Facebook at Marshall University Soccer and on www.herdzone.com.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules, and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS or Android!
---HerdZone.com---
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