Olympia, WA – The Artesian soccer program who operates two path to professional USL (United Soccer League) franchises out of Thurston County announced Tuesday the hiring of three new technical staff to help oversee the the USL W League and USL League Two.
Kellyn Green, former Sounders Women and co-captain of the 2023 USL W League squad at Oly Town has been brought on as an assistant coach for the USL women’s side. Green joins recently announced head Coach Ben Willis for the 2024 USL Women’s season.
Kellyn Green has had a prolific route from college to pro to USL W League mostly as a player but now enters the soccer community as a coach. Green played college soccer at South Dakota State where her Jack Rabbit squad won their first ever division one tournament game against Colorado 1-0. The Colorado native though would go on to play for the Colorado Rush and Real Colorado. Green found her way to Olympia via now Sporting Director Chris Wells and helped the Artesians go undefeated and become a number one seed in the USL national tournament in 2023.
“It was such a special group of players, staff and coaches last year that came together to really establish Oly Town as a powerhouse in the W-league” said Green about the 2023 Oly Town USL W League team. “I can’t wait to build on that foundation of team culture and success from last year. This year it will be so important to create an even more competitive and professional training environment for the players. We need to continue to raise the bar.”
Green competes year around including arena soccer playing in the Northwest Premier League and looks to make a splash in the USL W as a coach with incoming players that the Artesians are looking to recruit from around the nation and locally under their new partnership with pro women’s club USL Spokane.
“I had a long career in the previous version of the W-league and it feels like a full circle moment to be able to coach other young women at this level and hopefully help them get one step closer to the professional level” said Green. ”I am so thankful to the club, Chris and Ben for giving me this opportunity with Oly Town. I’m excited to assist HC Ben Willis and learn from him as a coach.”
A highlight from Kellyn Green’s 2023 USL W League season was the USL National Playoff where the Artesians had to fly to Oakland, California and compete in the West Coast Finals. The Artesians would dominate possession and shots on goal in the match but would suffer a 1-0 loss to bow out of the tournament.
“The best moment for me last year was the playoff game in California” said green about the USL national playoff experience. ”It obviously wasn’t the result we wanted but for me personally to be starting a W-League playoff game in my mid 30’s after having a baby was absolutely amazing. All my hard work on and off the field felt worth it. “
Eric Rossitch, Reign Academy youth coach has committed to also come onboard as an assistant to the USL W League squad for the Artesians.
Rossitch comes to the Artesians USL W League squad with years of experience coaching academy level girls soccer but also time being a video analyst for the NWSL Reign FC in 2022 when they won the Supporters Shield.
The Reign Academy coach has played and coached in local professional amateur clubs in the King County area and has ties to head coach Ben Willis where they both actively coach some of the states top female youth that are preparing for their collegiate and pro careers.
“Women deserve a professionally operated environment that provides a platform for them to continue their development during their college offseason and for those aspiring to eventually reach the pro level” said Rossitch. “With the rich soccer history in this region, it’s exciting to be a part of a growing league at a pivotal moment in women’s soccer around the globe.”
Eris Rossitch will be working with Kellyn Green, Ben Willis and Chris Wells to promote and organize a second year USL W League franchise that saw great success in recruiting in 2023. The Artesians had several Reign Academy players come to Olympia like Alex Schoenstadt (Univ of Utah), Neeku Purcell (UCLA), Kaitlyn Abrams (Colorado State Univ), Kelsey Kwon (Northwestern Univ) and more.
“I’ve been fortunate to work with and learn from true soccer legends throughout my career” said Rossitch on what he can offer new recruits. ”I know the level that is required technically, tactically, physically and psychologically to play at the pro game. I pride myself on being a lifelong student of the game, and I am passionate about creating a safe and elite environment for female athletes.”
Rossitch will enter the USL W League realm for the first time starting this May as the USL is set to release it’s schedule mid-February. The new assistant coach will be at the joint pro women’s and path to pro women’s tryout on March 30th and 31st where Oly Town and the USL Spokane staff will be hosting an open tryout for women across the globe.
Miguel Gonzalez who oversees the USL Youth Development program for the Artesians has been added formally to the the USL League Two coaching staff as an assistant coach to skipper Jason Dunn.
Gonzalez was previously announced as a technical advisor to all USL teams but with the strong USL Women’s additions of Rossitch and Green, the Artesians transitioned Gonzalez to better help the USL men’s team.
“Along with energy and passion for the sport, I have experienced the path to pro system and want to share that experience with players with the same goal in mind” said Gonzalez about his forte in helping Jason Dunn’s USL squad. “Working alongside a legend is the same. It’s an amazing opportunity to gain experience and knowledge. Really looking forward to sharing ideas and learning from him.”
Miguel is a homegrown pro soccer talent that went to high school in Yelm, Washington in Thurston County then skyrocketed into an incredible college career at Peninsula and division one Seattle University where he spearheaded an NCAA tournament appearance.
Gonzalez would then go on to play pro soccer in Colorado and eventually at Miami FC and Oklahoma. He would accumulate 46 goals in USL Championship and USL League One and returned home to start a family and coaches youth soccer in the region.
Gonzalez can be found locally running Oly Town’s first ever USL Youth Outdoor clinics to prepare young athletes to learn how to train inside the fundamentals of the game. A craft that Miguel has honed in on over the years to have great success.
“Oly Town is doing a fantastic job at bringing competitive soccer to our area” said Gonzalez. ”With the continuing support of the community for youth soccer I have no doubt in my mind that we will form more players for the USL path to pro pipeline in the future.”
USL W League Tryouts as well as the pro USL Super League is set for March 30 and 31st. Register by clicking here.
Be the first to get Artesian Soccer announcements first by subscribing below!