Thursday, November 15, 2007

Barker Resigns from MYSA

Thanks to those who forwarded the email about Ian Barker. For those who do not know, Ian Barker has resigned as Coaching Director for MN Youth Soccer. Here is the MYSA communication:

Date: November 14, 2007
To: MYSA Club PresidentsMYSA Club DOCs
From: MYSA President Bob PorettiMYSA Executive Director Candace Daley

Ian Barker is resigning from MYSA effective December 2007. Ian has been MYSA’s Director of Coaching and Player Development for the last ten years and will be missed greatly. Ian’s love of soccer and kids has always been evident by his dedication of time and talent, his energy and his unswerving commitment to youth soccer. We wish Ian well as he takes some time off before pursuing other career opportunities in the future.

Ian has been known in soccer circles as strong advocate for improving soccer in MN and for developing players through ODP. Ian's leadership and commitment will be missed.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow. Does anyone know what the skinny is on this? Is he finally fed up with the MYSA B.S. or did he get another opportunity he couldn't pass up?

Anonymous said...

Ignore the above post. I found my answer below.

Anonymous said...

See: http://www.macalester.edu/athletics/msoccer/coaching_staff.html

Anonymous said...

so the answer is yes to both!

Anonymous said...

id like to say thank you to coach ian. he was very well liked around the state and knew what he was doing. genuinely nice guy with a ton of knowledge. he will be missed!

Anonymous said...

Hopefully we get another coach of substance and not just a puppet for the DOC and Exec Committee.
Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Anonymous said...

I'm guessing a puppet.....

koolaidmom said...

here;s raising a pint to mr. Barker. Every time our child has been involved in a training event he was repsonsible for was enjoyed and well run. Cheers, Salut and Prost!!

Well Done Mr Barker

Anonymous said...

In the end, it's about character. And he had/has tremendous character. We will never have someone like him again!

tomASS said...

anon 1020 - Extremely well stated and probably still understated.

Anonymous said...

Hey everyone,

Here's a site where we can start posting about the girls teams if word-soc doesn't continue with his blog.

http://www.gosportslife.com/mn-girls-soccer-blog-2/

Anonymous said...

Yes Ian did much good. He was also known to be overly loyal to some ODP players...at the expense of others.

Fan of anonymity said...

Congrats and Good Luck in future endeavors Ian!

Anonymous said...

In these days of thanksgiving, we all should reflect on the many gracious soccer moements and people we are thankful for. The kids running on green grass, the kids running on snow covered fields, mud in spring, parents and kids carpooling to soccer fields and asking one another why they do this? I wish you all a happy thanksgiving and wish to say we are forutnate to have such talented kids who give us many hours of pleassure watching them grow through the sports. Thanks for the administrators, the coaches, the volunteers, the refs, the cities for letting us use their fields, and the registrars, and the field coordinators. The district directors and all involved in keeping the sport alive.

Eat turkey and laugh today for tommorrow is another day.

MNF said...

Ian, thank you for all you have done for youth soccer in MN. You have been a very positive influence in raising the level of the game and helping many players advance their games!

SSM-South Campus said...

Rumor and some googling confirms that Ian Barker has taken over the Head Coaching role at Macalaster College in the Cities. He has been an assistant there since 2003, but will now be running the show.

Anonymous said...

I heard he is also spearheading the Thunder/Bangu US Development Academy push, as well as lending support to the Thunder venture. Interesting...

Anonymous said...

Its a done deal

Anonymous said...

LOL, NOT a done deal . . . that doesn't mean things can't change, but for right now, that's what Thungu would like everyone to think. Gives some credibility to an idea that isn't fully fleshed out yet. He'd be great at whatever he decides to do outside of Mac boys. I think he's too smart to commit this early to something that's still in the development stage. If they really want to get him, I'd bring him along as a consultant for now. Let him do what he does best and even if he decides not to work for the Development Academy, he'd make it a better job for whomever ends up in that position.