Atlanta United announced three additions to its Academy coaching staff for the upcoming season. Stephen Glass, Diego Ordaz and Omar Jarun bring a wealth of professional playing and youth coaching experience to round out Academy Director Tony Annan’s staff for the upcoming season, which is set to begin on Sept. 1. Annan and his staff recently coached the MLS Homegrown team to a 1-1 draw against Tigres UANL U-20s during MLS All-Star Week festivities.
“We are very excited to welcome three outstanding coaches with diverse international backgrounds to our Atlanta United Academy staff,” said Academy Director Tony Annan. “Each have extensive playing experience and understand the demand and the level of commitment it takes to become a professional soccer player. As players, all three displayed a tireless work effort to reach the highest competitive levels in our sport, and all three successfully transitioned to youth coaching after retirement. We couldn’t be happier to have these additions to our staff and look forward to the impact they’ll make on our players.”
Glass, who holds UEFA Pro, UEFA A and UEFA B coaching licenses, joins Atlanta United after a stint with the Carolina Rapids in Cornelius, N.C. With the Rapids, Glass served as a Coaching Director, while also being the head coach of the Rapids Women’s Premier Soccer League program. Prior to his time with the Rapids, Glass was a Coaching Director for Triangle Football Club in Raleigh where he helped place more than 50 players into college.
Prior to coaching, the Scotsman enjoyed an outstanding professional playing career. He played in the English Premier League with Newcastle United (1998-2001), scoring seven times in 42 appearances. He spent two seasons in the English Championship with Watford before moving back to Scotland and appearing in 86 matches for Hibernian in the Scottish Premier League. He concluded his playing career with a stint in NASL as a member of the Carolina Railhawks in 2011. Overall, Glass made 380 professional league appearances, while also representing Scotland internationally. Glass’ coaching responsibilities at Atlanta United will center around the U-17 squad.
Ordaz joins Atlanta United’s Academy after a distinguished 14-year professional career in Mexico. He played for several sides in the Mexican top flight, including time at Monterrey (2003-09), where he totaled 185 appearances for the storied club. His other stints in Mexico included time with Jaguares (2010 & 2014-15), Atlante (2011 & 2013), San Luis (2012) and Lobos BUAP (2nd Division 2013-14). Following retirement, the former outside back moved to Atlanta in 2016 and has been working with youth players across the city. Ordaz will be working closely with Atlanta United’s U-13 group.
Jarun will coach the U-16 side and brings domestic and international experience with him to the club. His professional playing career took off in 2006 with the Atlanta Silverbacks and included stints with the Vancouver Whitecaps, Tampa Bay Rowdies and Ottawa Fury. A Palestine native, Jarun also played in Poland and Belgium. His international playing career includes 16 caps for the Palestine National Team, where he featured in World Cup Qualifiers. Following his playing career, Jarun coached at several youth clubs in Georgia, and also had a stint as the assistant coach for Clayton State University. Most recently, he was the head coach for MOBA soccer academy and an ODP head coach with the Boys 03 at Georgia Soccer. He holds a USSF A Youth License and will begin his work with Atlanta United this fall.
Atlanta United’s Academy officially kicks off the 2018-19 U.S. Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) season on Saturday, Sept. 1 against Carolina Rapids. Both the U-19s and U-17s are reigning Southeast Division champions, with the U-17s finishing as national runners-up last season. During the Academy’s inaugural season, in 2016-17, the U-16s won the national championship.
