The new head coach of the University of Pennsylvania men’s soccer team comes highly recommended by the current and former head coach of the Philadelphia Union and one of its players.
Brian Gill was named the new head coach of the Quakers this week, less than a week after the university announced that Rudy Fuller would be moving to a senior leadership position in the athletic department after 20 years as head coach.
Included in the announcement were quotes from a number of people in the soccer world familiar with the former Rider standout who rose to national fame during seven seasons as a Georgetown University assistant.
Jim Curtin, Hoyas alum Josh Yaro and former Union boss John Hackworth were among them.
Curtin called Gill “one of the bright young minds in coaching that our country has.”
“His ability to identify talent, and produce professional players, speaks for itself,” Curtin stated in the news release. “The character and maturity of the players he has worked with who are currently with the Philadelphia Union is a true testament to the coach he is.”
Yaro, who was a teammate of Keegan Rosenberry’s with the Hoyas during Gill’s time there, called him “one of the most honest, hardworking and dedicated coaches in college soccer.”
“During my time as a Hoya, he always prepared us for games in ways that gave us a competitive advantage,” Yaro stated. “I’m happy to see him achieve his lifelong dream and can’t wait to see him get to work. Penn soccer is fortunate to have him as a head coach.”
Hackworth, who is the United States U17 head coach, called him the “perfect choice” for Penn.
“The future of Penn men’s soccer is in excellent hands under Coach Gill,” Hackworth said.
The comments didn’t stop there. After we shared the news on the Brotherly Game Twitter account several people had similar reactions to Gill taking the helm of a program that last made the NCAA Tournament in 2013 and hasn’t posted a winning record since 2011.
Gill is the second new head coach taking over a Philly Soccer Six school this year. He joins another head coach who made a name for himself as an assistant in the D.C. metro area in former University of Maryland associate head coach Brian Rowland. Rowland was named head coach at Temple in December head coach. He succeeds David MacWilliams, whose contract was not renewed at the end of last season, his 18th with the team.