Mitchell Named To CSA Coaching Post

Ottawa, Ontario – The Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) today announced the appointment of former national team player Dale Mitchell to the position of CSA Staff Coach. Mitchell joins the CSA, effective immediately, from the Vancouver Whitecaps of the A-League, where he served as the team’s head coach for the past two seasons.
“I am delighted to be joining the CSA,” said Mitchell. “I have a lot of faith in the potential of our young players and I look forward to working with our best ones.”
Mitchell, 43, will have four major responsibilities in his new position. He will become the head coach of the Men’s Under-20 Team and will serve as an assistant coach to Bruce Twamley with the Men’s Olympic Team attempting to qualify for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. He will have a direct involvement in the Association’s national training centres, developing and identifying male and female players; and will take an active role in the overall coaching development program as an instructor, clinician and teacher.
“I am pleased that Dale Mitchell will be joining our coaching staff,” said CSA Technical Director Holger Osieck. “I am convinced that with his tremendous background as a player and the success he already has had as a coach, he will surely contribute a lot to the development of young players and to the development of the game in Canada.”
A Vancouver native, Mitchell has served as the head coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps since 2000. In 2001 he was named the A-League Coach of the Year after guiding the Whitecaps to their first ever Western Conference title, posting a record of 16 wins, eight losses and two ties and earning a berth in the league semi-finals. His two-year record as coach in Vancouver stands at 30-19-5 in the regular season and 4-3 in the playoffs. He has also acted as an assistant coach with the Vancouver 86ers in 1994, 1997-1999 and reserve team coach in 1995 and 1997-1999. He was an assistant coach to Paul James with the Men’s Under-20 Team from 1999-2001 and an assistant coach with the Men’s Under-17 team from 1996-1997.
Mitchell’s career as a player is among the very best in Canada, having starred in the NASL, CSL, APSL, MISL and with the Canadian National Team. He is Canada’s all-time international goal scoring leader, tallying 19 goals in 55 appearances with the Men’s World Cup Team from 1980-1993, including the 1986 World Cup.
This May, Mitchell’s accomplishments will see him inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame.
Dale Mitchell – Outdoor career
Vancouver Whitecaps (NASL) 1977-78
Portland Timbers (NASL) 1979-82
Montreal Manic (NASL) 1983
Vancouver 86ers (CSL) 1988-90
Toronto Blizzard (CSL) 1991
Vancouver 86ers (CSL) 1992
Vancouver 86ers (APSL) 1993-94
Career outdoor playing statistics
NASLt1977-83t138 gamest44 goals
CSLt1988-94t143 gamest58 goals
Canadat1980-93t55 ‘A’ gamest19 goals