The RDC Queens Soccer team have a new coach behind the bench.
Esad Elkaz was named head coach of the soccer program on Monday. He will begin development for the 2017-2018 season when he takes over on Jan. 9, 2017. Elkaz replaces long-time coach David Colley, who coached the team since 2012.
Elkaz brings a wealth of experience to the Queens program, with more than 12 years of coaching experience, leading the Red Deer Renegades to provincial gold in 2015 (U18) and in 2014 (U16). He also coached teams to gold at the Alberta Summer Games in 2014 and 2016. Elkaz is currently the Technical Director for the Red Deer City Soccer Association as well as coaching with the Renegades.
“I am honoured to have been named as the new Queens Head Coach,” Elkaz said about his new role. “I see a tremendous opportunity to build on the success of the RDC program through strengthening ties with the Red Deer City Soccer Association, the Red Deer Renegades, and the ASA Community.”
RDC athletic director Diane St-Denis said it was Elkaz’s experience developing young players and his time coaching top teams in Red Deer that earned him the position.
“Esad bring a wealth of coaching knowledge and significant experience developing young female players,” she said. “He has strong relationship in the soccer community in Red Deer, and Alberta, and is respected by his peers. He’s coached successful teams and several of his former players are experiencing success at the CIS, ACAC and NAIA levels.”
Colley started with the Queens as a coaching assistant in 2000.
Colley took over as head coach of the college soccer program in the fall of 2012. Colley collected a record of 32-12-11 as head coach and his squad earned playoff berths in each of the past five seasons. The team also earned an Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference bronze medal in 2013. Colley also won ACAC Coach of the Year in 2015-2016.
byron.hackett@www.reddeeradvocate.com