Coach Wall Named Head Coach of FC Pride
After serving as the top assistant for the Otters the last three summers, Coach Richard Wall has accepted the head coaching position of FC Pride in the WPSL. Wall previously served as the head coach of nearby Lees-McRae College before accepting an assistant coaching position at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.
“I am very excited to see Richard Wall take over at the head coach at FC Pride,” says Otters President and Head Coach David Strickland. “Rich is a player’s coach, he has a talent at articulating the game to players to create a very good style of soccer. Rich was very instrumental in the Otters growth and success in the USL2. The FC Pride team and administrators made a fantastic selection in Richard Wall.”
Wall originally came to the Otters in 2017 after serving as the head coach of fellow USL League Two side, the West Virginia Chaos (now West Virginia Alliance FC). Wall assisted Coach Strickland in helping the Otters steadily improve year after year. This past season was the most successful for the organization, finishing with the most points in a season (19) and an unbeaten home record.
In Wall’s first year with Ball State, they finished with a 15–5 overall record and claimed second place in the MAC conference. FC Pride are based in Indianapolis, Indiana and compete in the Women’s Premier Soccer League. The WPSL has over 131 clubs across the country and are the top women’s development league for amateur players in the United States.
GM Lucas Christiansen on Richard Wall’s next step: “Coach Wall was an integral piece to this organization’s growth on the field. Wall played a large role in identifying and recruiting players and helping get the best out of them once they got here. This league is more than a stepping stone for just players, but for coaches as well!”
The Otters will have more announcements regarding coaches, players, and the upcoming season as we move closer to the first home preseason game on May 6th against Asheville City SC. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to make sure you don’t miss any exciting updates! #FearTheFur
