Diego Thielen Named Assistant Coach for 2022 Season
Former Otter Diego Thielen will be returning to the Tri-Cities this fall, but this time as a coach. Head Coach David Strickland has announced that Thielen, now an assistant coach at Lenoir-Rhyne University in North Carolina, will serve as an assistant coach this summer for the Otters.
“I am happy to announce Diego Thielen as a new addition to the Otters coaching staff,” says Coach David Strickland on the hire. “Diego was a player for the Otters for two seasons and truly loves and believes in our mission to improve our community through soccer. Diego has been working on his craft as a coach at Ohio Valley and now at Lenior-Rhyne working with the men’s and women’s programs. He will bring an energy and connection to the young men we work with this season!”
Thielen played for the Otters in both 2018 and 2019, logging almost 900 minutes over 17 appearances. His lone goal in the blue and green came in stoppage time on the road in West Virginia to help the Otters secure a point in a come-from-behind 3–3 draw. The Venezuelan defender played his entire collegiate career at Ohio Valley University from 2015 to 2018, appearing in 58 matches, with 43 starts, and adding five goals and an assist. The Fighting Scots also made a run to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament during the 2018 season.
Upon Thielen’s graduation in 2019 with a degree in Sport Management and Business Administration, he served as a graduate assistant at Ohio Valley for the 2019 and 2020/21 seasons. They finished with a record of 11–0 and a final national ranking of #2 in the shortened spring season in 2021. He just completed his first year at Lenoir-Rhyne as an assistant coach where the Bears finished with a record of 10–6–1 and earned an NCAA Tournament berth.
“ I am extremely thankful for this opportunity,” says Thielen. “First of all, I want to thank Coach Strickland for the opportunity. Excited to be back in Johnson City again for another summer and looking forward to getting started with the entire coaching staff and making some history!”
As the 2022 season draws closer, information regarding season tickets, camp, Adopt an Otter, and more will be announced in the coming weeks! For more information regarding the upcoming season be sure to check ottersoccer.com and follow @ottersoccer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay up to date on all things Otters! #FearTheFur #OnTo22
