Kyle Findlay Named USL Academy Head Coach

The Otters have tabbed Kyle Findlay as the first-ever head coach of their USL Academy team. This summer marks the inaugural season for the Otters’ participation in the newly formed USL Academy. Findlay currently serves as an assistant coach with the Otters’ USL League Two side, as well as being an assistant at local Milligan University. For more information regarding the Otters involvement in the USL Academy click here!

“Delighted to be given the opportunity to be the first Head Coach for the Otters USL Academy. This is a really promising venture in the ongoing mission to raise both the level and the number of opportunities available to young players in East Tennessee,” says Findlay on the opportunity. “It will give us a chance to regularly showcase the most promising prospects from various clubs and high school programs in the region, while operating under the USL brand.”

In addition to Findlay’s coaching duties with the Otters and Milligan, Findlay has held positions with The Cove FC in Australia, Fulham FC in England, and the Chicago Fire Soccer Club. He played collegiately at Bluefield College in West Virginia. Findlay also recently graduated from ETSU with his master’s in Applied Sport Science.

The Otters will begin play this June against teams in North Carolina and Virginia and continue into the fall. The side is made up of one, mixed-age group boys team featuring players from U-15 through U-19. There are no fees associated with playing for the Academy team, and high school participation is still allowed under USL Academy rules. More information regarding the USL Academy and its structure can be found on their website!

Otters President and USL League Two Head Coach David Strickland on the appointment: “Kyle comes to us as one of the top young coaches, that has an incredible craft of teaching the game and connecting with young players and improving their growth. Kyle will lead this new Otters Academy approach in our first half season for 2021 as the USL makes strides for player’s to reach the path to pro!”

Findlay on building the team: “I am excited to begin building the first ever pool of talented individuals with the help of the many fantastic coaches in their home environments.

More information regarding the schedule, open tryouts, and other details will be released in the coming weeks. Contact Coach Findlay at KPFindlay@milligan.edu with any questions. Be sure to follow Ottersoccer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, as well as here on Medium to stay up to date on all things Otters during the 2021 season! #FearTheFur #NewYearNewOtters