New Orleans, LA – (March 13th) Crescent City FC has announced Danny Free as the club’s first ever head coach.
“I’m very excited to get started with this project” said Free. “New Orleans has a lot of great talented players and I’m looking forward to helping Crescent City showcase that on the field.”
The Doncaster, England native is currently serving as the head coach for NCAA Division I school, Nicholls State University. Free has also served as the Director of Coaching at Chesterfield United FC in Virginia, as an Assistant Coach/Goalkeeper Coach at Chowan University in North Carolina and worked with the Virginia Soccer Association as a staff coach and marketing consultant.
“We interviewed a lot of great quality coaches.” said General Manager Jonathan Rednour “Danny checked off all the boxes we were looking for and was very enthusiastic about the opportunity. We’re very optimistic he will help launch our club in the right direction.”
Free spent his youth career at Leeds United and Barsnley FC, earning the Barnsley FC Supporters Club Young Player of the Year award in his final season. In 2010 he moved to North Carolina where he was a four-year starter for Appalachian State University. The former captain started in all 52 of his appearances and earned first team All-Southern Conference selection his junior year. Free had a few stints at NPLS clubs, Chesterfield United FC in 2014, and VSA U23’s in 2015.
“I’m very familiar with the level of play needed to compete in the GCPL” added Free. “For me, it will be about setting a regimen that will allow us to set the tone early on how this club wants to succeed.”
Free graduated from Appalachian State University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications — focus in journalism — and a minor in Health Education. Free and his wife, Valerie, have one daughter, Wyatt Noura.
Free currently holds a U.S. Soccer National C Coaching License, English FA Level 2 License, USSF National Youth License and NSCAA GK Level 1 and 2 License.