HARRISON, NJ (Feb. 15, 2013) – The New York Red Bulls announced today that they have named John Wolyniec Reserve Team Coach/Player Development Coordinator. Wolyniec, a former Red Bulls forward, was previously Red Bulls Academy’s Under-23 Head Coach.
“John has been a terrific servant for this club and we are delighted to promote him to be our Reserve Team Coach/Player Development Coordinator,” said Red Bulls Sporting Director Andy Roxburgh. “Apart from his first team duties and managing the reserves, he will influence and support the work of our academy. We believe he has the experience both as a player and coach to excel in this position.”
“I’m thrilled to join the Red Bulls coaching staff and want to thank Andy and Mike for their support,” Wolyniec said. “This is a tremendous opportunity for my career and it is an added bonus that I have the chance to work for my hometown club. I am looking forward to the new challenge and hope I can help contribute positively to the Red Bulls’ coaching staff and players.”
Wolyniec started his coaching career at Red Bulls Academy following officially retiring from professional soccer in 2010. He joined the staff full time on January 2011 as an assistant, serving mainly as an individual technical coach.
Prior to coaching, Wolyniec enjoyed a playing career that spanned 12 years, including seven-plus seasons with the New York franchise, Wolyniec, the only player in the Red Bulls’ history to have scored a goal in the MLS Cup Final, finished his career fifth in club history in goals scored in all competitions with 36.
A Staten Island, NY native, Wolyniec is tied for fourth all-time in regular season games played with 142 and tallied 26 goals during these appearances. Wolyniec started his career in 1999 with New York, before enjoying stints with the Chicago Fire and the New England Revolution. The former Fordham University standout returned to New York in the 2003 season and had his best year statistically in 2004, playing in 30 games and scoring 10 goals and three assists.
He was traded to the Columbus Crew in 2005 and then to the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2006 before he again rejoined New York for a 2007 MLS SuperDraft fourth round selection and a 2008 second round selection. In 2008, Wolyniec was instrumental in the team’s first trip to the MLS Cup Final, scoring two goals and one assist and starting in each of the team’s playoff games.
In 2004, Wolyniec earned two caps for the U.S. Men’s National Team. At Fordham, Wolyniec was the university’s all-time leading scorer with 75 goals and 36 assists, was named the 1998 Atlantic-10 Player of the Year and twice led Division I in scoring.
