Today, the Chattanooga Football Club announced the hiring of Rod Underwood as the club’s new sporting director and men’s head coach.
The announcement comes two-weeks following news the club and former head coach Peter Fuller had mutually agreed to part ways.
According to a club release, Underwood is a groundbreaking coach that’s led professional teams around the globe, including Jamaica, Sierra Leone, and Trinidad & Tobago. The release also lists Underwood as a two-time national champion in professional soccer.
“For me I saw Chattanooga as a big club in a league trying to develop and I wanted to be part of it,” said Underwood. “Supporters groups like the Chattahooligans are paramount. They set soccer apart from any other sport in the world. Finley is a great stadium. It has a lot of character in a fantastic downtown location.”
“We’re really excited to have Coach Underwood with the club.” said Jeremy Alumbaugh, Managing Director, Chattanooga FC. “Throughout our search there were a few boxes that had to be checked and Rod checked them all. His teams are proactive, he’s a fantastic communicator and he has a growth mindset, he’s always trying to better himself and those around him. He has a commitment to the community that makes him a perfect fit. I think that fans will really love the style of play he employs, and we’re looking forward to the coming weeks ahead.”
Underwood has made head coaching stops with Cleveland City (USL), North East Stars (Jamaica), Mount Aureol (Sierra Leone), Montego Bay FC (Jamaica) and recently Stumptown AC (NISA) in Charlotte, NC. Underwood led Montego Bay FC to a CONCACAF championship qualification. His resume also includes a stop as an assistant with the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer.
Underwood has two USL championships. One came as an assistant with Sacramento Republic FC and the other as a head coach with the Albuquerque Geckos.
Coach Underwood is currently working on the 2022 CFC roster. The club says future additions to the technical staff will be announced in due time.
Season tickets for the 2022 season are on sale now at CFCTIX.com.
Photo/Quotes Credit: Chattanooga Football Club
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