The Kansas City Wizards announced today the hiring of the new director in charge of the youth development program. Chris Cissell, current head coach of the William Jewell College Men's and Women's soccer programs, will take over as KCW Juniors Youth Director effective immediately. Cissell will serve as the main point of contact for the U-15, U-16 and U-17 Wizards squads. He will be charged with overseeing the day-to-day operation of the KCW Juniors, creating the curriculum for the program and helping to implement the overall youth development philosophy on the field.
"We are extremely excited to hire Chris Cissell in this position," Technical Director Peter Vermes said. "He has an outstanding track record of developing players from the youth to the college level. Our development program will be focused on developing players from the youth level that will play for the Wizards first team."
"It's also great for the Wizards to be able to bring somebody back that has been successful within the organization in the past," Vermes said.
Cissell, 35, worked for the Wizards organization from 1995-1999 as youth soccer sales director before leaving to become the head coach at William Jewell. He is excited about rejoining the Kansas City Wizards family and helping build a youth development program that rivals the best in the world.
"I'm very excited about this great opportunity," Cissell said. "This is the chance of a lifetime to join the Kansas City Wizards in the inaugural season of Major League Soccer's new youth development initiative. I look forward to working with Peter Vermes and the entire technical staff on this exciting new project."
Cissell, a St. Louis native, has been involved in competitive soccer since age 8 and entrenched in the Kansas City club soccer community since 1991. He began directing the women's program at his alma mater in 1999 and the men's program in 2002. During his time at the school, Cissell has taken home 11 different Coach of the Year awards, including the 2006 NSCAA/adidas NAIA Men's National Coach of the Year award. He is recognized as the only college head coach to take both a men's and women's team to the NAIA Final 4.
"I feel confident my knowledge of the area, coaching experience and soccer expertise will help the Wizards to reach our goals of becoming the best youth development system in MLS and one of the best in the world," Cissell said.
Cissell, who played midfield for four years at Jewell from 1990-94, will continue to serve as the head coach for both the men's and women's soccer teams at William Jewell. He will also remain in charge of the William Jewell College All-Star Soccer Camps. He has led successful camps and clinics in the area for players of all ages for the last seven years. Cissell will stay on at his current youth soccer club, Liberty United, on a consulting basis.
Cissell's wife, Heather, also graduated from William Jewell College. They have four children: Mitchell (12), Trevor (9), Zachary (7) and Sophia (4).
College Coaching Statistics:
Career Record (Men's and Women's): 178-51-13
NSCAA/adidas NAIA Men's National Coach of the Year: 2006
NSCAA/adidas NAIA Men's Central Region Coach of the Year: 2006
NAIA Region V Men's Coach of the Year: 2006
NSCAA/adidas NAIA Women's Midwest Region Coach of the Year: 2003
NAIA Region V Women's Coach of the Year: 2003
HAAC Women's Coach of the Year: 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005
HAAC Men's Coach of the Year: 2003, 2006
Total NAIA All-Americans: 26
Total NAIA Academic All-Americans: 17
