Stuart Dobson

by Geezaldinho Fri Sep 07, 2012 12:40 am

In the where are they now category, Stuart Dobson, who succeeded Kasey Keller and has for years been The Keeper coach at UCSB, was hired this season by Akron's Caleb Porter, who will be moving to Portland to coach the Timbers (whoops, maybe? or maybe he will move also)

August 15, 2012
AKRON, Ohio – University of Akron head men's soccer coach Caleb Porter announced Wednesday that Stuart Dobson has been named the program's new goalkeepers coach.

Dobson joins the Zips staff after spending the last four seasons in the same capacity at UC Santa Barbara where he mentored three straight net minders to the professional ranks in Dan Kennedy (Chivas USA), Kyle Reynish (Real Salt Lake) and Sam Hayden (Ventura Fusion USL).

"We are very fortunate to be able to add someone the caliber of Stuart to our staff," Porter said. "He has a wealth of experience as a former professional goalkeeper and, as a coach, he has mentored some of the top college keepers in this country over the past five seasons. He has already been a tremendous asset to the staff and I expect our players will benefit immensely from his knowledge."

Well respected among his peers, Dobson, who enjoyed a 15-year professional playing career as a goalkeeper in both the U.S. and overseas, was brought into the U.S. Women's Under-23 National Team training camp last year to evaluate and develop goalkeepers for selection to the U-23 team and eventually the full side.

Dobson, who also coached goalkeepers for the women's team during his time at UCSB, is currently the 'keepers coach on the Super Y-League National Team and spent the 2007-08 season coaching the New JerseyIronmen of the Major Indoor Soccer League where he worked with former U.S. National Team captain and Major League Soccer MVP Tony Meola.

A native of Beverley, England, Dobson has worked with some of the most accomplished and recognizable names in the history of soccer in this country. He moved to the U.S. at the age of 21 to attend the University of Portland, where he succeeded eventual U.S. National Team goalkeeper Kasey Keller. While earning his degree in business management, he spent four seasons playing under former U.S. National Team assistant coach Clive Charles.