Rod Underwood

Rod Underwood (born in New Orleans, United States) is an American former soccer player and head coach for Montego Bay United F.C. in the National Premier Soccer League.

Rod Underwood
Personal information
Place of birth New Orleans, United States
Playing position(s) midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1992–1996 New Mexico Chiles
1997–1998 Albuquerque Geckos 11 (1)
1999 South Carolina Shamrocks
Teams managed
1994 New Mexico Chiles (player-coach)
1997–1998 Albuquerque Geckos (player-coach)
1999 South Carolina Shamrocks (player-coach)
2007–2008 Portland Timbers (assistant coach)
2009 Cleveland City Stars
2010 North East Stars
2012 Mount Aureol
2017– Montego Bay United F.C.
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Underwood began playing soccer at the college level with Furman University in 1985. He became the first African American to play soccer at Furman University.[1] While at Furman he was the leading goal scorer, a three-time all-conference selection, and the conference tournament MVP as a senior. In his final year at Furman Underwood earned his Bachelor's Degree in 1989. As a player Underwood spent time with New Mexico Chiles, Albuquerque Geckos, and New Orleans Gamblers.[2]

Management career

Underwood first began his coaching career as player-coach at New Mexico Chiles in 1994. Once he moved to Albuquerque in 1997, he led the Geckos to the USISL D-3 Pro League Championship before coaching the club through its promotion to the A-League a season later. The following season Underwood was appointed the head coach for the South Carolina Shamrocks in 1999. Following his stint with South Carolina, he was appointed the assistant coach for Georgia State University. On April 19, 2007 the Portland Timber's head coach Gavin Wilkinson appointed Underwood as his assistant coach.[3] During the 2007 USL season he helped the Timbers finish second place in the standings, and help the club reach the semifinals in the playoffs before losing to Atlanta Silverbacks. On February 5, 2009 the Cleveland City Stars announced the hiring of Underwood to serve as the new head coach for the 2009 USL season.[4][5] He became the second head coach in club history, after succeeding Martin Rennie. In preparation for the 2009 season Underwood resolved to bring new players to the squad, notably players from Africa and MLS experienced players.[6] Underwood was named head coach for North East Stars in the TT Pro League on April 16, 2010.[7] In 2010, he joined the coaching team for the MLS side the Portland TImbers as an assistant coach for the U-16 academy team.[8]

In 2012, he went abroad to manage Mount Aureol in the Sierra Leone National First Division.[9] He later returned to the United States and joined the management staff of Sacramento Republic FC in the United Soccer League in the capacity of an assistant coach.[10] In 2017, he was named the head coach for Montego Bay United F.C. in the National Premier League.[11][12]

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References
  1. Rod Underwood: What Drives City's New Man
  2. "Rod Underwood | SoccerStats.us". soccerstats.us. Retrieved 2018-08-08.
  3. Timbers round out coaching staff Archived 2008-01-19 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Cleveland names Underwood coach Archived 2009-02-09 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Rod Underwood - Head Coach". Archived from the original on February 11, 2009.
  6. USL-1 Season Preview - Part III Archived 2009-04-21 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ttproleague.com. "Underwood, Stars part ways". Soca Warriors Online - Trinidad and Tobago Football. Retrieved 2018-08-08.
  8. "Timbers announce Academy coaching staff". timbers.com. May 21, 2012.
  9. Jnr, Sahr Morris (2012-01-19). "Sierra Leone: Slifa Gets Foreign Coach". Concord Times (Freetown). Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  10. Gates, Conwell, Ryan, William. "Former Timbers Coaches Join Sacramento". Stumptown Footy. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  11. Reid, Paul. "American Underwood to take reins of MBU". Jamaica Observer. Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  12. "Rod Underwood - Coaching Director – iSoccerPath". isoccerpath.com. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
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