July 22, 2008
YORK LIONS WOMEN'S SOCCER HEAD COACH OFF TO 2008 BEIJING OLYMPICS
York Lions master soccer coach/women’s head coach Paul James will work as a scout for the Canadian national women’s soccer team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
It will be the second international assignment this summer for James, who was an assistant coach for gold-medal winning Canada at the CONCACAF under-20 women’s championship in June in Mexico. Canada opens play at the Olympics Aug. 6 against Argentina.
“It will be a great experience,” said James, who heads to Beijing Aug. 1. “It also will help our York program gain more credibility.”
Canadian head coach Even Pellerud offered James the job last month. James will be with the Canadian team in training before heading off to do some advance scouting.
“It shows that the Canadian team is being very thorough and meticulous,” James said. “It will allow me to spend a bit of time with the Canadian team, to learn about their players and their strengths and weaknesses before seeing some of the other teams.”
James played for Canada at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, helping the national team advance to the quarter-finals before losing to Brazil in penalty kicks. James also played for Canada at the 1986 World Cup before going into coaching.
He coached the Canadian under-20 men’s team at the 2001 FIFA U-20 World Cup before becoming the head coach of York’s men’s and women’s teams in 2004. He has led the women’s team to three consecutive appearances in the CIS national championship tournament, including a second-place finish this past season when James was named national university coach of the year.
James will travel to Chile with the under-20 women’s team at the conclusion of the CIS season in November. The Lions open the 2008 campaign Sept. 6 (3:15pm) against the Guelph Gryphons at York Stadium.
(Source: Mike Koreen- York University)
It will be the second international assignment this summer for James, who was an assistant coach for gold-medal winning Canada at the CONCACAF under-20 women’s championship in June in Mexico. Canada opens play at the Olympics Aug. 6 against Argentina.
“It will be a great experience,” said James, who heads to Beijing Aug. 1. “It also will help our York program gain more credibility.”
Canadian head coach Even Pellerud offered James the job last month. James will be with the Canadian team in training before heading off to do some advance scouting.
“It shows that the Canadian team is being very thorough and meticulous,” James said. “It will allow me to spend a bit of time with the Canadian team, to learn about their players and their strengths and weaknesses before seeing some of the other teams.”
James played for Canada at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, helping the national team advance to the quarter-finals before losing to Brazil in penalty kicks. James also played for Canada at the 1986 World Cup before going into coaching.
He coached the Canadian under-20 men’s team at the 2001 FIFA U-20 World Cup before becoming the head coach of York’s men’s and women’s teams in 2004. He has led the women’s team to three consecutive appearances in the CIS national championship tournament, including a second-place finish this past season when James was named national university coach of the year.
James will travel to Chile with the under-20 women’s team at the conclusion of the CIS season in November. The Lions open the 2008 campaign Sept. 6 (3:15pm) against the Guelph Gryphons at York Stadium.
(Source: Mike Koreen- York University)
