IAN GORDONA
|
|
John Bluem, head coach of the Ohio State men’s soccer team, announced the hiring of Ian Gordona to the position of assistant coach on May 5, 2014. Gordona joined the staff of Bluem and was named Ohio State Recruiting Coordinator. On Aug. 9, 2017, Gordona was promoted to associate head coach.
“Ian is clearly one of the top assistants in the game,” Bluem said. “He continues to produce excellent recruiting classes that are not only talented players but exceptional students. As a member of our athletic department, he generously offers his time and knowledge to others, demonstrates a tireless work ethic and his loyalty is beyond compare.”
In 2014, Gordona was named as one of the Top 15 assistants by CollegeSoccerNews. In 2015, he helped assemble one of the strongest recruiting classes in OSU history as the 2015 class was ranked No. 9 in the country by CollegeSoccerNews.com and 12th by TopDrawerSoccer.com. The 2016 class was ranked No. 7 in the country.
He coached the back-to-back Senior CLASS Award Winners in Alex Ivanov (2014) and Zach Mason (2015), while working with the goalkeepers in 2015, Gordona helped Chris Froschauer to the Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year Award in route to the team's 2015 Big Ten regular season championship. Gordona has been named one of the top assistants in the country the past two seasons.
Gordona completed the Harvard Business School HBX Core Program in 2015.
"It's an honor and privilege to have the opportunity to be a part of The Ohio State University and the athletic department," Gordona said. "I feel fortunate and humbled to have the opportunity to work with the men's soccer program under the direction of coach Bluem and coach Speth, as well as learn from the minds of the other great coaches this university has within its athletic department. My desire is to help build this program back to national prominence."
Prior to his two years at Michigan, Gordona spent the past four-plus years as a recruiting liaison and academy coach with the MLS's Columbus Crew Youth Development Program. He scouted and coached the top professional prospects in the United States. In addition, he was responsible for recruiting, training and developing student-athletes and was in continuous contact with the players and their families about their future endeavors. He contacted and connected with collegiate programs throughout the U.S. for recruiting purposes.
Gordona lived in Connecticut for five years after graduating from Ohio State in June of 2003 with a bachelor's degree in history. He held two positions in the soccer industry during his time in Connecticut, working as an activities coordinator/head coach with the Oakwood Soccer Club (2003-08) and holding an assistant coaching position at Manchester Community College (2004-08).
At Oakwood, Gordona organized tournaments for more than 200 teams and was responsible for recruiting, training and caring for 300 premier soccer players. He coached the boys U-11 and U-18 academy teams at the club.
Gordona was an assistant coach at Manchester for three-plus years, participating in all phases of coaching, training, recruiting and management of the soccer program. The Cougars reached the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III Men's Soccer Tournament quarterfinals three straight seasons while Gordona was with the program.
He earned the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association's Thomas E. Krusewski Memorial Award in 2007 as the top young soccer coach in the state of Connecticut.
Gordona has a USSF National B License. He also has his NSCAA Advanced National Diploma and is a member of the United States National Team Staff as a scout. He has coached 113 All-Americans, 66 Youth National Team players, 51 professionals and six National Players of the Year and won four national championships in 10 years.
A Rocky Hill, Conn., native, Gordona was inducted into the Rocky Hill Hall of Fame in 2007. In addition, he is a published writer and poet, and was a 2003 USA Today national essay contest winner.
Gordona is married to Dr. Jennifer Williamson Gordona, and the two own their own dental practice.
“Ian is clearly one of the top assistants in the game,” Bluem said. “He continues to produce excellent recruiting classes that are not only talented players but exceptional students. As a member of our athletic department, he generously offers his time and knowledge to others, demonstrates a tireless work ethic and his loyalty is beyond compare.”
In 2014, Gordona was named as one of the Top 15 assistants by CollegeSoccerNews. In 2015, he helped assemble one of the strongest recruiting classes in OSU history as the 2015 class was ranked No. 9 in the country by CollegeSoccerNews.com and 12th by TopDrawerSoccer.com. The 2016 class was ranked No. 7 in the country.
He coached the back-to-back Senior CLASS Award Winners in Alex Ivanov (2014) and Zach Mason (2015), while working with the goalkeepers in 2015, Gordona helped Chris Froschauer to the Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year Award in route to the team's 2015 Big Ten regular season championship. Gordona has been named one of the top assistants in the country the past two seasons.
Gordona completed the Harvard Business School HBX Core Program in 2015.
"It's an honor and privilege to have the opportunity to be a part of The Ohio State University and the athletic department," Gordona said. "I feel fortunate and humbled to have the opportunity to work with the men's soccer program under the direction of coach Bluem and coach Speth, as well as learn from the minds of the other great coaches this university has within its athletic department. My desire is to help build this program back to national prominence."
Prior to his two years at Michigan, Gordona spent the past four-plus years as a recruiting liaison and academy coach with the MLS's Columbus Crew Youth Development Program. He scouted and coached the top professional prospects in the United States. In addition, he was responsible for recruiting, training and developing student-athletes and was in continuous contact with the players and their families about their future endeavors. He contacted and connected with collegiate programs throughout the U.S. for recruiting purposes.
Gordona lived in Connecticut for five years after graduating from Ohio State in June of 2003 with a bachelor's degree in history. He held two positions in the soccer industry during his time in Connecticut, working as an activities coordinator/head coach with the Oakwood Soccer Club (2003-08) and holding an assistant coaching position at Manchester Community College (2004-08).
At Oakwood, Gordona organized tournaments for more than 200 teams and was responsible for recruiting, training and caring for 300 premier soccer players. He coached the boys U-11 and U-18 academy teams at the club.
Gordona was an assistant coach at Manchester for three-plus years, participating in all phases of coaching, training, recruiting and management of the soccer program. The Cougars reached the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III Men's Soccer Tournament quarterfinals three straight seasons while Gordona was with the program.
He earned the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association's Thomas E. Krusewski Memorial Award in 2007 as the top young soccer coach in the state of Connecticut.
Gordona has a USSF National B License. He also has his NSCAA Advanced National Diploma and is a member of the United States National Team Staff as a scout. He has coached 113 All-Americans, 66 Youth National Team players, 51 professionals and six National Players of the Year and won four national championships in 10 years.
A Rocky Hill, Conn., native, Gordona was inducted into the Rocky Hill Hall of Fame in 2007. In addition, he is a published writer and poet, and was a 2003 USA Today national essay contest winner.
Gordona is married to Dr. Jennifer Williamson Gordona, and the two own their own dental practice.