Iowa Rush is excited to announce DOC Greg Hennelly will return as first team assistant for the local Premier Development League (PDL) men’s team, the Des Moines Menace. Last year Hennelly led video analysis, scouting of opponents, and assisted with all training sessions and games helping the PDL program finish 10-2-2 on the season and Champions of their Division. In the off season the Menace hired new head coach John Pascarella after spending eight seasons as an assistant coach for the Major League Soccer (MLS) team Sporting Kansas City. When asked about working under Pascarella, Hennelly replied, “I am very excited and thankful to Coach Pascarella and the entire Menace organization to be asked back to help contribute to our success again this season. Having the opportunity to work along side another top-level coach with MLS experience is only going to help me learn and continue to grow as a coach. Coach Pascarella's positive approach, focus on creating a strong team culture based off strong leadership skills and trust in his players, will prove to be beneficial for my continued development. I am once again very excited to be in an environment that will allow me to bring higher level training exercises, work ethics, and experiences back to our youth players at the Iowa Rush.”
It did not come as a surprise to Technical Director Paul Fabry that Hennelly was asked to return on the PDL coaching staff. “Last season the Menace players and staff had the opportunity to experience Greg’s work ethic, passion and knowledge across multiple levels within the game first hand. Qualities of his we have come accustom to at the Iowa Rush. We wish Greg, the Menace coaching staff, and the players the best of luck this season.” -Fabry
The Menace Open the 2017 Season in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup tomorrow, May 10th, against AFC Cleveland. Hennelly, a native of Akron which is minutes from Cleveland, is very familiar with their soccer landscape and even coached AFC Cleveland players throughout their youth development. "It is always good to see familiar faces playing at the next level" Hennelly went on, "soccer truly is a special game with a tight community of individuals who are passionate about what they do".
What: 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
When: May 10th, 2017
Kickoff: 7:30pm CST
Where: Valley Stadium (4440 Mills Civic Parkway in West Des Moines)
Cost*: $10 (Single-Game Ticket age 6+) - FREE FOR ALL IOWA RUSH PLAYERS WHO WEAR THEIR IOWA RUSH UNIFORMS!
The Menace will be providing FREE ADMISSION for all IOWA RUSH players who wear their Rush Jersey. We hope to see many Rush Players there watching the highest level of soccer in the State of Iowa. Again, players MUST be in their Iowa Rush Jerseys to be admitted free of charge.