The Central Jersey Spartans are please to announce the hiring of John Newman as their new head coach.

Spartans owner Sal Amato is confident Newman is the right coach to take the team to the top of the standing. 

“John is a great coach and we can not be more excited to have him onboard,” said Amato.  “He brings experience, knowledge and a terrific enthusiasm for the game that I am confident will make him a great success in this league and take our club to the next level.”

Newman is the current director of coaching for the Princeton Soccer Association.  He holds a USSF A-License, UEFA A-License and an NSCAA Master Coach certificate.  He began his soccer career in the youth ranks at Bolton Wanderes FC.  He played professionally for Shrewsbury and Southport in England, before moving into the coaching ranks.

“Once you take over a team, the most difficult challenge is to get off to a winning start and getting the players to buy into your beliefs and philosophies as the Head Coach” said Newman.  “As coach I will bring new ideas to the team along with energy, enthusiasm, hard work and a desire to win!”

When asked what his goals for the players were in his first season with the Spartans, Newman turned his focus to style and teamwork.

“My goals are to play an attractive style of soccer while winning games, and striving to finish in a higher position then the teams previous seasons,” Newman remarked.

“The players will need to focus on being a part of the team, creating a fitting-in mentality and having a clear understanding of the game.”

Joining Newman on the sidelines will be the Spartans’ new assistant coach, John Saunders.  Saunders also comes to the club from the Princeton Soccer Association where he was the director technical development for youth programs.  Saunders holds a UEFA B-License and an extensive coaching resume, including time coaching a Liverpool FC’s academy.  He began his playing in youth ranks at Everton and Liverpool, before playing professionally at Oldham Athletic.

“I have known John for a number of years and he is a very well respected youth coach with vast experience in player development,” Newman explained. “He is a former professional player who has been coaching in the US since 2005. He has also gained a number of high level coaching licenses in the UK and USA.”

The Spartans are preparing for their third season in the Premier Development League (PDL) of the United Soccer Leagues (USL), the country’s highest level of amateur soccer.