Kipp Named Goalkeeper Coach for New Jersey Club

Somerset, N.J. (Tuesday, January 24, 2012) – Sky Blue FC solidified its coaching staff for the 2012 Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) season on Tuesday, confirming the addition of Nathan Kipp as goalkeeper coach. Kipp joins a staff rich in WPS coaching experience, consisting of head coach Jim Gabarra and assistants Emma Hayes and Rick Stainton.

“We are fortunate to have Nate come on board with us,” Gabarra stated. “He is an experienced WPS coach and will be a great resource for the development of our goalkeepers. In addition to time in Chicago and Boston, he has also worked some of the national team players. That type of experience will be very valuable for our team.”

Kipp most recently spent 2011 with the Boston Breakers after working with Hayes and the Chicago Red Stars during the first two seasons of WPS. Now living in Manhattan, he says that the chance to join such a well-versed coaching staff and reuniting with Hayes made the move to Sky Blue FC an easy decision for him.

“Obviously, I am anxious to get back to work with Emma. I enjoyed my time coaching with her in Chicago immensely,” he remarked. “That combined with the opportunity to work with Jim and Rick, whom I have also known for a few seasons now, made this decision a no-brainer.”

A current member of the U.S. Youth National Team staff, Kipp also worked with the Iceland National Team at the 2009 Algarve Cup. The Ohio native began his coaching career at Iona College in 2003, spending two years working with Hayes, who was the head coach of the program at that time. He then made the move in 2005 to his alma mater, the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, working as the women’s goalkeeper coach before heading to Duke University and helping the Blue Devils to a Sweet 16 and back-to-back Elite Eight appearances in his first three seasons there.

“As a franchise, Sky Blue FC has a good history that includes a WPS Championship,” Kipp continued. “I feel the opportunity to come into a quality organization with such an excellent coaching staff is a perfect way to continue my involvement in WPS. I am excited about contributing to what will hopefully be another title run this year for Sky Blue FC.”

As a player, Kipp enjoyed a standout college career in Greensboro that eventually led to playing a pair of professional seasons with the Carolina Dynamo of the United Soccer Leagues (USL). That second year saw him post an 0.87 goals against average and earned him USL Goalkeeper of the Year accolades.

Sky Blue FC currently has open tryouts scheduled for February 23-24th at the Metuchen SportsPlex in central New Jersey, giving interested players the opportunity to make the team for the 2012 WPS season. Cost of registration for the two-day trials is $100 per participant, and the entire registration process can be done online by clicking here.

Don’t miss out on the excitement of Women’s Professional Soccer! 2012 Sky Blue FC season and flex tickets are currently on sale now, beginning at less than $100. Get your tickets today by calling 888-SBFC-TIX.