ABOUT COACH LAWRENCE
Chris Lawrence enters his eighth year as an assistant coach on the LIU staff. The charismatic coach has been an integral part of the Blackbirds’ recent success.

Lawrence is responsible for all aspects of the program, including game strategy, recruiting, scouting and the running of practices.

Lawrence, who enjoyed a distinguished playing career in his native England, became a coach for the first time in 1995 at the Pingry School in Martinsville, N.J.

During Lawrence’s four-year tenure, Pingry captured two county, conference and state championships. The 1998 squad concluded the season with a 22-0-1 record with Lawrence named Coach of the Year by the Courier News and the Star-Ledger.

From 1997-99, Lawrence was head coach of the New Jersey Olympic Development Program Under-19 team. He was heavily involved in the selection and training of this squad for regional, national and Olympic competition.
For the past four years he has been a member of the New Jersey state coaching staff, conducting coaching licenses.

Lawrence’s playing career was highlighted by two years (1988-1990) as a member of Southampton F.C. in the English First Division. In the four years following, he played semi-professionally in England with Woking, Basingstoke and Wealdstone F.C.

Holder of an ‘A’ coaching license and UEFA badge, Lawrence graduated from the Basingstoke College of Higher Education in 1989. He earned a Higher National Diploma in hotel and business studies along with a similar degree in food, health and hygiene.

Lawrence, his wife Susan, and children Casadi, 3, and Alexa, 2, reside in Warren, N.J.

ABOUT COACH HOOGERWERF
Stephen Hoogerwerf begins his fourth season on the Blackbirds’ staff, primarily responsible for the goalkeepers. In addition, he is involved in game strategy, recruiting and film editing. Hoogerwerf coaches club level, the Brooklyn Knights and Manhattan Kickers. Previously, he worked with FC Westchester. In addition, he also coaches the Eastern New York Olympic Development Program.

Hoogerwerf previously worked with the Manhattan Soccer Club and has trained keepers from the Eastern New York Olympic Development Program. In addition, he has done volunteer work with the Kids Island Soccer Program and New York Scores, after-school programs based in Harlem.

The New Orleans native’s coaching career began in 1999 in his hometown, capturing two State Cups with the New Orleans Soccer Academy (NOSA). While there, he was Director of Goalkeeping for both NOSA and the Louisiana Olympic Development Program. One of his future goals is to establish a Brooklyn-based goalkeeping academy to develop local talent.

As a player, Hoogerwerf played professionally for the New Orleans Storm of the A-League from 1998-99. He also made stops with the Cocoa Expos in 1996 and Pikes Peak Stampede in 1997, both of the PDL. Hoogerwerf was an NAIA Second Team All-American as well as an NSCAA Honorable Mention All-American at William Carey (Miss.) College where he attended from 1995-97.

Hoogerwerf holds an NSCAA National Diploma, USSF ‘C’ Coaching Licence and NSCAA Goalkeeping Level 3 and a Brazilian National Youth License. He lives in Brooklyn.

ANTHONY ROROS, Volunteer Assistant
Anthony Roros and New York City soccer are synonymous. The successful club coach joined Long Island University last season as a volunteer, offering his wetitleh of knowledge.

In February of 2006, Roros was named head coach of the Brooklyn Knights. Previously, he served as head coach of the Westchester Flames. He was instrumental in the Flames run to third place in the PDL in 2000 and its PDL championship in 2001. He posted a regular season record of 28-5-1 over two seasons at the helm of the team.

Roros has coached some of the brightest and best youth club teams in the tri-state area, including the U14 boy’s Metropolitan Oval/Brooklyn Knights team who participate in the USL Super Y League. Roros was a defender for the Long Island RoughRiders.