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Island Bay United Appoints Olé Technical Staff for 2012

Island Bay United is proud to announce the capture of Nate Winkel and James Prosser as coaches for their first and second senior mens teams.  Winkel will occupy the role of Technical Director and Prosser will be First Team Head Coach.  “Early discussions quickly identified that Olé’s Mission and Philosophy were a great fit with our recently formalised ‘Club Charter’ and ‘Club values’, and Nick Goodall and I quickly felt comfortable working with Nate and James throughout the investigative process.  The opportunities that are presented by the combined resources and focus are really exciting and we are really looking forward to getting the 2012 season underway,” said Club President Gary Oosterbaan. 

“Island Bay has a rich tradition of both winning, and developing players including All Whites Chris Killen, and Raf de Gregorio.  With the installation of the artificial turf at Wakefield Park we felt like IBU was a sleeping giant, and we are excited to be a part of its awakening.” said Winkel.

The Olé Football Academy has been breaking new ground since appointing Winkel as Director in 2009.  Under his leadership Olé has attracted top foreign coaches, including Prosser, to drive a new era of developing elite youth players, and placing them at US Universities and pro clubs.  Over 20 players have been exported and signed scholarships, or contracts, worth over $3 million.

Prosser makes his way to Island Bay after playing professionally in the US, and then coaching at the NCAA Division 1 level – University of Louisville, and University of Central Florida.   Prosser has played a key role in the development of the Olé Premier Academy, a new programme that will see a select group of student-athletes from all over New Zealand study and train full time at the Olé Football Academy facility.

“The Premier Academy is a completely unique programme on a global scale, where the student-athletes will train football 15-20 hours a week, and complete NCEA Level course work.  By combining the club, school, and academy environments we have broken down traditional barriers and created an environment that gives these players a realistic chance of achieving their dreams to play at an elite level.  They have the time to develop as a student, player, and person without getting pulled in 5 different directions by 5 different coaches.  We influence what they eat, when they rest, their speed/strength/conditioning, provide match video analysis, everything has been thought of,”  said Winkel.

The launch of the Premier Academy fits perfectly with the Island Bay partnership, and will see the Premier Academy playing their league matches with IBU.  “It is great for our young players to mix in and learn from the older IBU players, and then compete against all the other adult players at the weekend.  We have brought in a group of very talented players and despite their age (16-18) we feel that by training with us twice a day, they will be ready to compete with anyone in the winter leagues,” said Prosser.

Many eyes will be on the new look IBU next season.  “The 2012 season will be a challenge for all coaches, players, supporters and committee as we bed in new processes and expectations. IBU and Olé are looking at locking into a mutually beneficial long-term partnership, which I am confident can be achieved.  I believe it will result in some top quality football on show in Island Bay, and will enable IBU to compete at the higher levels of football in Wellington”.  said Oosterbaan.