HARRISON, N.J. (March 2, 2015) – The New York Red Bulls announced today that former player and current assistant coach John Wolyniec has been named head coach of New York Red Bulls II, the organization’s USL affiliate, for the inaugural 2015 season.
Recently retired Ibrahim Sekagya and former Columbus Crew SC goalkeeping coach Vadim Kirillov will serve on Wolyniec’s staff.
“I’m grateful to the organization for this opportunity,” said Wolyniec. “NYRB II represents an important platform in our player development system. Our goal is to create an environment for our young players to have a chance to train and play in a professional setting and get meaningful minutes to prepare them for careers in MLS.”
In 2013, Wolyniec was named Player Development Coordinator and head man of the Red Bulls’ MLS Reserve team. The Staten Island native began his coaching career with the Red Bulls Academy in 2010 shortly after finishing his playing career.
“We’re very excited for John,” said Red Bulls Sporting Director Ali Curtis. “He’s served this organization well as a player and as part of the staff. He has earned this opportunity and we look forward to him leading this team and developing our young talent. John will have an important role in not only developing players within NYRB II, but his responsibilities will also include working in an integrated capacity with both our first team and academy coaching staffs.”
Wolyniec played a total of nine seasons for New York between the MetroStars and Red Bulls. He broke into the league with New York in 1999 before being traded to Chicago. Wolyniec spent time with the Fire and Los Angeles Galaxy before returning to New York in 2003, where he played the next three seasons. After a stint with Columbus and a brief return to Los Angeles, Wolyniec came home to play his final four seasons with the Red Bulls from 2006-2010.
Wolyniec finished his MLS career with 192 regular season appearances, including 101 starts, with 33 goals and 16 assists. His time in New York accounts for 142 of those appearances, tied for fourth-most in club history, as well as 26 goals and 14 assists.
Sekagya retired earlier this month after spending a season and a half with New York. The former captain of the Ugandan national team also played six seasons with Red Bull Salzburg, leading the team to three Austrian Bundesliga titles and an Austrian Cup championship.
Kirillov played professionally in the Soviet Union for FC Spartak Moscow and FC Lokomotiv Moskow in the 1980s. Kirillov joined the Red Bulls Academy staff in February 2013. He served the goalkeeping coach for Columbus from 2007-2011, and also spent time with the U.S. U-14 Youth National Team, and with the men’s soccer program at Adelphi University on Long Island.
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