Tacoma Tide host open tryouts in a season promising many changes

Tacoma Tide FC hold open tryouts April 4 in Tacoma. (David Falk, GOALTacoma.com)

Things are changing for Tacoma Tide FC in 2009, and only time will tell how much of a good thing that might be.

Fran O'Brien is out as head coach and Greg Howes is in. Tide stars Spencer Schomaker, Mark Lee and Steve Mohn have crossed the Narrows Bridge and signed with the new Kitsap Pumas. 'Now' is the time for new players and fresh talent, and that is just what the Tide were looking for as they sent almost 50 players through drills and scrimmages Saturday April 4th at Curtis High School in University Place.

I spoke with Greg Howes about the tryouts and his new gig as head coach of an outdoor club. See the video below for the interview.

Rory Agu and Tucker Maxwell will play for the Tide again in 2009. (Jenni Conner, GOALTacoma.com)

Tide players Rory Agu, Tucker Maxwell and Jordan Jennings were on hand to help lead the tryouts. Agu will return up top in an effort to keep Tacoma on track with their recent playoff seasons. Maxwell will add talent once again to the TFC defense. Both guys remain in Tacoma out of loyalty to the Tide and the city. Both hope to be leaders on and off the pitch as the Tide seek to keep their nearly 3-year home unbeaten streak intact and defend their 2008 Northwest division title. Jennings has spent time in the Seattle Sounders FC Major League Soccer camp as a third goalkeeper.

Head coach Howes is well aware that the PDL can be a stepping stone to a professional career. It was on his mind during this practice and also when he took the job. “I’ve played in the PDL back in the late 90’s back, when I was at Oregon State.” Howes said in the press release of his announcement as head coach. “That’s how I ended up getting drafted by the Sounders (USL-1). They saw me playing against their PDL team. I played there, and then I was picked up in the old MISL, then the A League, and got called up to play with the US National Team when Bruce Arena was there.”

“Now to be coaching in a league that gave me my start toward the professional ranks, it’s exciting to think that I could be helping guys further their careers and live a dream, like the league did for me.”

This will be the first year, since he graduated from Oregon State, that Greg will not be playing professionally. The transition from player to coach is an intriguing one for Howes.

“It excites me, to be with a group that has the vision that these guys have, and to be able to coach kids, or really, men, who are aspiring to be pros. For me, being a pro player and playing in many different levels, it’s natural to want to coach guys who want to play at a highest level.”

A second callback session of tryouts the next day was scheduled to help Howes and the Tide get a closer look at talent that might be good enough to wear the yellow this summer.

Tide owner and General Manager Mike Jennings looks over the sign-in sheet of players while new Tide head coach Greg Howes watches the players scrimmage. (David Falk, GOALTacoma.com)