Oly Town FC beefs up USL W squad with hiring of Kellyn Green and Eric Rossitch as staff reinforcements

Following through the recent developments in the coaching staff of their women’s squad, Oly Town Artesians FC announced on Wednesday the appointments of the new coaching staff for the women’s team, with former Oly Town FC player Kellyn Green and former Seattle Reign Academy coach Eric Rossitch joining the technical staff as assistant coaches ahead of the upcoming USL W 2024 season on spring.

The grass is Greener on the other side for Green

Green, co-captain of last season’s successful Artesians side that finished unbeaten in the Northwest Division, will continue contributing for Oly Town but this time from the bench as she was named assistant coach for the USL W squad, joining recently hired head coach Ben Willis.

Green, who had an extensive resume in the women’s game playing in various teams before Olympia, such as Colorado Rush, Real Colorado, and Sounders Women, will look forward to making a splash in the USL W as a coach with incoming players that the Artesians are looking to recruit from around the nation and locally.

“I had a long career in the previous version of the league, and it feels like a full circle moment to be able to coach other young women at this level and hopefully help them get one step closer to the professional level.” said Green. “I am so thankful to the club, Chris and Ben for giving me this opportunity with Oly Town. I’m excited to assist [HC Ben Willis] and learn from him as a coach.”

Former Oly Town FC co-captain Kellyn Green is now the latest Oly Town FC USL W assistant coach.

Playing mainly as a defender, Green had a prolific route from college to pro to USL W League. Hailing from Colorado, she played college soccer at South Dakota State where her Jack Rabbit squad became the first Summit League team to win a game in the NCAA Division l tournament after beating University of Colorado, 1-0.

She then turned pro and played for local USL W-league teams Colorado Rush and Real Colorado before moving to Seattle in 2014 to play for Sounders FC Women while spending the summers playing for the Issaquah Gunners in the WPSL. It was through then-head coach Chris Wells that she found her way to Olympia to help the Artesians reach the USL national playoffs in their maiden season.

“It was such a special group of players, staff, and coaches last year that came together to really establish Oly Town as a powerhouse in the W league,” said Green about the 2023 Oly Town USL W League team. “I can’t wait to build on that foundation of team culture and success from last year. This year it will be so important to create an even more competitive and professional training environment for the players. We need to continue to raise the bar.”

In a player spotlight article posted by Oly Town FC last year, she had this advice for young girls in soccer.

“Trainings are so much more important than games, especially at the youth level. You should push yourself to be uncomfortable in training by trying new things, using your weak foot more, checking your shoulder before receiving any pass (even in passing drills), playing faster, using different surfaces of your feet, etc. If you feel comfortable in training than you are not improving. There are always ways to get better.”

Reign Academy coach Eric Rossitch also joins Oly Town

Reign FC Academy coach Eric Rossitch also commits to Oly Town FC as USL W assistant coach.

Oly Town FC has also announced that Eric Rossitch has committed to join the coaching staff as an assistant to the USL W League squad for the Artesians.

Rossitch will bring to Olympia his years of experience in coaching academy-level girls' soccer, along with his experience as a video analyst for the NWSL side OL Reign FC (now rebranded as Seattle Reign FC) in 2022 when they won the Supporters Shield.

The Reign Academy coach has played and coached in local professional amateur clubs in the King County area and has ties to head coach Ben Willis, where they both actively coach some of the state's top female youth preparing for their collegiate and professional careers.

“Women deserve a professionally operated environment that provides a platform for them to continue their development during their college offseason and for those aspiring to eventually reach the pro level,” said Rossitch. “With the rich soccer history in this region, it’s exciting to be a part of a growing league at a pivotal moment in women’s soccer around the globe.”

The Artesians had several Reign Academy players come to Olympia like Alex Schoenstadt (University of Utah), Neeku Purcell (UCLA), Kaitlyn Abrams (Colorado State University), Kelsey Kwon (Northwestern University) and more.

“I’ve been fortunate to work with and learn from true soccer legends throughout my career” said Rossitch on what he can offer new recruits. “I know the level that is required technically, tactically, physically, and psychologically to play at the pro game. I pride myself on being a lifelong student of the game, and I am passionate about creating a safe and elite environment for female athletes.”

Rossitch will enter the USL W League realm for the first time starting this May as the USL is set to release its schedule in mid-February. The new assistant coach will be at the joint pro women’s and path to pro women’s tryout on March 30th and 31, where Oly Town will be hosting an open tryout for women across the globe.