University of North Carolina Athletics
UNC Helped Shape 2016 MLS SuperDraft
January 20, 2016 | Men's Soccer
It's very likely that no college soccer program played a larger role in shaping the 2016 MLS SuperDraft than the Tar Heels from North Carolina.
When the Chicago Fire took All-America defender Jonathan Campbell with the 12th pick in the first round inside Baltimore's Convention Center, that selection marked the third player from the 2015 Tar Heel squad drafted in the first dozen picks - the first time three players were taken from the same collegiate program that early in a SuperDraft since 2011.
Midfielder Omar Holness was the first Carolina player to come off the board, going No. 5 to Real Salt Lake as a Generation Adidas selection.
Just five spots later, defender Jordan McCrary was grabbed with the 10th pick by the New England Revolution. That gave UNC a pair of top 10 players drafted in the same season for the first time since 1996 when Eddie Pope (D.C. United) and Temoc Suarez (Dallas) were takes second and sixth, respectively.
RSL general manager Craig Waibel told MLSsoccer.com that they got the player they wanted all along in Holness and added this about the rangy Jamaican midfielder.
“He's a center-channel player, there's no question. In our mind he belongs somewhere in the middle – probably not as much of a [No.] 10 as he is an 8 or a 6, holding or box-to-box,” said Waibel. “It's a matter of his maturity and how we coach him, and the roles we put him in and where does he succeed the best over the next year, two years, three years.”
The New England Revolution's staff set their focus on addressing a need at outside back and did just that with a proven commodity in McCrary, who has experience playing both right back and left back in his career.
“…one thing [the technical staff] was saying is that they're looking for someone to be able to come in and make a big impact and I'm there,” McCrary said. “I want to be able to be that impact and be able to contribute to this team as much as I can.”
The Chicago Fire were arguably the busiest team on draft day last Thursday, and when the dust settled they had three new players on the roster, including Campbell, who in 2015 became the first UNC player in history to earn first team All-America honors for his work on the field and in the classroom.
“We think Jonathan is a good player who could become a really good player,” said Fire general manager Nelson Rodriguez. “We loved our interview with him and he's another one who understands the importance of hard work, comes from a great program at North Carolina. We believe Jonathan has the opportunity to contribute right away, but at the same time learn from Pauno and the center backs that we bring in."
The impact the Tar Heel program had on the draft wasn't exclusive to the players announced at the podium by MLS commissioner Don Garber, but also from the six former UNC players that were on the draft floor in either a coaching or technical staff role.
Logan Pause, a 12-year veteran with the Chicago Fire, has served as Vice President of the club since his retirement at the end of the 2014 campaign. The All-ACC player helped lead North Carolina to the 2001 National Championship and the 2000 ACC title.
The Tar Heel connection helped bring Campbell to the Windy City, while earlier this week the Fire also signed another former UNC player in defender Michael Harrington, a nine-year MLS veteran that was originally selected third overall in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft by Sporting Kansas City, formerly known as the Wizards.
Columbus Crew SC Sporting Director and head coach Gregg Berhalter led his team to the 2015 MLS Cup final in just his second season in charge. The former head man with Hammarby in Sweden and an assistant with the LA Galaxy enjoyed a stellar 15-year playing career both in MLS and abroad. The two-time UNC All-America most notably represented the United States in both the 2002 and 2006 World Cup in the backline with fellow Tar Heel Eddie Pope.
Three former Tar Heels have enjoyed long and successful careers as assistant coaches in MLS. Marco Ferruzzi has served in that capacity with FC Dallas going all the way back to 2004 with a stint as interim head coach in 2008. After an All-ACC career in Chapel Hill, Ferruzzi had a 10-year playing career before entering the MLS coaching ranks.
FC Dallas's back line has been anchored in recent years by former Tar Heel greats Matt Hedges and Zach Loyd.
Chad Ashton has been an assistant with D.C. United since 2007. The former All-America and three-time All-ACC honoree finished his collegiate career in 1989 as the Tar Heels' all-time leader in assists with 43, a record he still holds to this day. After helping Carolina to the 1987 NCAA Final Four, Ashton went on to have an 11-year professional playing career.
MLS veteran and former Tar Heel standout Michael Farfan spent the 2015 season in the nation's capital with D.C. United.
Sporting KC's success has been tied to assistant coach Kerry Zavagnin going back to 2009. He has won an MLS Cup as a player (2000) and coach (2013) with the Kansas City franchise. The All-ACC standout played for 13 years in the pro ranks including earning 21 caps with the full National Team before his professional coaching career started.
Chris Leitch is the technical director for the San Jose Earthquakes. He previously served as the academy director for three years before being promoted in 2015. The All-ACC performer led his Tar Heel teams to the 2000 ACC title, and captained the 2001 NCAA title team. After being drafted by Columbus in 2002, he played 10 years in MLS with Columbus, New York and San Jose.
Since 2000, North Carolina has had 44 players either selected by MLS or signed home grown contracts.
