Kevin Anderson: “As a young boy in this community I grew up watching the legends of the past playing at Giants Stadium while the Cosmos banner hung in my room.” (Photo courtesy of the Cosmos)
NEW YORK – The Cosmos announced Tuesday that Columbia University men’s soccer coach Kevin Anderson has been named head coach of the Cosmos B for the National Premier Soccer League.
“We would like to welcome Kevin to our club and the Cosmos B organization,” Cosmos head coach and sporting director Giovanni Savarese said in a statement. “His extensive experience will help the team further expand its reach, as we continue to pursue yet another successful NPSL Season.”
A five-year veteran of Major League Soccer, Anderson was the seventh overall pick in the 1999 MLS Supplemental Draft. Selected by the Colorado Rapids, he was then traded in 2000 to the Tampa Bay Mutiny. After spending time on loan, he finished his career with the Minnesota Thunder in 2003.
Anderson began his coaching career in 1993 as an assistant with Columbia. He later served as assistant coach for Southern Connecticut State, until returning to Columbia in 2004, also spending time as an interim head coach in 2006. Shortly after, he moved to Boston College as an assistant coach until later returning once again to Columbia in 2009, this time as head coach.
“I’m honored to become a part of the most storied franchise in North American Soccer history. I want to first thank Rocco B. Commisso for his tremendous leadership and for taking on this enormous responsibility and Giovanni Savarese for entrusting me with the responsibility of developing and preparing players for the first team,” Anderson said in a press release.
“As a young boy in this community I grew up watching the legends of the past playing at Giants Stadium while the Cosmos banner hung in my room. I understand the responsibility that comes with this position and will work diligently and with integrity to serve this organization, its players, our community and fans.”
The seasoned manager looks to improve upon Cosmos B 2016’s overall record of 12 wins, two draws and three defeats. The team fell short in the semifinals of the NPSL Playoffs Northeast Region last year. Anderson will strive to bring back a title, last won by the Cosmos in 2015. Cosmos B will start the upcoming season in May as the NPSL season gets underway.
