James Galanis:  “I am confident that NJ ODP will continue to provide players with the opportunity to showcase their skills, improve their game and be identified for the U.S. youth national teams.” (Photo courtesy of New Jersey Youth Soccer)

EAST WINDSOR, N.J. ― New Jersey Youth Soccer has announced that James Galanis will join its staff as the technical director of the New Jersey Olympic Development Program.

Galanis’ appointment gives New Jersey ODP a proven leader who is recognized as one of the best youth development coaches in the country.

“I am very excited with the opportunity to serve as technical director for New Jersey ODP,” Galanis said in a statement. “New Jersey has always produced exceptional soccer players. My goal is to further enhance the current Olympic Development Program and impact the next generation of talented soccer players. There is a great tradition in New Jersey, and I am confident that NJ ODP will continue to provide players with the opportunity to showcase their skills, improve their game and be identified for the U.S. youth national teams.”

Galanis has served as an assistant coach to United States Soccer Federation youth teams and directs the New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania National Training Centers in New Jersey, which identify the best players in the country and prepare them for participation within the youth national team system.

A former head coach of the Atlanta Beat of Women’s Professional Soccer, Galanis also played professional soccer for 11 years in Australia. He also has worked with 2015 and 2016 FIFA women’s player of the year Carli Lloyd as her personal coach the past 15 years.

New Jersey Youth Soccer has set the dates for its ODP tryouts, with four sessions planned.

The first weekend of tryouts will be held on July 29 (Wall, N.J.) and July 30 (Deptford, N.J.), with a second weekend planned for August 12 (Nutley, N.J.) and August 13 (Bordentown, N.J.). Once registered, players are encouraged to attend as many tryout sessions as they can.

To register for ODP Tryouts, visit: http://www.njyslive.com/ODP

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.