Heaps’ staff takes shape

The New England Revolution today announced the additions of three members to new head coach Jay Heaps’ staff. Jay Miller joins Heaps as his primary assistant, while former Revolution defender Nick Downing was named strength and conditioning coach and Scott Emmens was hired as the team’s equipment manager.

Miller fills the role of a veteran assistant coach after Heaps talked of wanting to bring experience to his staff. Miller has worked as a coach and player evaluator for over 30 years at various levels including as head coach for various U.S. Youth National Team programs, where he coached the likes of former Revs great Taylor Twellman, and as a head coach at the collegiate level with University of Tampa and University of South Florida. He also served as U.S. Soccer’s National Coaching Coordinator from 1994-2002.

“I’m very excited to work with Jay to build a season-long, tactical approach that improves us each week,” Heaps said. “I knew I wanted to bring a highly experienced, tactically-minded coach, and in Jay, he’s a coach who’s coached at – and succeeded at – every level of the game with a wide range of players. I believe he’ll provide a solid foundation for our team, both on the practice field and in games.”

In 2008, Miller began working with the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Soccer as a sports envoy for the game of soccer, traveling to Morocco (2008), Bolivia (2009) and most recently, Thailand (2010). Miller continues to serve as a national staff instructor for U.S. Soccer’s coaching schools.

Downing, who joins the team as strength and conditioning coach, was a Revs defender from 2001-2003 after being drafted as a Project-40 player out of Maryland in the second round, 21st overall, of the 2001 MLS SuperDraft. Downing also played for the Portland Timbers and Charleston Battery, both of the A-League, before retiring in 2004. He then became certified as a personal trainer from the National Strength & Conditioning Association, plus additional certifications from USA Track & Field, Functional Movement Systems and Kettlebell Concepts, and started a career as a strength and conditioning coach in 2005.

“Nick is the perfect person to be our first strength and conditioning coach,” Heaps said. “With his combination of high-level playing experience and his fitness expertise, he knows what soccer players go through physically and what they need to do to succeed on the field throughout the long season. His approach and his work with our players off the field will be vital to our success this year.”

Downing’s brief career with the Revs saw him feature in 17 league games, including a brief three minute appearance in goal in an emergency situation that saw the defender forced to make a save. He also started one of the matches in the Revs run to the 2001 U.S. Open Cup and made his final Revolution appearance in an August 27th, 2003, 2-1 overtime loss to the Metrostars in the 2003 US Open Cup Quarterfinals.

Downing was a member of the U.S. Youth National Team programs, captaining the U.S. U-17 team at the 1997 FIFA U-17 World Championship. That U.S. U-17 team was coached by Miller and featured former Revolution players Taylor Twellman, Mashall Leonard and Kyle Singer.

Emmens, the Revolution’s new equipment manager, spent the 2010 season with the Chicago Red Stars, formerly of Women’s Professional Soccer, as the team’s equipment and practice facility manager before the team ceased operations. The Connecticut native has a degree in sports management from Endicott College.

The Revolution is still seeking a second assistant coach.

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