Athletic Director Katie Sheahan is pleased to announce Greg Sutton will serve as interim head coach of the Concordia men’s soccer team, replacing Lloyd Barker who ran the Stingers’ program for six seasons.
Barker, the immensely popular coach and local celebrity, has moved into his role as television commentator full-time and will no longer have enough time to commit to the Stingers. He is travelling extensively as an analyst for Fox Soccer News.
Barker is well known to Canadian soccer aficionados. He played professional soccer for 15 years, including 10 seasons as a star player with the Montreal Impact.
Sutton and Barker were teammates with the Impact for several years. An outstanding goalkeeper, Sutton signed with Montreal in 2001. During the 2003 season he helped the Impact become the USL (United Soccer Leagues) squad with the lowest goals allowed total. The same year Sutton won the Goalkeeper of the Year honor for his league-leading 0.73 goals-against average.
Sutton left Montreal after the 2006 season to play in the MLS (Major Soccer League) with Toronto and New York. He returned to the Impact in 2012 when he also joined the Stingers as an assistant coach.
A native of Hamilton, Ont., Sutton graduated from St. Lawrence University with a BA in Education. He was an all-American with the Saints in 1996, 1997 and 1998.
Sutton and the Stingers begin the indoor season this week. The first game is Sunday at 3 p.m. versus the McGill Redmen in the Stinger Dome.
A process is under way to select a new head coach for the men’s soccer program. For information contact John Bower, associate director, student-athlete services, by email - john.bower@concordia.ca .
