Concordia University Director of Recreation and Athletics Katie Sheahan is pleased to announce Lloyd Barker has accepted the position of head coach of the Stingers men's soccer team.
“This is an exciting time for Concordia men’s soccer and I strongly believe we have found a very dynamic and talented individual to lead our team,” says Sheahan. “Lloyd will bring great passion, experience and a proven ability to develop young talent to our program."
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. During his time with the Impact, he won two league championships (1994, 2004) and three regular season titles (1995, 1996, 1997). In 1996 he was the club’s leading scorer. He was named a first team all-star on two occasions and was presented the Giuseppe Saputo Trophy as the Impact’s MVP in 1995.
Barker also played with the Ottawa Intrepid and the Toronto Lynx. He was crowned Jamaican national champion in 1994 with Harbour View FC. He also has 24 games with the Jamaican national soccer team to his credit.
The former forward/defender has an extensive résumé that attests to his commitment to developing young soccer talent. He currently serves as Director of Youth Development for the Montreal Impact and as the Technical Director of the LaSalle Minor Soccer Association. He is also the head coach of the Lac St. Louis Lakers AAA under-14 boys team and head coach of the Quebec Selects under-15 boys provincial team.
Other coaching experience includes work at the professional level as an assistant coach with both the Impact (2005) and the Toronto Lynx (2000).
Barker has also done work as a motivational speaker and as a soccer commentator with both CFCF-12 and 940 radio.
The new coach will hold training camp in August at Concordia Stadium. Barker and the Stingers open the Quebec university soccer season on the road Sept. 14 and return home to host the Laval Rouge et Or on Sept. 16 at 2 p.m.
