ANDY WAGSTAFF NAMED MICHIGAN STARS FOOTBALL CLUB HEAD COACH

The Michigan Stars Football Club (MSFC) is kicking off its 2016 NPSL season with new head coach Andy Wagstaff. MSFC competes in the league’s Great Lakes West Conference.

“It’s a true honor to have the opportunity to write a chapter in MSFC’s rich history book that is filled with high caliber players with a true love for the game,” said Wagstaff. “Many of these men play at nationally ranked universities, and some go on to play professionally. It’s exciting to watch them grow as individuals and in their athletic careers.”

Michigan Star’s first game is against Detroit City Football Club kicking off at 7 p.m. on May 13 at Wisner Memorial Stadium, former practice field for the 1994 World Cup. The facility has recently undergone significant renovation in an effort to become a centerpiece for the Pontiac community.

“My hope for this season, beyond winning games, is to enhance the lives of youth and adults within the community,” said Wagstaff. “We have plans to entertain our fans on the field through an attractive brand of football (soccer) and off the field by fostering a family-friendly,entertaining atmosphere. That’s what we’re all about.”

Wagstaff is the current head coach for Saginaw Valley State University’s men’s soccer team.  He joined SVSU in April 2015, taking charge of a Cardinals team that went 15-4-1 for the fall 2015 season, made the second round of the NCAA, and was ranked sixth in NCAA Division II. In 2015, he also was named GLIAC Coach of the Year.

Prior to SVSU, he spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Oakland University from 2012 to 2014, helping the Golden Grizzlies win two regular season championships. In 2014, Oakland won both the Horizon League regular season and tournament championships—the second time the Golden Grizzlies advanced to the second round of the College Cup, as Oakland finished the season receiving votes in the final NSCAA/Continental Tire Division I Postseason Rankings.

Prior to his coaching position at OU, he spent two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Michigan. Wagstaff has been an assistant for the Michigan Bucks of the Professional Development League (PDL) and the Oakland University women’s soccer team as well. Prior to coaching in the United States, he served as an Academy Coach for Bolton Wanderers FC from 1998-99 and Liverpool FC Academy between 1999-2002.

Wagstaff has a history of success at the high school and club levels serving as the Director of Coaching and President for the Bloomfield Force Soccer Club. He helped lead the U18 girls to the 2007 USYSA National Championship and earned the title of 2007 NSCAA Midwest Girls Coach of the Year. In 2008, his U19 girls became the first team in Michigan to win back-to-back national championships. He won the 2008 Michigan State Cup with his boys’ U19 team and coached the Lahser High School boys’ varsity team to the MHSAA Division II State Championship in 1999 and runner-up honors in 2002. He has earned the UEFA Pro “A” license.  He also works for U.S. Soccer as a national scout and is an owner and CEO of Liverpool FC Michigan, formerly Bloomfield Force.