COLUMBUS – Columbus Crew 2, Columbus Crew’s developmental Second Team, today announced two assistant coach hires on Laurent Courtois’ staff: Kobie Johnson [pronounced: CO-be-aye] and Phil Boerger. Crew 2 also announced four additions to its support staff: Performance Coach Ahmad Salamah, Head Athletic Therapist Sara Kusner, Manager of Crew 2 Team Operations Nathaniel Horton and Equipment Manager Mike Peters.
“We are excited to have Kobie and Phil round-out the Crew 2 coaching staff,” said Columbus Crew 2 General Manager Corey Wray. “Kobie’s previous extensive experience in player development and his understanding of our Club’s philosophy make him a great fit for Crew 2. Having worked with Phil before, I know the dedication and passion he will bring to our Club.”
Continued Wray: “I would also like to welcome Ahmad, Sara, Nathaniel and Mike to our team. In order for Crew 2 to be successful, we need a support staff made up of individuals who are knowledgeable in their fields and committed to our Club. We are thrilled to see the staff come together as the team gets its preseason underway.”
Johnson joined the Club last year after spending a decade as a head coach for the Red Bulls Academy from 2011-2021 for the Under-12 to the U-23 levels. His previous experience also includes serving as an assistant coach for Seton Hall University, as well as serving as the head coach for the New Jersey Stallions Academy.
Boerger joins Crew 2 after serving as the goalkeeper coach for Toronto FC II from 2016-2021. Prior to joining Toronto FC, he served as an assistant coach at the collegiate level; including stints at Florida Gulf Coast University, Georgia Southern University, and Syracuse University.
Salamah previously worked as the Assistant Sports Performance Coach for Virginia Commonwealth University from 2021-2022. Before that, he was the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Saint Joseph’s University from 2017-2021.
Kusner is set to take on the role of Head Athletic Therapist for Crew 2 after serving as the Head Athletic Trainer for the Crew Academy. Kusner began her role for Crew Academy in 2020 after working as an intern for the Club’s First Team during the 2019 season.
Horton joins Crew 2 after working with Atlanta United FC from 2016-2021, where he served as the Head of Academy Operations. Prior to that, he worked as an intern in the Player Relations and Competition Department of Major League Soccer during the 2016 season.
Peters is set to serve as the Equipment Manager. His previous experience includes working as the equipment manager for Hartford Athletic of the USL Championship in 2019, and as the soccer operations coordinator for the New England Revolution during the 2018 season.
The Club expects to announce inaugural season roster additions shortly in the lead-up to the campaign. A season schedule and ticketing information for Crew 2 matches are to be announced.
Columbus Crew 2 is set to be one of 21 clubs participating in Major League Soccer’s recently announced MLS NEXT Pro. As part of the pathway to the Crew’s First Team, Crew 2 will join the new league as part of the inaugural 2022 season and will play its regular-season matches at Historic Crew Stadium.
