Technical Staff Announced for Inaugural Combine
The Midwest Pro Soccer Combine is pleased to announce its Technical Staff for the inaugural combine. Each team at the combine will be coached by one of Michigan’s elite coaches, all of whom are current NCAA Division 1 Coaches. Leading the combine teams will be Damon Rensing (Michigan State University), Eric Pogue (Oakland University), Chad Wiseman (Western Michigan University) and Nick Deren (University of Detroit). One of the region’s top goalkeeper coaches, Jeff Shuk, has also been secured to work with the combine’s #1’s.
Combine Director Eric Rudland added, “The addition of Nick, Eric, Chad, Damon and Jeff brings another level of prestige to our event and ensures that each player attending will have a first class football experience. The players will benefit greatly from our Technical Staff’s expertise. Between these five coaches they have pushed numerous players into the USL, NASL & MLS.”
Damon Rensing
Rensing has served as the Men’s Head Coach at Michigan State University for 8 years, guiding the Spartans to six NCAA tournament campaigns, including a run to the Elite Eight in 2013 and 2014. Along with his team’s success at Michigan State, Rensing has groomed eight players who have been drafted by MLS teams including John Minagawa-Webster (2005), McMahen (2006), Kevin Reiman (2008), Rauwshan McKenzie (2008), DeMartin (2009), Cope (2013), Alashe (2015) and Carroll (2016).
Eric Pogue
Pogue has served as the Men’s Head Coach at Oakland University for 8 years, leading the Golden Grizzlies to three NCAA tournament berths and three conference tournament championships. He has picked up three conference coach of the Year Awards for his efforts. After playing in the MLS himself, Pogue has mentored two of the nation’s elite professional goalkeepers Steve Clark (Columbus Crew) and Mitch Hildebrandt (reigning USL GK of the Year - FC Cincinnati).
Chad Wiseman
Wiseman has served as the Men’s Head Coach at Western Michigan University for 4 years, pushing the Broncos into the nation’s top 25 for the first time in program history. In 2016 the Broncos advanced to MAC Tournament Play for the 4th straight season under Wiseman and in 2015 he collected Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year honors in just his third season at WMU.
Nick Deren
Deren has served as the Men’s Head Coach at the University of Detroit for 7 years, which has seen him capture the Horizon League regular season championship and advance to Horizon League Tournament two times. Along with the program’s success Deren developed Adam Bedell who was the program’s first player to ever be drafted in the MLS Draft and was signed by the Columbus Crew.
Jeff Shuk
Shuk is one of the region's top Goalkeeper coaches, currently serving as a Goalkeeper instructor for the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and the Michigan Youth Soccer Association. With over 20 years of coaching under his belt he has mentored top level goalkeers at the youth, amaetuer and professional levels. Along with his goalkeeper experience he has served as the University of Michigan Men’s Club Coach and the coach of the former Detroit Arsenal (NSPL).
About The Midwest Pro Soccer Combine
The inaugural Midwest Pro Soccer Combine will take place on Monday, December 19th & Tuesday, December 20th at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac, Michigan. The combine will accept 60 talented players aspiring to sign a professional contract for the 2017 MLS, NASL and/or USL season. Along with scouts and intermediaries from North America a handful of international representatives will be in attendance as well.