Technical Staff Announced for 2017 Midwest Pro Soccer Combine
The Midwest Pro Soccer Combine is pleased to announce its Technical Staff for 2017. Each team at the combine will be coached by one of Michigan’s elite coaches. Leading the combine teams will be Chad Wiseman (Western Michigan University), Nick Deren (University of Detroit), Andy Wagstaff (Saginaw Valley State University) and Ben Pirmann (Michigan State University). 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, “Having such a quality technical staff in Nick, Andy, Chad, Ben 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.”
Chad Wiseman
Wiseman has served as the Men’s Head Coach at Western Michigan University for 5 years, coming off the most successful season in school history. The Broncos won the first MAC title for the program in addition to advancing to the Sweet 16 in the 2017 College Cup, finishing the season at 17-4-1. Wiseman and staff were recognized by the United Soccer Coaches as the Great Lakes Region staff of the year.
Nick Deren
Deren has served as the Men’s Head Coach at the University of Detroit for 8 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.
Andy Wagstaff
Wagstaff serves as head coach of Saginaw Valley State University where he’s lead the Cardinals for the past three seasons. During his first season, SVSU posted an overall record of 15-4-1 overall and 12-2-0 in the GLIAC, enough to earn him GLIAC Coach of the Year (an award he would retain in 2016). In addition to his role at SVSU, Wagstaff is also President & Owner of Liverpool International Academy Michigan.
Ben Pirmann
Pirmann has spent the last 7 seasons as an assistant with Michigan State who advanced to the Elite 8 in the 2017 College Cup. Pirmann who spends his summers at the helm for Detroit City FC, was a Spartan midfielder himself from 2004-2008, earning two Big Ten titles as a player and a third as a coach in 2012, making him a part of all three MSU Big Ten title teams.
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 in addition to spending his summers with AFC Ann Arbor’s goalkeepers. 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).