TAMPA, Fla. - The United Soccer League has appointed Perry Van der Beck, the long-time player, coach, administrator and former United States National Team member, Vice President of Competition & Operations.

In his new role, Van der Beck will be responsible for the day-to-day League operations, competition, schedule, discipline and refereeing.

"We are very pleased to welcome Perry to the USL family," said Jake Edwards, President of the USL. "Perry brings a broad-based soccer background as player, coach and administrator that will serve him well with our players and teams. He inherits a strong staff that continues to bring the level of competition and operations within the USL to new heights."

Van der Beck began his playing career with the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the original North American Soccer League and ended it with the Tampa Bay Terror of the indoor National Professional Soccer League. He also earned 23 caps, scoring two goals, with the U.S. National Team from 1979-85. In 1985, Van der Beck was selected the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year. He played for various indoor and outdoor teams until 1998, when he retired as a player and became an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Mutiny of Major League Soccer.

He has twice served as an interim head coach, first with the Mutiny in 2001 and later with the Rowdies in 2010. Upon leaving the Mutiny, Van der Beck replaced Peter Vermes as the Super Y-League Olympic Development Program National Camp Technical Director. He also spent two seasons as a staff coach with the adidas Elite Soccer Program, which identifies the nation's best high school players and coaches them in weeklong training programs.

In recent years Van der Beck has served in a variety of management roles for the Rowdies organization.

Additionally, Van der Beck served on the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors from 1986-93.

"I am excited at the opportunity here at the USL and transitioning to working on the league level," said Van der Beck. "I look forward to working closely with coaches and administrators at all of our teams to continue to present the USL in a sophisticated and professional manner."

David Wagner, who joined the USL in 2010, served as the League's Vice President of Competition & Operations since 2015. He is leaving his position with the League effective June 24 to join the NBA D-League.

"I want to thank everyone for the opportunity I have had to work with at the USL and our teams," said Wagner. "The USL will always be where I got my start and I would not be where I am today without it. I began as an intern in 2008 and the USL took a chance and hired me after I finished school in 2010. The organization has given me so much and it shows that if you work hard here you will create opportunities for yourself."

"David's contributions in our quest to be the most sophisticated, best organized and most competitive league under MLS have been felt on and off the playing field," said Edwards. "We wish David well and know he will succeed and do great things for the NBA and NBA D-League."

FOLLOW THE USL

Every game of the 2016 USL season can be seen live, free and in HD through the league's official Match Center (www.uslsoccer.com/match-center), with updates from across the league also available via Twitter, Facebook, Vine and Instagram.