On Monday, August 27, Greenville Triumph SC announced John Harkes as their first-ever head coach. I was lucky enough to be able to sit down with John to interview him for Yeah, THAT Soccer Show and Soccer ‘n’ Sweet Tea.

John explained his new role and the possibilities with USL D3, teased a little promotion and relegation (!!!), talked about his family, discussed the 1991 League Cup final, and even addressed a reader question about Clint Dempsey.

The transcript of our interview is below.

Hello John, thanks for taking the time today. I think most of us understand the Head Coach role you are stepping into, but what does the role of “Sporting Director” entail?

Well, I think it encompasses more of a holistic approach in how we are doing things from a soccer standpoint. It is not just about approaching things from the technical standpoint and narrowing down those things. It is more of a broad picture of “Where are we now? How do we get there in three months? Where are we in six months? How are we doing in the next two to three years?”

As we build out what we stand for, our identity within the community, it is about both a short-term and a long-term view. So the Sporting Director has to make sure we get the right people, number one, to be a part of that and build it right. That takes people who have character and unselfish and putting together a talented team that the community can be proud of.

So from the Sporting Director role, I plan to be in discussions with Chris Lewis, our president, on a day-to-day basis about what our culture and identity is as a team and an organization. Obviously having that going forward is important from a branding standpoint as well.

You are not new to coaching. You have had some success in that field, and I am sure you have had many opportunities to get back into this type of role. What was it about this team and organization that made you feel like this was the right opportunity to jump back into the coaching world?

That is a great question, because when considering opportunities, I really had to take time to really evaluate where I was at as a person and what I was doing and wanted to do to grow the game.

That is something I have always taken pride in. I love the game at all levels. It does not matter to me. I could go out and play and coach kids that are 5, 6, and 7 years old. I could coach kids that are 18, 19, and 20. I could coach the U-20 national team. I could do a pro team as well. I love the game at all levels.

I think what it came down to is that I took time to look and say “what can I do to contribute back to the game again?” and “where am I at with my family?” My youngest daughter just went to Elon University as a freshman on the soccer team. My other daughter is at Clemson. So I started ticking off the boxes about being around family and being with a club that has the same vision and the same genuine leadership approach about what they want to do in Greenville.

I had various conversations with Chris Lewis. I met with Joe Erwin who is a great guy and a great visionary. He is a guy who sacrifices a lot for the community and has an empathetic character. So putting it all together and having dinner with those guys, Doug Erwin, and Shannon Wilbanks, when my wife was here with me the conversation started to unfold. We all started getting on the same page about what we wanted to do and how special it can be to build something really huge.

This team can be something that not only appeals to those core soccer fans, but also to those on the outside looking in who may have had their curiosity peaked around the World Cup or who just want to check out this new team. We want to give those folks something to attach and connect themselves to, but also to be entertained.

So that is my job. I have to bring that here.

Tell us about your connection to Greenville and how that contributed to this decision.

As I have been around Clemson to watch my daughter play the last few years, you start to get familiar with the area. There were a few times where we decided to drive over from Clemson to Greenville to check it out with some of the other parents of players on the team. So we would grab a lunch or dinner and you start to realize how great of a little town that Greenville is.

Then you come back months later on another trip and you realize that regardless of the weather or time of year, Greenville is the place to be. So as I started to have conversations with Chris, I began to ask myself “Could this be reality? Is this something that makes sense?” Of course in that process I weighed all the options that were out there including coaching youth national teams, jumping back in at the USL level, and even becoming an assistant coach in MLS, but everything kept circling back to here. It was all about the people.

What has it been like for you since the announcement?

It has been really rewarding. Anything that I take on, whether it be a challenge, endeavor, or position, I hold myself responsible and accountable to get emerged into the community. So when we talked about the announcement, I wanted to stay down here for the week to go through everything and meet as many people and fans as possible. I wanted to check out the youth teams out here.

It has been great and I have enjoyed my time in town. I feel strongly about being in the community. It cannot just be lip service. You have to really get out there and that is the fun part for me. That is why I am excited about growing this thing from scratch and meeting the right people and connecting the game in so many ways.

What is your outlook and expectations of this new division three league? Do you see it as a place for youth development or as a place for pros at the division two level who want more playing time?

It could be little sprinkles of both, but I also think it is going to be a competitive league. There are a lot of clubs and ownership groups around the country that want to come in and get a fiscally-responsible taste of what the soccer landscape is like. This is a great way for them to dive in.

I do anticipate a lot of quality players coming to play in this league. I think that this league is something that will continue to grow and adapt. You never know, this might lead to the conversation that has been rumbling for years about the promotion and relegation situation (!!!) and maybe this is something that the USL takes a look at three or four years from now and they say “Could we have that internally?” Could they be the first league in the US that actually tried to do this? It would make it really exciting because then you have everything to play for. Every game counts. Those discussions, I am sure, have been had in the league office. (!!!)

From a players standpoint, I am looking at some players that are from underserved communities who do not have the educational background and do not see themselves going to college and want to be pros. I also see guys coming out of college that want to get their first taste of what a professional level may be. You will also see players that are already playing in the USL who may want more playing time or a different challenge or environment.

And then there are players that are overseas. I have a list of them already contacting me and they want to be a part of something special in the US and they see the growth here. I think from those perspectives, there are a lot of different avenues to go down in building a roster.

When you are assembling a roster, what goes through your mind? Do you have a system you are looking to find players for or are you looking for the best players and then working the system around them?

I want to get players who, number one, have character and a good attitude because those are things you can control. That is the number one thing.

Certainly, very close to being number one, say 1B, would be soccer intelligence. I want players who can think cognitively and figure out the game and find solutions so I do not have to bark at them all day. That is the way I coach. I coach through encouragement. I want to inspire players to believe in themselves and maybe push them to a point where I raise their expectations of who they are and what they are capable of.

Those are the types of players I want to bring in here. I want guys who are open to learning and who understand that when you start with a new club, there is accountability off the field. That means that you have great character, you are in the community, and you are selfless. That is what we want to grow here organically from the ground up.

In terms of style of play, I have always wanted my teams to be on the front foot. I want us to possess the ball and dictate play. The creative, attacking style of soccer is great, but the responsibility to transition and defend well is critical. Everybody needs to be bought in. You cannot have players who do not want to defend. You have to get after it. There is no time for taking plays off. There will always be special players on the field who can make plays, but we have to make it hard for the other team to pass the ball.

Is there a particular league or game that stands out most to you from your playing career?

Being in the English league as an American player was pretty special. Being the first to play in the Premier League when it started in ’92 was one of the highest achievements for me.

In terms of moments, the first League Cup championship after seventh months as a pro was special. We (Sheffield Wednesday) beat Manchester United at Wembley Stadium. All the players I looked up to and supported as a young player were on the opposite team that I played against that day. Mark Hughes. Steve Bruce, the captain, who cracked my nose with his elbow and I felt good about it. Those type of players, you want to compete against them as a player. I was blessed to be able to do that seven months into my career and walk the steps of Wembley and receive the winners medal. That was pretty special.

Another significant time was helping to grow Major League Soccer back here in ’96. I took a chance and a leap of faith because I always had a chip on my shoulder as a kid in New Jersey who wanted to grow the game in this country. I have continuously tried to do that. Probably those two leagues and winning the title as a captain in ’96 was pretty special in the first year for Major League Soccer.

Rapid fire. Favorite soccer player of all time?

Pelé.

Best kit in soccer?

Liverpool.

Favorite club team?

Liverpool.

Sweet Tea: Yay or nay?

Yay! Across the board.

Alright, last question: Now that Clint Dempsey has retired from his professional playing career, what are the chances we could see two former USMNT greats coaching together here in GVL?

I would say it is 50/50. (!!!) Either he comes or he doesn’t. How does that sound? I would love to have Clint come back here, obviously, with his history with Furman University. What a great story for him, going from Furman and jumping to new heights playing with the New England Revolution. He was able to grow as a player and go overseas. He was such a creative, hard working player that just loved the game and brought a tenacity and fearless energy to the national team that they needed. Congrats to him on a great career.

Clint, if you are reading this, Greenville Triumph is here for you if you need a home and we are always open to discussion.

A huge thank you to John Harkes and the entire Greenville Triumph team for setting up the interview. We’re excited about it, and I know many of our readers are too. Is it March yet?