SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that Paul Holocher, current Earthquakes Development Academy U-18 and U-16 head coach, will take over as director of player development for the Earthquakes Youth Club while continuing his coaching responsibilities with the Quakes Academy teams. Academy staff members Mario Fernandez and Eder Quintanilla will assist Holocher in running the program. Ian Russell is stepping down as the technical director of the youth club.

“I am looking forward to working with the youth club and especially organizing the club in a way that will improve the player development,” said Holocher. “For me, successful youth soccer development goes well beyond simply winning a soccer game. Our goal is to come together as a team of coaches who can look at the game in a similar way and teach the game with consistency.”

Holocher joined the Earthquakes on July 27, 2015 as head coach of the U18 squad after previously serving in the same capacity for the Cal Poly Mustangs from 2006-13. Prior to joining Cal Poly, Holocher was the head coach at UC Santa Cruz for seven seasons from 1999-2005. While at UC Santa Cruz, he was also the Director of Coaching for the Santa Cruz County Youth Soccer League (SCCYSL), which had more than 5,000 youth players.

Russell, who recently became head coach of the Earthquakes’ USL affiliate Reno 1868 FC, ran the youth club for the past seven years. During this time, Russell helped grow the program to include over 75 teams.