Conlon named Tropics head coach for inaugural USL Premier Development League season

LAKELAND – A Lakeland resident with deep ties to local collegiate and youth soccer has been named as head coach for the Lakeland Tropics, who will kick off their inaugural season in the USL Premier Development League in May.

Eoghan Conlon, a current assistant coach and former player at Florida Southern and the current Technical Director for Lakeland Futbol Club – an organization representing more than 2,500 players making it one of the state's largest youth programs – will be putting together a roster and start training camp soon in anticipation of the team's first game, May 11 at FC Miami City.

“We want to put the Tropics on the map, that's goal number one,” Conlon said. “And the second part of that is we want to create an environment that allows players to train as professionals over the course of the summer months.”

The Tropics home opener will be Saturday night, May 20, at historic Bryant Stadium in Lakeland against the defending southeast division champion Villages SC, which has also been invited to play this year in the prestigious Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament. Tickets, starting at just $5, are available online at the team's website www.lakelandtropics.com, or by calling 863-240-0101.

He said a specific alignment strategy will be easier to form once a roster is in place, but he already has an idea of what he wants to see on the pitch this summer.

“We have to play attractive soccer, attacking soccer. We have to excite the fans, the community, that's going to be really important in making that connection,” Conlon added. “That will be key in developing a connection to the community.”

The Tropics majority owner, Dr. Panos Iakovidis, said he was very excited to have Conlon on board.

“Eoghan brings a tremendous soccer knowledge and passion to the pitch and to our organization,” Dr. Iakovidis noted. “And it is especially exciting given his tremendous support and investment in the community and in youth and college soccer in our area. He really is a perfect fit for helping us grow into the organization on and off the field that we will become.”

Pitor Sliwa, goaltender for the Tropics Major Arena Soccer League team which recently completed its first season, was originally slated to be the Lakeland Tropics Coach. However, with personal commitments in Illinois, where he still lives and is still head coach of the Triton College  soccer program, the sides decided that a stronger local presence would be best for the team moving forward.

Conlon played League of Ireland soccer the Cobh Ramblers FC before starting his collegiate playing career at Martin Methodist College in Tennessee. He transferred to Florida Southern for the 2007 and 2008 seasons as a midfielder. In his first season with the Mocs, Conlon was tied for third on the team with four goals and nine points while starting all but one of their 15 games. He was limited by injury to eight games as a senior and scored one goal while earning a spot on the Sunshine State Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll.

In 2006, he played for the PDL Palm Beach Pumas, and in 2008, he suited up for Rocket City FC (Huntsville, Ala.) in the National Premier Soccer League.

Most recently, he was an assistant coach at George Jenkins High School (2010-11l, Webber International University (2013-14) and currently is in his second stint as an assistant coach at Florida Southern. A native of Carrigaline, Ireland, Conlon got his Bachelor's degree from Florida Southern in Physical Education in 2009. He went on to get a Master's of Education from FSC, which was awarded in 2013, and is currently working towards his Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership.

Team officials indicated an open tryout date has tentatively been set for Sunday, April 2, with training for the season beginning not long after that. More details about the tryout will be released shortly. Some of the younger players from the sister franchise Florida Tropics of the Major Arena Soccer League which just completed its first season at the Lakeland Center are expected to play for Lakeland this summer too.

The proven developmental leader in North American soccer's evolving tiered structure, the Premier Development League features 72 franchises in four conferences throughout the United States and Canada, including 16 clubs that are owned and operated by a professional club, or that hold a partnership with a professional club. The PDL has proven to be an important stepping-stone for top professionals now playing throughout the world, with nearly 70 percent of all MLS selections since 2010 having PDL experience.

The PDL season consists of 14 regular season matches for each team, seven home and seven away, and provides elite collegiate players the opportunity to taste a higher level of competition while maintaining their eligibility. In addition to league play, PDL teams compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as various exhibitions.