Shadow Tabs One Coach For Two Jobs Saunders Will Also Run New Youth Program

Stuart Saunders had an ambition as soon as he began playing soccer for the Spokane Shadow five years ago.

A two-part ambition, actually.

He wanted to one day become the Shadow’s head coach. And he hoped to have a role in the development of a youth club in Spokane structured after soccer systems in Europe, where they start developing players at a young age and move them through the program to higher-level teams.

Saunders has gotten both his wishes. He was introduced as the Shadow’s new coach during a news conference Thursday afternoon at Albi Stadium. He also will become the coaching director of the new Spokane Shadow Youth Soccer Club that will begin play this fall.

Saunders, a two-time NAIA All-American player at Whitworth College, replaces Sean Bushey, whose commitments as head coach for Whitworth men’s and women’s teams would not have afforded him the time to oversee the youth program.

“It’s exciting to have both things happen in my first year in charge,” Saunders said. “As a (former) player, I understand the tradition created in Spokane as far as winning and the expectations for the style we play.”

The Shadow also released their 21-match schedule. They open the season May 5 against the Cascade Surge in Salem, Ore., in the first of four U.S. Open Cup qualifying matches.

They will kick off their home schedule May 13 against the Premier League’s Northwest Division champion Willamette Valley Firebirds. The Shadow defeated Willamette in the semifinals of the United Soccer League’s Premier League national championship last summer at Albi before losing the championship game to the Chicago Sockers 3-1.

“We hope to win the league and the national championship. That left a bitter taste in my mouth,” Saunders said, referring to finishing second.

The schedule features a June 10 exhibition date with the A-League Seattle Sounders at Albi.

Saunders, who will turn 34 Tuesday, was Shadow player-assistant coach the past two seasons but says his playing days are over.

Saunders coached the Shadle Park High boys team from 1992 through ‘99. He also was an assistant at Whitworth for the men’s and women’s teams in 1993-‘94 and 1996-99.

The Shadow roster has not been released, but club officials said it is expected to be final by the end of next week. Seventeen players currently are practicing four days a week. They’ve been going since mid-March.

Five under-19 development players will fill roster spots, compared to three in past years. The league is moving toward becoming limited to players under the age of 23, said Shadow general manager Jeff Robbins. Teams presently are allowed eight players older than 23.

Division I college players, including six from Gonzaga, will join the team in early May.

Shadow fans will witness a major facelift to Albi Stadium this summer.

Completion of the $1.2 million renovation project is expected by early September when Greater Spokane League football games begin. That’s the same time the stadium turns 50.

On the stadium’s east side, 552 box seats are being added to match those that were installed on the west side last year. The west side will receive 168 additional box seats for a total of 720 on that side.

A new main entrance will include a canopy roof, a larger concession stand and a covered picnic area to seat 100. There will be a new scoreboard and sound system and the outside of the press box will sport a new look.

A “rim of honor” for area teams and athletes will surround the top of the stadium.

Money for the project was approved by the city and comes from the hotel and motel tax.

Next year, a master plan will be developed for the 115 acres around Albi, including planning for additional fields.