Bob Montgomery was the original Red Bulls Academy director. (Photo courtesy of Bob Montgomery)

The LIJSL Academy Thursday announced Bob Montgomery as director of Academy East.

An East End resident and Long Island soccer icon, Montgomery is set to take on the role of Academy East director this spring. The former Adelphi University men’s head coach led the Panthers to seven NCAA Division I tournaments over 29 years.

At the youth developmental level, Montgomery was the founding Academy director for the Red Bulls. The Academy saw many players graduate to the club’s first team. Montgomery has been a member of U.S. Soccer’s Under-14 national team program, as well as the boy’s USYS East Region ODP head c

“Player development is always enhanced through opportunities for talented youngsters to train, play, and compete with and against each other,” Montgomery said in a statement. “The Academy East program will provide this experience by adding a location to eastern Long Island, which reduces travel difficulties for families from Eastern Suffolk.”

The LIJSL Academy East is geared to bring elite-level training and development to players that reside in Eastern Long Island at a nominal cost. The program kicked off this spring of 2021 with a set of I.D. / Tryout Sessions.

“I’m extremely pleased to have Bob Montgomery become the Academy East Director,” LIJSL Academy Director Ronon Wiseman said. “The coaches and players have access to a coach with vast knowledge and experience, we are fortunate to have him join this program.”

Tryout / I.D. Sessions for the Academy East kick off Sunday, April 25 and continue May 2.

Academy East tryout / I.D. Sessions are FREE.

For more information, and to register for tryouts: CLICK HERE

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.