Jason Perry Joins Butler Men’s Soccer Staff

INDIANAPOLIS, IND. -- Former professional player Jason Perry, who spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach at Oakland University, has joined the men’s soccer staff at Butler University.  He will be active in facets of team operations, including recruiting, training, game management, scouting, travel and summer camps.

A former standout player and 2003 graduate of Oakland, Perry helped the Golden Grizzlies to a pair of Summit League titles and a trip to the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship during his three seasons as a coach for his alma mater.  He worked with the team’s forwards and defensive players, and both groups turned in positive results.  In 2009 Oakland led the Summit League with just 13 goals allowed, and the Golden Grizzlies tied for the league lead in shutouts in 2010.  Offensively, Oakland led the Summit League in shots in 2010.

In addition to his duties with the Golden Grizzlies, Perry also served as a head coach for the Bloomfield Force FC in the Michigan State Premier Soccer Program.  He further served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Development Academy.

“I’m very excited to have Jason, or as we call him, JP, on our staff.  JP brings a tremendous amount of experience, insight and passion to our program,” said Butler head coach Paul Snape.  “I first met JP when he was a freshman at Oakland in 1999.  We played together for two years at Oakland and then five years with the hugely successful Michigan Bucks Team (USL Premier Development League).  I witnessed first-hand JP’s incredible transformation from a young, athletic, raw defender into an absolute warrior with excellent tactical awareness and great communication skills.”

“I’ve always said that being a good player doesn’t necessarily make you a good coach, but it certainly gives you an advantage,” added the Butler coach.  “While we all know that JP was a very talented player, it was his enthusiasm as a coach, his ability to clearly transmit his ideas and opinions to his team, and his desire to make his players better that really made me want to bring JP to Butler.”

Perry joined the staff at Oakland following a two-year stint as Executive Director, Director of Coach and Player Development with the Flower City Soccer League in Rochester, N.Y.  In his position with the league, he managed an average of 500-600 inner city youth dispersed over 48 teams with 35-45 coaches.  He organized indoor and outdoor tournaments and participated in training sessions.  He also assisted in the development of the Flower City Academy, a program where local college students and former professionals volunteer an academic tutoring service for FCSL participants.

The newest Butler coach had a professional career with three different teams, 2004-07.  He was selected in the fifth round of the 2004 Major League Soccer Super Draft by the Los Angeles Galaxy, and he spent 2004-05 with the team.  He then played one season with the Syracuse Salty Dogs of the United Soccer League First Division, before joining the Rochester Raging Rhinos of the USL-1, where he spent two seasons.  During his time at Rochester, he was a two-time recipient of the Iacovangelo Community Service Award Player of the Year and a three-time USL-1 Team of the Week selection.

“Just as impressive as being drafted in the MLS was his five-year stint in the USL A-League with the Rochester Rhinos and Syracuse Salty Dogs.  JP established himself in a league full of experienced international players and former MLS players, which doesn’t happen unless you possess a tremendous amount of ability, determination and dedication,” noted Snape.  “JP has played at every level of soccer in the United States, from youth recreation to MLS, and he will be able to share these wonderful experiences with our players.”

Perry was a three-time All-Summit League performer at Oakland.  He earned All-Region honors and was named a third team All-American in 2003.  A three-year team captain, Perry became the first Oakland player to be named Summit League Defensive Player of the Year as a senior, and he later became the first Oakland player to be drafted by a professional soccer organization.  He earned Oakland’s Lepley Senior Scholar Athlete Award and received his B.A. degree in communications.