RE-UNITED: TROY LESESNE ADDS FAMILIAR FACE GAVIN GLINTON TO TECHNICAL STAFF ALONG WITH PETER DAVIS

By Chris Walker | Photo: Adam Nish

New Mexico United announced some changes to the 2020 edition of its Technical Staff. Mike Graczyk made a departure from the team. Graczyk was both the First Assistant Coach and Director of Goalkeeping.

Seek & Strike Collective was able to reach out to Graczyk for a statement and he had this to say, “[I] had an unbelievable year. One of the best coaching experiences of my life. Incredibly thankful to Troy, Peter and the rest of the staff for the opportunity and extremely excited for what’s next.”

Zach Prince will be filling Graczyk’s vacated position as the new First Assistant Coach for United. Prince will retain his role as Director of the High-Performance Youth Program.

Peter Davis, who spent the 2019 season as a volunteer goalkeeping coach at the University of Central Florida, brings about 10 years of both collegiate and youth experience into his new position at United as Director of Goalkeeping. Davis’ protege at UCF was none other than American Athletic Conference Goalkeeper of the Year, Yannik Oettl.

Gavin Glinton joins Technical Director & Head Coach Troy Lesesne for the second time in his career in quite the same fashion. It’s a new shield and a new role for the two, yet it’s a chance for them to work together again. This time, Glinton joins Lesesne as Second Assistant Coach and Assistant-Director of High-Performance Youth Program.

Gavin Glinton grew up in Livermore, California and attended Livermore High School. He played four years of college soccer at Bradley University, where he was a four-time All-American. He scored 53 career goals at Bradley, including 15 in 1998 and 2000, was named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference First-team all four seasons (becoming the first player in league history to earn first-team honors four times), and was named his team’s offensive MVP all four years. He was inducted into the Bradley University Hall of Fame in 2012 and the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame in 2014.

Gavin Glinton was drafted by Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy in 2002 before transferring to the Dallas Burn in 2003. Glinton took a break from playing in 2004 when he took up a brief assistant coaching stint at his alma mater, Bradley University. In 2006, Glinton joined the USL First Division team Charleston Battery. Glinton led the team with 13 goals and was elected “Offensive MVP” by the fans. Glinton got the call up to Galaxy in 2007 and was selected in the 2007 MLS Expansion Draft by his former coach, Frank Yallop, who had left Galaxy to coach with the San Jose Earthquakes.

A year prior to Glinton’s arrival at Battery, Troy Lesesne had signed on with Battery in his first professional contract. Lesesne had played part of the 2005 season for lower-division club, Wilmington Hammerheads. Lesesne and Glinton were teammates during the 2006 season. Lesesne made 23 appearances to Glinton’s 26 that season and they helped their team progress to the United Soccer League Championship semifinal, where they would eventually lose to the Rochester Raging Rhinos.

Glinton has Lamar Hunt Open Cup experience as a player. In 2002, his Galaxy team was a runner up to winners, Columbus Crew. Days before, that same Galaxy team won the MLS Cup against New England Revolution.

Lesesne said the following in a statement released by the team:

“I’m very excited about the addition of two talented coaches to our first-team staff. Gavin and Peter both possess a tremendous work ethic and are highly motivated to help improve our club in 2020. They bring a wealth of knowledge to our staff from the different experiences they’ve had honing their craft as coaches.”

“Both coaches will also be involved in our High-Performance Program, which is an important factor in our process of continuing to build out more opportunities for youth players in New Mexico with our club.”

Fans can get their first look at the 2020 New Mexico United Roster and Technical Staff as they host United Soccer League Western Conference foe Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Saturday, February 8 at UNM Soccer Complex at noon.