The Des Moines Menace welcomes back Neathan Gibson, who returns to the organization’s coaching staff today.

The South Africa native will be in a familiar role, assisting head coach Laurie Calloway with the Menace’s Premier Development League team and coaching in the Menace Youth Academy.

Calloway and Gibson worked together in 2002. It was a benchmark year for the organization, highlighted by the start of the Menace Academy and a regular-season championship by the PDL team.

“I’m really excited,” Gibson said. “I’m even more excited the second time around. It’s coming full circle. I feel honored the Menace invited me back for the opportunity to work with Laurie. There’s a lot of trust and loyalty between us.”

Gibson assisted Calloway as a player/coach, and tallied 11 goals and five assists for the undefeated Menace. It was the final season of a playing career that included stops with professional teams in Finland, Japan, Malaysia and Sweden. 

In the year before joining the Menace, Gibson played for the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer before leading the Rochester Rhinos to the 2001 A-League championship.

Gibson and Calloway parted ways after the 2002 season, when Gibson accepted a head coaching job with the West Michigan Edge (PDL), and Calloway became head coach of the Syracuse Salty Dogs (USL-1).

After a year with the Edge, Gibson worked as the director of coaching and player development for the Grand Valley Soccer Club, based in Kentwood, Mich. With Gibson leading the way, the club experienced great growth.

“Neathan knows what it takes,” Calloway said. “He’s built a club from seven teams and 100 kids to 70 teams and 1,000 kids. He knows the youth side, and he brings a tremendous amount of experience back to the Menace on the PDL side. It’s a win-win situation all around.”

Gibson comes to the Menace from Ferris State University (Big Rapids, Mich.). He directed the women’s team for four seasons, starting as the interim head coach in 2006, and being appointed as head coach in January 2007.

A graduate of Lynn University (Fla.), Gibson has earned United States Soccer Federation (USSF) “A” and “B” coaching licenses. He and his wife, Denise, are planning a move to West Des Moines, with their sons, Jack (9) and Nash (6).

“It is great to welcome back Neathan and his family,” said Menace general manager Todd Meiners. “Neathan brings with him a vast knowledge of the youth and professional sides of the sport. As we continue to grow our club, Neathan will be tremendous resource in guiding our vision for the future.”

2010 SCHEDULE

Bold = home match played at 7:30 p.m. at Valley Stadium

** = exhibition match

# = U.S. Open Cup qualifying match

Saturday, May 8        vs. Drake University Bulldogs **   

Wednesday, May 12   at Springfield Demize#

Saturday, May 15      vs. Rochester Thunder #                

Saturday, May 19       at Kansas City Brass #                      

Saturday, May 22      vs. St. Louis Lions #                        

Saturday, May 29      vs. Kansas City Brass

Friday, June 4             at Real Colorado Foxes

Saturday, June 5        at Real Colorado Foxes

Saturday, June 12     vs. Real Colorado Foxes

Sunday, June 13         at St. Louis Lions

Friday, June 18           at Thunder Bay Chill

Saturday, June 19      at Thunder Bay Chill

Thursday, June 24      at Rochester Thunder

Saturday, June 26     vs. Springfield Demize

Saturday, July 3        vs. Thunder Bay Chill

Saturday, July 10      vs. St. Paul Twin Stars **

Saturday, July 17      vs. Kansas City Brass

Saturday, July 24      vs. St. Louis Lions