LESLIE “TIGER” FITZPATRICK MOVES TO MLS OPPORTUNITY
Excerpts of the following story are courtesy of George Brown athletics from May 26, 2023 https://athletics.georgebrown.ca/sports/wsoc/2023-24/releases/farewell_tiger.
The Huskies will be saying goodbye to the chief of the women’s soccer program, Leslie Fitzpatrick. “Tiger” Fitzpatrick is making a name for himself in the United States where he is now attached to one of the top Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs.
The former St Anthony’s College, Columbia University, and Trinidad & Tobago senior national team midfielder was appointed Head of Talent Identification & Recruitment for the New York Red Bulls, a role that consists of finding young talent for the professional club. Fitzpatrick came into George Brown with a wealth of experience, having spent years with Toronto Skillz FC of League 1, holding the title of General Manager/Technical Director for all five seasons and Head Coach for some years as well. He also played professionally with Real Salt Lake and Columbus Crew of the MLS.
His new appointment comes on the heels of a season that saw Fitzpatrick lead his Huskies team to a 4-4-2 record in the outdoor season with one player being selected as an OCAA 1st Team All-Star, while the OCAA Indoor Championship tournament saw a 2-0-1 result and 4th place finish after a penalty shootout, with one player getting the nod as a Tournament All-Star.
“Les brought so much experience and passion to our Women’s Soccer team, he will definitely be missed in a program that is on a big upswing thanks to his contributions and commitment to building from the ground up,” said Melanie Gerin-Lajoie, Manager of Athletics & Recreation. “He was presented with an incredible opportunity to keep doing what he loves – young player skill and people development – on one of the biggest North American stages with the New York Red Bulls, and we wish him all the best in his next chapter.”
The 2018 OCAA Coach of the Year leaves the Huskies team in a better place than he found it, with a .666 win percentage in his five years with the team. In the same time frame the offensive output also improved, seeing a mark of 1.6 goals per game. Fitzpatrick also coached a total of six league All-Stars in his time with the Huskies.
“The honor and privilege to have led this program is a blessing that I can never do justice to with words. Being the head coach of the GBC Huskies women’s program allowed me to blend my passion for soccer and impacting young lives,” said Fitzpatrick. “The desire to continue building is strong, but the opportunity I’ve been presented with is one that I couldn’t pass up at this time. Hopefully, the foundations laid will be the catalyst for even greater success, but rest assured I’ll be still there rooting for, assisting, and pushing the program forward a bit more in the background.”
Before landing his latest position, Fitzpatrick split duties between the Huskies and the pros as he was also among coaches involved in the MLS Advance Program 2022, an invitation-only professional development series for diverse coaches and technical candidates.
Fitzpatrick signed off saying, “I am excited to be embarking on this challenge and to continue to positively impact lives through a game that has provided me with so much joy. Much Love! – Tiger.”
The Huskies women’s soccer team have begun their search for their next head coach. For more information on the role and to apply please visit the George Brown Careers page.
Sources: https://athletics.georgebrown.ca/sports/wsoc/2023-24/releases/farewell_tiger
https://medium.com/@ericfriedlander1/red-bulls-academy-notebook-tiger-fitzpatrick-starts-new-role-as-chief-academy-scout-37e112216196
https://trinidadexpress.com/sports/world/tiger-secures-ny-red-bulls-role/article_4e24b45a-be0d-11ed-86f3-57a60997305e.html