COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — The Colorado Rapids announced today the hiring of Wolde Harris and Chris Little as assistant coaches ahead of the 2021 MLS season.
“We’re delighted to strengthen our technical staff with coaches of Wolde’s and Chris’ quality,” said Pádraig Smith, Colorado Rapids Executive VP & General Manager. “Wolde’s experience and familiarity with our club, both as a former Rapids player and as a member of the Switchbacks’ coaching staff, will be a great asset for Robin [Fraser] and our technical staff. We’re equally excited to welcome Chris to the club, as he brings a wealth of experience in developing young players, which is a key focus for us as we continue to build toward a model of sustainable success.”
“We are very excited to have hired Wolde,” said Robin Fraser, Colorado Rapids Head Coach. “He’s had vast experience playing professionally here and abroad, as well as an illustrious international career. He is the rare find of an attacker who has an excellent overall view of the game. Our attacking players will benefit greatly from Wolde being here.
Harris joins the club after serving as assistant coach for Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in the USL Championship since 2015, including a brief spell as interim head coach in 2019. The Kingston, Jamaica, native holds a U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) ‘A’ License and started his coaching career in 2010 with Kingston College in Jamaica. The next year he became an assistant coach at his alma mater, Clemson University, which inducted him into its Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017. Harris enjoyed a 14-year professional career, predominantly in MLS, which began in 1996 with the APSL’s Colorado Foxes and included four seasons with the Rapids, along with stints at the New England Revolution and Sporting Kansas City. On the international level, Harris made 28 appearances for the Jamaica National Team, scoring seven goals for the ‘Reggae Boyz.’
“We are extremely pleased to have been able to hire Chris,” added Fraser. “He is one of the premier minds in terms of developing players in the country. Given the model of how we want to move forward as an organization, Chris is an ideal fit for us.”
Little joins the Rapids’ technical staff with a focus on developing and integrating young players from the Rapids Academy into the First Team. The Edinburgh, Scotland, native previously served as head coach of the Tacoma Defiance of the USL Championship, as well as Director of Coaching for the Seattle Sounders FC Academy. Prior to joining Seattle, Little, who holds a USSF ‘A’ License, was head coach of Elon University, and also served as Director of Coaching and Player Development for the North Carolina Youth Soccer Association.
Harris and Little join current Rapids assistant coach Neil Emblen, assistant and goalkeeper coach Chris Sharpe and first team analyst Jase Kim on Fraser’s coaching staff.
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — The Colorado Rapids announced today the hiring of Wolde Harris and Chris Little as assistant coaches ahead of the 2021 MLS season.
“We’re delighted to strengthen our technical staff with coaches of Wolde’s and Chris’ quality,” said Pádraig Smith, Colorado Rapids Executive VP & General Manager. “Wolde’s experience and familiarity with our club, both as a former Rapids player and as a member of the Switchbacks’ coaching staff, will be a great asset for Robin [Fraser] and our technical staff. We’re equally excited to welcome Chris to the club, as he brings a wealth of experience in developing young players, which is a key focus for us as we continue to build toward a model of sustainable success.”
“We are very excited to have hired Wolde,” said Robin Fraser, Colorado Rapids Head Coach. “He’s had vast experience playing professionally here and abroad, as well as an illustrious international career. He is the rare find of an attacker who has an excellent overall view of the game. Our attacking players will benefit greatly from Wolde being here.
Harris joins the club after serving as assistant coach for Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in the USL Championship since 2015, including a brief spell as interim head coach in 2019. The Kingston, Jamaica, native holds a U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) ‘A’ License and started his coaching career in 2010 with Kingston College in Jamaica. The next year he became an assistant coach at his alma mater, Clemson University, which inducted him into its Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017. Harris enjoyed a 14-year professional career, predominantly in MLS, which began in 1996 with the APSL’s Colorado Foxes and included four seasons with the Rapids, along with stints at the New England Revolution and Sporting Kansas City. On the international level, Harris made 28 appearances for the Jamaica National Team, scoring seven goals for the ‘Reggae Boyz.’
“We are extremely pleased to have been able to hire Chris,” added Fraser. “He is one of the premier minds in terms of developing players in the country. Given the model of how we want to move forward as an organization, Chris is an ideal fit for us.”
Little joins the Rapids’ technical staff with a focus on developing and integrating young players from the Rapids Academy into the First Team. The Edinburgh, Scotland, native previously served as head coach of the Tacoma Defiance of the USL Championship, as well as Director of Coaching for the Seattle Sounders FC Academy. Prior to joining Seattle, Little, who holds a USSF ‘A’ License, was head coach of Elon University, and also served as Director of Coaching and Player Development for the North Carolina Youth Soccer Association.
Harris and Little join current Rapids assistant coach Neil Emblen, assistant and goalkeeper coach Chris Sharpe and first team analyst Jase Kim on Fraser’s coaching staff.
