Press Release

New Capitals Head Coach

The Baton Rouge Capitals - members of the United Soccer League’s Premier Development League - are proud to announce the hiring of their new head coach Helio D’Anna for the upcoming 2008 season.

“Coach L” as everyone calls him, is the current head coach of Lincoln Memorial University’s men’s and women’s soccer programs, both of which have been flourishing under his leadership the past four years. He has been named an NSCAA/Adidas Regional Coach of the Year twice and was Conference Coach of the Year four times. His overall collegiate coaching record is 226-112-22.

Being a native of Brazil, he brings a different style of soccer to the field and is also able to parlay those connections into bringing in young Brazilian talent to play in the U.S.

His men’s team – the Railsplitters - went to the Division II Championship Game this year losing at the end of the game, 1-0.  They ended the season ranked number 2 in the NCAA DII. Under his leadership the LMU men’s program has achieved:

NCAA Championship Appearances 2007
NCAA Final Four Appearances 2006, 2007
NCAA Tournament Appearances 2006, 2007
South Atlantic Conference Regular Season Champions 2007 (Co-Champs)
SAC Tournament Champions 2007
GSC Regular Season Champions 2004
GSC Tournament Champions 2005

His women’s team has also been doing extremely well, and he brings to Baton Rouge a very impressive resume’.  He will direct the Capitals for their second season, which begins play on May 10 & 11 at Olympia Stadium (Perkins & Kenilworth) and whose regular season culminates on July 18. 

Coach L has already begun recruiting players for the Baton Rouge team.  This, along with attracting the best players in Louisiana, should result in a very strong run at making the playoffs this season – whose division includes last year’s North American Champions the Laredo Heat.  

Upcoming dates for tryouts will posted on the Capitals official web site:www.brcapitals.com,
which should be in middle to late March.

“Many people don’t know this, but the last two players to win the Hermann Trophy (soccer’s equivalent to the Heisman Trophy) were from Louisiana: Jason Gary – who is from outside of Baton Rouge and went on to play at University of Maryland – now with the Columbus Crew, and Joseph Lapira – who is from Lake Charles and went on to play at Notre Dame,” said James Vilas, the Capitals Owner. 

Lapira –who played last season with the Capitals - was recently drafted in the MLS super draft last month.

“We have a lot of talented players here in south Louisiana and having the Capitals allows these youth men to play in a professional environment while being exposed to some of the best players in the country that will soon be the superstars of tomorrow,” said Vilas. 

This new relationship with this caliber of coach will allow many of our local younger players who are searching for recruitment opportunities, to work with someone who has a decade of experience in the collegiate arena.  Obviously, this will allow for a great expansion of opportunities to our local soccer-playing youth.

For more information, contact Coach Helio D'Anna at hdanna@lmunet.edu