Retan Named Spokane Sounders Boys DOC

Thursday, January 26, 2023

The Spokane Sounders are excited to announce that Jesse Retan, a member of the club dating back to his U13 days, is now taking the reigns as the Boys Director of Coaching for the club, overseeing the development of the coaching staff and players on the boys side of the club.

Technical Director Abbas Faridnia made the announcement that Retan, who has been with the club as a coach since 2015 following his debut with the Shadow Men’s First Team the previous summer, will serve in the role moving forward. The program, which just concluded with the ECNL Florida showcase that saw the graduating B2004/05 squad sweep its three-game series, will begin preparing for the next campaign with tryouts coming up in February and May.

“We are ecstatic that Jesse will be overseeing our boys U13 and older teams,” said Faridnia. “Jesse grew up playing for the club, and now will be leading the next generation of players from Spokane. His passion, teaching and belief in style of play exemplifies the club he grew up with. Jesse lives at the field and his heart is for the players in the area to not only develop as soccer players but as individuals in our community on and off the pitch as well.”

Retan has been a staple in the coaching staff for the Spokane Sounders across all levels of play, coaching several teams each season and helping develop players for the next level upon graduation. Retan’s impact has been vast across all teams whether directly as head coach or his constant dedication in helping all teams throughout the club.

“I am proud and honored to fulfill the role of Boys coaching director. I take great pride in representing the club I grew up in,” said Retan. “I am looking forward to having the opportunity to further impact players, teams, coaches and the community through the beautiful game! As a director I am motivated to guide the direction of the boys side. We want to be on the forefront of the modern game and progressive in our methodology, curriculum and teaching.

“The game is ever-changing, and we want to be present in that change, offering as many solutions as we can to our players in their development.

“We want the boys program to educate players through their development pathway as well as offer the best possible opportunity to play beyond club. We want to teach life lessons through sport. We want to encourage a love for the game and create lifelong fans of soccer.”

As a youth player, Retan earned the opportunity to work alongside other top players around the nation from other programs affiliated with professional teams long before the era of today’s established MLS academies as the Shadow were members of the USL Super Y-League. He was a USL SYL Regional Pool player from 2004-2006 and earned a spot in the USL SYL National Pool in 2005.

Meanwhile, he was also finding success with the Blackhawks in Cheney, earning All-League honors while helping lead them to a 3A district title in 2006, narrowly missing out on the state tournament due to a shootout loss.

In college he was a standout midfielder at NWAC perennial powerhouse Peninsula College and later Whitworth. Both programs would find success while he was there. Peninsula won their division in 2007 during a season in which he was an All-Star selection after leading the league in assists.

Retan has been a key member of the Shadow Men’s First Team program since it was resurrected in 2014 as members of the Evergreen Premier League (EPLWA) and continued through the launch of the National Premier Soccer League team several years later. Under his leadership, the Shadow won the first two EPLWA championships and later the NPSL Northwest Division. He also coached the reserve squad in the EPLWA for two seasons.

In addition to coaching numerous ECNL boys teams, Retan has coached for Spokane Sounders in the Girls Academy and has also served as an EPD coach for Washington Youth Soccer.

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