Bob Lilley
Encyclopedia
Robert "Bob" Lilley is an American
former soccer player and head coach. He has managed the Hershey Wildcats
, Montreal Impact
, Vancouver Whitecaps, Detroit Ignition
, and Rochester Rhinos.
where he was team captain. In 1989, Lilley signed with the Orlando Lions
of the American Soccer League
. In 1990, the ASL merged with the Western Soccer Alliance to form the American Professional Soccer League
. Lilley spent the 1990 season with the Lions in the new APSL. In the fall of 1990, he joined the Hershey Impact
of the National Professional Soccer League. In 1992 he moved to the Harrisburg Heat
. In 1994, he spent the summer indoor season with the Pittsburgh Stingers
in the Continental Indoor Soccer League
. Following the 1996-1997 NPSL season, Lilley retired from playing and entered the coaching ranks.
in 1997, experiencing much success with the club as being the team's one and only head coach. He led Hershey to the playoffs each year, as well winning A-League coach of the year in his rookie season. He was able to guide Hershey to one Northern Conference and three Atlantic Division titles as well as the 2001 A-League National Championship final, which they lost 2-0 to the Rochester Raging Rhinos
. After the 2001 season, the team was folded by the ownership, having decided that the team would not be successful financially.
On January 23, 2002 he was appointed the new head coach of the Montreal Impact
signing on a two year contract. His first season with the Impact, the team finished first in the Northeast Division, and also claimed the Voyageurs Cup
. In 2003 he led Montreal to the Eastern Conference title and, the Voyageurs Cup for the second time in a row. And for the second time in his career he wins the A-League Coach of the Year, becoming the only the second two-time Coach of the Year recipient in league history, following Alan Hinton
in 1994, and 1995.
After the 2003 season he left the Impact for personal reasons, eventually signing a two-year deal with the Vancouver Whitecaps on November 1, 2004 becoming the team's first American coach, and the first coach never to have previously played for Vancouver.
He led Vancouver to the playoffs in 2004 but were eliminated in the quarterfinals, but were able to claim the Cascadia Cup
. In 2006 he led the Whitecaps to their first North American championship since 1979, when they defeated the Raging Rhinos 3-0 at PAETEC Park
becoming the first team in USL First Division history to win the title on the road.
Lilley was sacked as Vancouver Whitecaps head coach on September 18, 2007 two days after the Whitecaps were eliminated by the Portland Timbers
in the first round of the United Soccer Leagues First Division playoffs. He was hired by the Detroit Ignition
of the Major Indoor Soccer League
as their assistant coach afterwards and promoted to head coach on November 6, 2007.
On November 16, 2009 the Rochester Rhinos announced the hiring of Lilley as the club's new head coach for the 2010 season.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former soccer player and head coach. He has managed the Hershey Wildcats
Hershey Wildcats
Hershey Wildcats were a professional soccer team, based in Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA, that played in the USL A-League between 1997 and 2001. The team was owned by Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company...
, Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact was a Canadian professional soccer club based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1992, the team played in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid until the 2011 season. The owner Joey Saputo now operates the MLS team Montreal ImpactThe...
, Vancouver Whitecaps, Detroit Ignition
Detroit Ignition
The Detroit Ignition is a dormant American indoor soccer team that has played three seasons, most recently 2008-09.In April 2006, Greg Bibb, president of Hantz Group Sports and Entertainment, introduced the teams as a new Major Indoor Soccer League expansion team. They played at the Compuware...
, and Rochester Rhinos.
Playing career
Before turning pro Lilley played at George Mason UniversityGeorge Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
where he was team captain. In 1989, Lilley signed with the Orlando Lions
Orlando Lions
The Orlando Lions was an American soccer team from Orlando, Florida which existed from 1985 to 1996. Over the years, the Lions competed at both the amateur and professional levels including some seasons as an independent team....
of the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
. In 1990, the ASL merged with the Western Soccer Alliance to form the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
. Lilley spent the 1990 season with the Lions in the new APSL. In the fall of 1990, he joined the Hershey Impact
Hershey Impact
The Hershey Impact was an indoor soccer club based in Hershey, Pennsylvania that competed in the National Professional Soccer League.The team played its home games at the Hersheypark Arena for all of its 3 seasons.-Staff & Ownership:...
of the National Professional Soccer League. In 1992 he moved to the Harrisburg Heat
Harrisburg Heat
The Harrisburg Heat was a professional indoor soccer team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team was part of the National Professional Soccer League, which later became the Major Indoor Soccer League, and has been defunct since 2003. The Harrisburg Heat was first formed during the 1991-92...
. In 1994, he spent the summer indoor season with the Pittsburgh Stingers
Pittsburgh Stingers
Pittsburgh Stingers were a professional indoor soccer team in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League from 1994–1995. The two season that the Stingers played they avg. attendance was 3,091 per game....
in the Continental Indoor Soccer League
Continental Indoor Soccer League
The Continental Indoor Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.-History:When the Major Soccer League folded in the summer of 1992, two of its former teams joined a group of hockey and basketball arena owners led by Ron Weinstein who wanted to create a league to...
. Following the 1996-1997 NPSL season, Lilley retired from playing and entered the coaching ranks.
Management career
His first coaching experience was with the Hershey WildcatsHershey Wildcats
Hershey Wildcats were a professional soccer team, based in Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA, that played in the USL A-League between 1997 and 2001. The team was owned by Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company...
in 1997, experiencing much success with the club as being the team's one and only head coach. He led Hershey to the playoffs each year, as well winning A-League coach of the year in his rookie season. He was able to guide Hershey to one Northern Conference and three Atlantic Division titles as well as the 2001 A-League National Championship final, which they lost 2-0 to the Rochester Raging Rhinos
Rochester Raging Rhinos
The Rochester Rhinos are an American professional soccer team based in Rochester, New York, United States. Founded in 1996, the team plays in the National Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, having self-relegated from the USSF D2 Pro League...
. After the 2001 season, the team was folded by the ownership, having decided that the team would not be successful financially.
On January 23, 2002 he was appointed the new head coach of the Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact was a Canadian professional soccer club based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1992, the team played in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid until the 2011 season. The owner Joey Saputo now operates the MLS team Montreal ImpactThe...
signing on a two year contract. His first season with the Impact, the team finished first in the Northeast Division, and also claimed the Voyageurs Cup
Voyageurs Cup
The Voyageurs Cup is the only trophy for top-level professional soccer in Canada. From 2002 to 2007, the cup was awarded annually to the Canadian team finishing with the best record in the USL First Division, from regular season matches against other Canadian teams in the league, and from 2008 the...
. In 2003 he led Montreal to the Eastern Conference title and, the Voyageurs Cup for the second time in a row. And for the second time in his career he wins the A-League Coach of the Year, becoming the only the second two-time Coach of the Year recipient in league history, following Alan Hinton
Alan Hinton
Alan Thomas Hinton is an English former footballer who most notably played for Derby County and Nottingham Forest in the 1960s...
in 1994, and 1995.
After the 2003 season he left the Impact for personal reasons, eventually signing a two-year deal with the Vancouver Whitecaps on November 1, 2004 becoming the team's first American coach, and the first coach never to have previously played for Vancouver.
He led Vancouver to the playoffs in 2004 but were eliminated in the quarterfinals, but were able to claim the Cascadia Cup
Cascadia Cup
The Cascadia Cup is the name of the trophy created in 2004 by supporters of the Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, which is awarded each season to the best soccer team in the Pacific Northwest. The Timbers, Sounders, and Whitecaps have roots dating to the days of the...
. In 2006 he led the Whitecaps to their first North American championship since 1979, when they defeated the Raging Rhinos 3-0 at PAETEC Park
PAETEC Park
Sahlen's Stadium, formerly PAETEC Park and Marina Auto Stadium, is a soccer-specific stadium in Rochester, New York, USA. It is home to the Rochester Rhinos soccer team of the USL Pro league and the Western New York Flash of Women's Professional Soccer. It is also home of the Major League Lacrosse ...
becoming the first team in USL First Division history to win the title on the road.
Lilley was sacked as Vancouver Whitecaps head coach on September 18, 2007 two days after the Whitecaps were eliminated by the Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers (USL)
Portland Timbers was an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 2001, the team played in various leagues at the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, including the USL First Division and the USSF Division 2 Professional League, until the end of...
in the first round of the United Soccer Leagues First Division playoffs. He was hired by the Detroit Ignition
Detroit Ignition
The Detroit Ignition is a dormant American indoor soccer team that has played three seasons, most recently 2008-09.In April 2006, Greg Bibb, president of Hantz Group Sports and Entertainment, introduced the teams as a new Major Indoor Soccer League expansion team. They played at the Compuware...
of the Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Indoor Soccer League (2001–2008)
The Major Indoor Soccer League was the top professional indoor soccer league in the USA. The league was a member of both the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA. The MISL had replaced the NPSL which folded in 2001. According to MISL.net, the league has ceased operations as of May 31, 2008...
as their assistant coach afterwards and promoted to head coach on November 6, 2007.
On November 16, 2009 the Rochester Rhinos announced the hiring of Lilley as the club's new head coach for the 2010 season.
Managerial stats
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
| Hershey Wildcats Hershey Wildcats Hershey Wildcats were a professional soccer team, based in Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA, that played in the USL A-League between 1997 and 2001. The team was owned by Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company... |
 |
April 29, 1997 | September 8, 2001 | 140 | 86 | 46 | 6 | 61.42 |
| Montreal Impact Montreal Impact Montreal Impact was a Canadian professional soccer club based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1992, the team played in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid until the 2011 season. The owner Joey Saputo now operates the MLS team Montreal ImpactThe... |
 |
April 26, 2002 | September 7, 2003 | 56 | 32 | 15 | 9 | 57.14 |
| Vancouver Whitecaps | |
April 24, 2005 | September 18, 2007 | 84 | 33 | 20 | 31 | 39.28 |
| Detroit Ignition Detroit Ignition The Detroit Ignition is a dormant American indoor soccer team that has played three seasons, most recently 2008-09.In April 2006, Greg Bibb, president of Hantz Group Sports and Entertainment, introduced the teams as a new Major Indoor Soccer League expansion team. They played at the Compuware... |
|
November 6, 2007 | April, 2008 | 30 | 22 | 8 | ||
| 73.33 | ||||||||
| Rochester Rhinos | |
November 16, 2009 | TBA | 30 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 53.33 |