Technical Staff
John Doyle | Frank Yallop | Mark Watson | Ian Russell | Jason Batty | Brian Lee | Derek Lawrance
John Doyle
General Manager of Soccer Operations
John Doyle is in his sixth season with the club as General Manager of Soccer Operations.
Doyle and the Earthquakes are coming off the most successful regular-season campaign in club history. The 2012 squad finished 19-6-9 and 66 points, the third-highest total in MLS history. Doyle’s savvy offseason acquisitions, including Honduran national teamers Victor Bernardez and Marvin Chavez and Tottenham Hotspur professional Simon Dawkins, coupled with timely roster moves from the previous three seasons played a key role in securing the club’s second Supporters’ Shield trophy. Chris Wondolowski, Steven Lenhart and Alan Gordon each had career years after joining the Earthquakes through separate trades in 2009 and 2011, respectively
Wins on the field were hard to come by in 2011, but that season laid the foundation for the success of 2012. Along with the acquisitions of Lenhart and Gordon, Doyle signed rookie midfielder Rafael Baca and negotiated the initial loan deal for Tottenham Hotspur professional Simon Dawkins. Each of those four players would play a pivotal role for the Earthquakes during their Shield run in 2012.
The 2010 season was a benchmark for success under Doyle’s leadership. A mixture of transactions played a key role in San Jose’s run to the Eastern Conference Championship. Doyle traded for eventual 2010 MLS Budweiser Golden Boot winner Chris Wondolowski in the 2009 season, signed veteran goalkeeper Jon Busch, acquired a budding star in Sam Cronin and picked up the club’s first Designated Player, former FC Barcelona and Hull City star Geovanni. This confluence of personnel decisions coupled with Yallop’s coaching led to the best season for San Jose since returning to MLS in 2008, a 13-10-7 record. The team earned the third-highest point total in team history with 46. With a bevy of talent on the back line, the Earthquakes set a new franchise mark with 13 shutouts in 2010.
Despite an unfavorable record in 2009, it was Doyle’s trade to acquire Wondolowski from Houston that resonates most from that season. Doyle sent Cam Weaver to Houston in exchange for Wondolowski and a second-round pick in the 2010 SuperDraft on June 9, 2009. Since joining San Jose, Wondolowski has led the league in goals in consecutive years and has amassed 37 total goals, No. 2 all-time in club history.
After a slow start in their 2008 expansion season, Doyle showed his resourcefulness by overhauling the team’s attack during the international transfer window in July, signing English midfielder Darren Huckerby and former AS Roma midfielder Francisco Lima, and trading for midfielder Arturo Alvarez. Those moves jump-started the Quakes attack and helped them put together a nine-game unbeaten streak from July 12-Sept. 27, the longest unbeaten streak in the league in 2008 and the second-longest ever by an expansion team. The team finished the year with more wins (8), points (33) and goals scored (32) than any expansion team this decade.
Doyle has been a part of the Earthquakes’ organization every season since its inception. He and Michael Emenalo were signed as the first players in club history on Dec. 7, 1995, when the team was known as the San Jose Clash. The Fremont, Calif. native played five illustrious seasons as the captain of the Clash/Earthquakes and until 2003 held the team records for games played (132) and minutes played (11,385). A two-time MLS All-Star (1996, 1997), Doyle scored 11 goals and dished out 15 assists in his career. He was the 1996 MLS Defender of the Year and named to the League’s Best XI that year.
Following his retirement at the end of the 2000 season, Doyle served as the television analyst from 2001-03. He was then hired on Jan. 22, 2004, as the assistant coach for Dominic Kinnear. With Doyle as the assistant coach, the Quakes made two consecutive playoff appearances and in 2005 won the Supporters’ Shield. The 2005 team became just the second team in league history to record over 60 points. In 2005, Doyle was the inaugural member of the San Jose Earthquakes Hall of Fame.
The former University of San Francisco All-American enjoyed one of the most decorated playing careers in U.S. soccer history. Doyle first began training with the U.S. national team in 1987 and was a member of the squad until 1994. He played in the 1988 Seoul Olympics and the 1990 World Cup in Italy, as well as the 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Doyle earned 53 caps for the U.S., notching three goals and two assists.
Doyle grew up in nearby Fremont and starred at Washington High School. He resides in Pleasanton with his wife, Kaarin, and their two children, Jay and Kate.
Frank Yallop enters his ninth season with the Earthquakes in 2013, a clip that includes stints from 2001-03 and 2008-present.
Yallop engineered the club’s most successful regular season in club history in 2012, finishing with a 19-6-9 record for 66 points and the club’s second Supporters’ Shield trophy. That total was the third-highest in MLS history and established a new club record. Yallop’s tactics also helped produce a league-best 72 goals, the most prolific offensive output in MLS since 2001. Thanks to adept use of his substitutions, nine of those goals came in second-half stoppage time, an MLS record. His coaching helped produce six MLS All-Stars, two MLS Best XI selections and a Volkswagen MLS Most Valuable Player award for Chris Wondolowski.
The Quakes finished with 38 points and an 8-12-14 record in 2011. Wondolowski led the league in goals for a second straight year, tallying 16 times.
Yallop’s squad entered the 2010 season flying under the radar, but they transformed into MLS Cup contenders. At season’s end, Bobby Convey garnered Comeback Player of the Year and Wondolowski won the MLS Budweiser Golden Boot and was a finalist for the Volkswagen MVP award. In the MLS Cup Playoffs, the Earthquakes reached the Eastern Conference Championship before bowing out against the Colorado Rapids, 1-0.
In 2009, the Earthquakes finished with 30 points and a 7-14-9 record. Despite their struggles, Yallop rallied the squad to close the season 4-4-5 over their final 13 games. Most notably during that 13-game stretch was a dominant 4-0 win against playoff-bound Seattle Sounders FC.
Under Yallop’s guidance, the Quakes made a successful return to MLS in 2008 as the top expansion team of the last decade at that date. The Quakes had more wins (8) and points (33), scored more goals (32), and allowed fewer goals (38), than any expansion team since 1998. The team also posted a nine-game unbeaten streak from July 12-Sept. 27, which was the longest in the league in 2008. At the conclusion of the season, Yallop was invited to coach MLS’ Generation adidas team for a week of games in London, England.
Yallop’s current tenure as head coach of the Earthquakes is his second stint with the club. He also coached the Quakes from 2001-03 before serving as the head coach of the Canadian men’s national team from 2004-06 and the Los Angeles Galaxy from 2006-07.
During his previous three seasons as head coach of the Earthquakes, Yallop won two MLS Cup championships while posting a 41-25-18 record, the best mark in MLS during that stretch. Yallop was named MLS Coach of the Year in 2001 after taking over a team that posted a league-worst 7-17-8 record in 2000 and leading them to the MLS Cup championship in 2001. The former Canadian international defender is the club’s all-time leader in wins (77). In addition, Yallop coached the MLS All-Stars to a 3-2 win over the U.S. Men’s National Team in 2002.
With Yallop in charge between 2001-03, the Earthquakes broke numerous club records, including fewest goals allowed in a season (29) and most consecutive wins at home (12). Many players flourished under Yallop’s tutelage, as the Quakes had 13 players named All-Stars in Yallop’s three seasons and had five members selected to the MLS Best XI postseason team. Seven Earthquakes players also earned their first call-up to the senior men’s national team for training camps during Yallop’s first three seasons in San Jose.
Yallop began his coaching career in 1999 with the U.S. Project 40 team. He was an assistant coach to Tim Hankinson for the Tampa Bay Mutiny in 1999, and then went to work with D.C. United in 2000 as the top assistant to then-head coach Thomas Rongen.
Prior to coaching, Yallop spent almost 20 years playing in England and in the U.S. as a defender. He signed his first professional contract at the age of 16 with Ipswich Town FC in England, and in 1992, helped the club win the English First Division. Yallop was twice named the team’s MVP, and scored game-winning goals in back-to-back games in 1993 to lead Ipswich to Premiership victories over Tottenham Hotspur and legendary side Manchester United.
Yallop also played in MLS as a top defender for the Tampa Bay Mutiny from 1996-98, where he earned the Mutiny’s Defender of the Year award in 1997 and 1998. In 1996, Yallop helped the Mutiny to a league-best regular-season record of 20-12, and in 1998, he scored the only goal of his MLS career. Yallop has a United States Soccer Federation “A” coaching license and an FA Preliminary Badge.
Mark Watson
Assistant Coach
Mark Watson returns to San Jose for his fourth season as an Earthquakes assistant coach after joining the staff in 2010. The Canadian native of Vancouver, British Columbia, assists with daily training regimens, pregame tactical preparations and scouting efforts.
Watson contributed to a memorable 2010 season, as San Jose reached the Conference Championship in the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2003 and finished with the No. 3 mark all-time in franchise history for points with 46.
Previously, Watson served as both a player and assistant coach for the Charleston Battery of the United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL-1) from 2006-09. During that same time, he was an assistant coach in the Canadian national team system from 2004-09, aiding with the U-20, U-23 and senior squads. He was on the staff of the U-23 team for Olympic qualifying in 2004 and 2008, and also worked with the U-20 team in qualifying for the 2009 FIFA Under-20 World Cup. The former defender and captain appeared in 78 matches for the Canadian national team, scoring three goals. Watson helped Canada win the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
During his playing career, Watson spent time in England with Watford from 1993-95, and came to MLS in its inaugural season in 1996, splitting time between the Columbus Crew and the New England Revolution. Watson played with the Seattle Sounders briefly in 1997, and then went abroad to Sweden from 1997-98 to play with Osters IF. He played in the Second Division in England with Oxford and Oldham before returning to the United States in 2001 for a season with D.C. United.
Ian Russell
Assistant Coach
Ian Russell returns to San Jose for his sixth season as one of the top young assistant coaches in Major League Soccer. The former Earthquakes player works closely with Yallop in the preparation of daily training sessions, while also helping to coordinate San Jose’s international and collegiate scouting efforts.
Russell has contributed to several milestones since 2008. The Earthquakes posted what was the best expansion effort in league history over the previous decade in 2008. He also helped San Jose reach the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2010 and 2012, the latter of which came after an historic regular season that included a 19-6-9 record for 66 points and the club’s second Supporters’ Shield trophy.
A native of Seattle, Wash., Russell spent six seasons playing for the San Jose Earthquakes from 2000-05, and seven total years in MLS. After being selected in the fifth round of the 2000 MLS SuperDraft, Russell appeared in 131 games for the Quakes. A lightning-quick midfielder, he scored five goals and notched 20 assists, aiding the Quakes to their two MLS Cups in 2001 and 2003. Russell’s best season came in 2001 when he started all 26 league matches, producing three goals and nine assists.
Russell also played three games in 2007 with the Los Angeles Galaxy under Frank Yallop.
Prior to his MLS career, Russell starred at the University of Washington as a three-time (1995-97) All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation First Team honoree. He moved on to play two seasons for the Seattle Sounders, then of the A-League. Russell holds a U.S. Soccer Federation “A” coaching license.
Jason Batty
Goalkeeper Coach
Jason Batty returns for his sixth season as the goalkeeper coach for the San Jose Earthquakes. The New Zealand native works day-to-day with the club’s goalkeepers and plays a key role in opponent scouting.
Batty has been instrumental in the development of San Jose goalkeepers since taking over in 2008. In 2012, veteran goalkeeper Jon Busch was selected to the MLS All-Star team and in 2011, David Bingham was named to U.S. Men’s National Team U-23 training camp in Germany.
In 2010, Batty oversaw a goalkeeping crew that posted a franchise record 13 clean sheets during the regular season. Keeper Jon Busch provided a steadying presence in goal for the Earthquakes all season long, especially down the stretch of the regular season after Joe Cannon suffered a season-ending fractured ankle.
In 2008, Joe Cannon had another outstanding season. Cannon ended the year as one of six players in MLS to play every minute of every game, recording a career-high 2,700 minutes.
Prior to joining the Earthquakes, Batty was the Director of Goalkeeping for Texas Premier SC, while serving as a coach for a number of soccer academies and camps. He previously served as an assistant coach and the goalkeeper coach for Dartmouth College.
As a player, he competed professionally for 14 seasons in England, Singapore, New Zealand and the United States. Watson earned 55 caps for New Zealand’s national team.
He and his wife, Jess, have two children.
Brian Lee
Head Athletic Trainer
Lee began his career as the head athletic trainer and strength and conditioning coach of the Arizona Thunder (World Indoor Soccer League) from 1998-00. He held the same position with the Arizona Heatwave (USL W-League) from 2000-04. He also spent six years from 2002-08 as the head strength and conditioning coach and assistant athletic trainer for the Arizona Rattlers (Arena Football League). His diverse background in rehabilitation and performance training of athletes found him accepting a position as the director of sports performance with Spooner Physical Therapy in Scottsdale, Arizona from 2004-2006, and as the director of sports performance at CATZ (Competitive Athlete Training Zone) in Chandler/Scottsdale, Arizona from 2006-11.
In April of 2011, Lee joined Chivas USA as their head athletic trainer and remained there until his move to San Jose in January of 2013.
Lee is a Certified Athletic Trainer and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of California, Davis and a Masters of Science in Sports Health Care at AT Still University in Mesa, Arizona.
Derek Lawrance
Assistant Athletic Trainer
Derek Lawrance enters his first season with the Earthquakes as the assistant athletic trainer after joining the club in January. He brings five years of professional experience to San Jose, including a recent stint with Chivas USA.
Lawrance began his career with an internship at D.C. United before accepting a position as assistant athletic trainer at Elon University in North Carolina. He worked with the school’s men’s soccer and softball from 2008-11, eventually moving back to Major League Soccer with a position as the assistant athletic trainer for Chivas USA in 2012.
Prior to his professional experience, Lawrance graduated with a degree in athletic training from James Madison University in 2006. He went on to complete his master’s in exercise science at Georgia Southern University in 2008. Lawrance was also a collegiate soccer player at Emory and Henry College from 2001-03.