Former N.C. State soccer player Scott Schweitzer will be announced today as the first coach of the Carolina RailHawks, managing partner Chris Economides said.

The Carolina RailHawks are an expansion franchise in the United Soccer Leagues' First Division and will begin play in the 2007 season. Schweitzer will be officially announced at 2 p.m. today.

Schweitzer, who played at N.C. State from 1989-92, was a captain for the Rochester Raging Rhinos while Economides was that franchise's general manager.

"He's got a work ethic that I admire," Economides said. "He was the sort of player that always gave you everything. He's got the resume that players respect."

Schweitzer retired from playing in March. He was the USL defender of the year in 1998 and 1999 and played for seven years in Rochester.

Economides said Schweitzer does not have much coaching experience, but Economides isn't troubled by that.

"My M.O. is that I haven't always hired coaches with a lot of experience and that's not a major detriment," Economides said. "In my eyes, I think he's going to be a tremendous coach."

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