RailHawks begin to build franchise

Schweitzer to coach area USL team

CARY -- The Carolina RailHawks have a coach. Now, they need a team.

The expansion United Soccer Leagues franchise introduced Scott Schweitzer as its first head coach Wednesday at SAS Soccer Park.

With a coach in place, the RailHawks can begin to build the team. General manager Chris Economides said the franchise, which will play in the USL's First Division, could start signing players in the next few weeks.

Schweitzer, who played at N.C. State from 1989-92, retired from his playing career in March. He played 13 years professionally, including seven seasons with the USL's Rochester Raging Rhinos. Economides is a co-owner of the Rochester team.

Economides said Schweitzer, 35, was the franchise's first choice despite his lack of coaching experience. Schweitzer's experience is limited to serving as an assistant this summer with the Raleigh Elite, an USL Premier Development League team, and his work at the Next Level Academy in Morrisville.

"I don't have a lot of coaching experience," Schweitzer said. "I'm not too worried about it. I think the thing that made me such a good player was my knowledge of the game. So I'm going to use that knowledge and my ability to work with players, be honest and be the person I was on the field."

Schweitzer said the team will be fit and will play as hard as he did. Schweitzer said some opponents thought he was dirty, but he said he played within the rules. He was the 1998 and 1999 USL defender of the year.

The RailHawks hope to hire assistant coaches within the next four weeks.

The team debuts in April 2007. Training camp begins March 19, so the next five months will be spent creating a team -- what Economides calls the "fun part."