St. Louis Ambush Head Coach Daryl Doran will continue his duties for the 2015-16 season. It will be Doran’s 14th season coaching a St. Louis professional indoor soccer team.
Team owner Andrew Haines made the announcement today saying, “Coach Doran and I had a chance to go over my expectations as well as his for the upcoming season. We both agree that the Ambush are in a position to play in the post season during the 2015-16 season. We discussed areas we need to improve on during pre-season, practice, and player personnel. There are a good number of solid returning players, and we have targeted several veteran players we will be aggressively pursuing in the off-season. From year one to year two we had great improvements, however I expect and demand more for the upcoming season. I expect us to be competing for a championship.”
In looking ahead to the 2015-16 season, Doran said, “Going into our third season, I believe our core players are now taking on their leadership roles on the field, with our last two acquisitions Anthony Arico and Gordy Gurson late last year and if we can add two other experienced players to our roster in off season I believe we can make a run for the title.”
Doran has been part of the St. Louis professional indoor soccer scene for over three decades. A native St. Louisan, Doran attended Christian Brothers College High School (1977-1980) where he was a four-year letterman on the school’s soccer team, finishing his career with 35 goals and 31 assists. The St. Louis Steamers drafted Doran while he was still in high school, but he declined the offer, graduated and went on to St. Louis University. The Steamers drafted Doran again during his freshman year of college and this time, he accepted the offer, left college and turned pro. Doran played for the Steamers (1982-88), Los Angeles Lazers (1988-89), St. Louis Storm (1989-92), St. Louis Ambush (1992-99) and the second version of the Steamers (2000, 2001 and 2003-05). During his playing career, Doran appeared in a record 925 games and played in 13 All-Star games.
Doran became player and coach when his coaching career began with the Ambush in 1992. He guided the Ambush to the playoffs seven times and the 1994-95 squad won the NPSL Championship with Doran at the helm. Doran retired as both a player and coach following the 2004-05 Steamers season. He moved to the front office for the 2005-06 season. The Steamers folded following that season, and Doran kicked off Doran Fitness in O’Fallon, where he is the owner along with his wife Barbara.
When St. Louis was awarded an expansion franchise for the 2013-14 Major Indoor Soccer League season, Haines resurrected the Ambush name and hired Doran as Head Coach. The expansion club compiled a 4-16 record their first season (2013-14) and improved to 8-12 in their second season (2014-15).
