ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando City Soccer Club announced today the hiring of Bobby Sauer as an U23s assistant coach. Sauer is the head coach at Winter Springs High School based in Winter Springs, Fla. This past year, Sauer led the Winter Springs Bears to their third district title in school history.

Sauer is the first assistant hired since the Central Florida Kraze merged with Orlando City Soccer Club, becoming the Orlando City U23s. Head Coach of the U23s, Joe Avallone, commented on what Sauer will bring to the coaching staff.

“Bobby is a very dedicated coach,” Avallone said. “He is dedicated to the game and is a very passionate guy. I’m looking forward to him being a coach on our staff.”

Sauer led the Bears to a 12-0 start and a top-25 ranking in the state of Florida, according to Max Preps. The Bears finished the season with a record of 15-4-1 along with their first regional appearance in four seasons.

Luis Checa, a senior forward from Winter Springs, won the Sentinel’s All-Central Florida Player of the Year under Sauer’s direction. Checa scored 25 goals and tallied 11 assists in 19 games for the Bears during the regular season.
Orlando City is gearing up for their U23 open tryouts, which will be held on March 10 and 11 at the Seminole Soccer Complex in Sanford, Fla. Saturday, March 10’s session starts at 10 a.m. with Sunday’s beginning at 9 a.m. Sauer will join Avallone and the rest of the U23 coaching staff during the tryouts.

Walk-up registration for the tryouts begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday.  The cost to participate is $80. For more information, contact Under 23s General Manager Terry Garzon at tgarzon@orlandocitysoccer.com.