Sky Blue FC hires Paul Greig, Jill Loyden as assistant coaches

On Feb. 4, Sky Blue FC officially announced the hiring of two assistant coaches for the upcoming 2016 season.

Internationally renowned coach Paul Greig and former U. S. Women’s National Team and Sky Blue FC goalkeeper Jill Loyden have been named assistant coaches by head coach Christy Holly.

"Both Jill and Paul are two coaches I am very much excited to work alongside," Holly said in a statement."They will bring a tremendous amount of experience, knowledge and energy to our team environment."

Delighted to have @jloyden & @paulgreig6 join us at @SkyBlueFC , great coaches & great people. Get this season started! #onwardsandupwards

— Christy Holly (@christyeholly) February 4, 2016

Greig is coming to Sky Blue FC from his head coaching position with Northern Football of New Zealand. In his first year as Northern Football’s head coach, he led the team to the ASB Women’s League championship, becoming the youngest coach in New Zealand history to manage his club to a men’s or women’s National League title. The team’s 37 goals in nine matches also ranked Northern Football as the highest scoring club in league history.

"I’m excited to be joining Sky Blue FC and to work alongside Christy, Jill and the staff," Greig said. "The NWSL is one of the best leagues in the world, and the opportunity to be working with such a fantastic playing group day in, day out was an opportunity I jumped at when I talked to Christy."

With 14 years of coaching experience, Greig has also coached in his native Scotland, England, Sweden, Spain and the U.S. He previously has served in a number of roles in the youth academy level in New Jersey before returning to his homeland in 2006.

Loyden, a native of Vineland, N.J., returns to Sky Blue FC after joining the team as goalkeeper in 2012 and playing until October 2014. Loyden has extensive experience with the team, previously having played for Jersey Sky Blue in the USL W-League.

In her years with Sky Blue FC, Loyden registered a cumulative 8-7-6 record over 21 starts with five shutouts and 115 saves.

Collegiately, Loyden was a three-time Big East Goalkeeper of the Year at Villanova University before being drafted by Saint Louis Athletica in the 2009 Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) College Draft. She also played with the Chicago Red Stars and magicJack during her time in the WPS.

At the international level, Loyden joined the U.S. Women’s National Team in 2010, earning her first cap on October 1st in a 2-1 victory over China. She was a member of the roster for the 2011Women’s World Cup in Germany, and served as an alternate for the Gold Medal winning U.S. WNT in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

"I am really excited to join this staff and be back at the place where I finished my career," Loyden said. "I look forward to helping Sky Blue FC seek a second championship."