March 13, 2024 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro) – Columbus Crew 2 News Release
COLUMBUS – Columbus Crew 2 have named Kelvin Jones as the second head coach in team history ahead of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season. Jones started with the Club in 2017 as an Academy coach and most recently served as the Crew’s UPSL Head Coach and Assistant Academy Director after serving as Academy Director from 2020-2023. On the international stage, Jones most recently represented the United States as an Assistant Coach during the 2023 FIFA Under-17 World Cup.
“Since joining the Club, Kelvin has been instrumental to our efforts in creating an environment and fostering a culture that has given young players the opportunity to grow and develop, and we are proud to announce his new role as Crew 2 head coach,” said Crew 2 General Manager Corey Wray. “As we embarked on an extensive search for our next coach, it was clear that Kelvin is the right person to lead this team. He is a knowledgeable, adept leader who excels at getting the best out of players. He also has a deep understanding of Crew 2’s critical role in alignment throughout our Club and the player pathway. It is a privilege for our Club to promote Kelvin, and we are excited to see him officially get started with Sunday’s season opener.”
“It’s an honor to be named the Crew 2 head coach,” said Jones. “Crew 2 already has an unbelievable legacy for us to build upon. Thank you to the staff and senior leadership for entrusting me with this opportunity. It’s an exciting time at the Club right now in terms of aligning all the technical departments, and for me and for the Club, this is a really important role in aligning everything from the Academy to the First Team. This is an exciting opportunity for me but most importantly the Club as we continue to grow the Player Pathway.”
Jones joined the Club in 2017, in which he ascended through the Under-12, U-15 and U-19 Academy teams as head coach prior to being appointed Academy Director in 2020.
After becoming Academy Director in 2020, eight Academy players signed Homegrown contracts: Aboubacar Keita (2019), Aidan Morris (2020), Sebastian Berhalter (2020), Isaiah Parente (2021), Sean Zawadzki (2022), Keegan Hughes (2023), Taha Habroune (2024), and Cole Mrowka (2024). The Club also had eight Academy players sign MLS NEXT Pro contracts for Crew 2: Aidan Wolf and Zion Scarlett in 2022; Taha Habroune, Cole Mrowka and Stas Lapkes in 2023; and Brent Adu-Gyamfi, Giorgio De Libera and Chris Rogers in 2024.
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