2021 Canadian Premier League championship winning coach Pa-Madou Kah has left Pacific FC to join North Texas SC, the development team of Major League Soccer’s Dallas FC.
The move comes less than two months after Kah led the Vancouver Island club to its first CPL championship.
Vancouver Island native James Merriman will become Pacific FC’s third-ever head coach.
“I’m very proud of what we accomplished this season with the championship,” said Kah via a club statement Friday. “We went through a lot as a team so I want to thank the players, the staff and the ownership. In my two years here we accomplished a lot so I will always remember my time here well.”
Full Pacific FC statement
January 21, 2022, Langford, BC – Pacific FC announced today James Merriman as the club’s next head coach as Pa-Modou Kah leaves the team to join North Texas SC within Major League Soccer (MLS). Vancouver-Island native Merriman has been on the coaching staff with Pacific FC since their inaugural season in 2019.
“James has been with this organization since day one and has been instrumental in building the core that brought us a Championship,” said Rob Friend, CEO, Pacific FC. “Off the field what he brings to the community as an Islander is so important to what we’re doing as an organization to build a strong team for the Island as a whole.”
In addition to his duties as associate head coach, Merriman, 36, also served as the technical director for the Trident Development Program and Vancouver Island Wave. His past coaching experience includes an assistant coach role for SFU men’s soccer NCAA Division II program and at Vancouver Island University. His playing days included stints with the Colorado Rapids Reserves, Victoria Highlander FC as well as Colorado Lightning.
“I’m excited to build off what we did last year and what we built over the last three years and take it into the next season,” said Merriman. “I definitely didn’t think I’d ever have the chance to coach a professional team on Vancouver Island but that’s what the Canadian Premier League is doing, creating opportunities like this. It’s obviously very special to be able to live my dream of being a head coach for a professional team, especially on Vancouver Island. I’m very grateful for the opportunity.”
Kah, 41, served two seasons with Pacific FC and led the team to win the Canadian Premier League Final in December 2021. He had last worked as the assistant coach at MLS side FC Cincinnati and earlier for Whitecaps FC 2. His playing career included representing Norway as a national team member and more than 400 professional appearances playing throughout the top leagues of Norway, Sweden, Holland, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, USA and Canada.
“I’m very proud of what we accomplished this season with the championship,” said Kah. “We went through a lot as a team so I want to thank the players, the staff and the ownership. In my two years here we accomplished a lot so I will always remember my time here well.”
Stay tuned to pacificfc.ca and follow the club on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
